Mở Bài
Chủ đề năng lượng tái tạo và ảnh hưởng của nó đến cấu trúc quyền lực toàn cầu đang trở thành một trong những đề tài nóng hổi và thường xuyên xuất hiện trong kỳ thi IELTS Reading. Với sự chuyển dịch mạnh mẽ từ nhiên liệu hóa thạch sang các nguồn năng lượng sạch, chủ đề này không chỉ mang tính thời sự cao mà còn liên quan đến nhiều khía cạnh như chính trị, kinh tế, công nghệ và địa chính trị quốc tế.
Trong đề thi mẫu này, bạn sẽ được trải nghiệm một bài thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với 3 passages theo đúng cấu trúc và độ khó tăng dần như thi thật. Passage 1 sẽ giới thiệu các khái niệm cơ bản về năng lượng tái tạo ở mức độ dễ hiểu, phù hợp cho band 5.0-6.5. Passage 2 đi sâu vào phân tích các tác động kinh tế và chính trị với độ khó trung bình cho band 6.0-7.5. Passage 3 khám phá các vấn đề phức tạp về địa chính trị và chiến lược quyền lực toàn cầu ở mức độ khó cho band 7.0-9.0.
Bạn sẽ làm quen với đầy đủ 40 câu hỏi thuộc nhiều dạng khác nhau như Multiple Choice, True/False/Not Given, Yes/No/Not Given, Matching Headings, Summary Completion và nhiều dạng khác. Mỗi câu hỏi đều có đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích cụ thể về vị trí thông tin, kỹ thuật paraphrase và cách suy luận. Bên cạnh đó, bạn còn được trang bị hệ thống từ vựng quan trọng với phiên âm, nghĩa, ví dụ và collocations để nâng cao vốn từ học thuật.
Đề thi này phù hợp cho tất cả học viên từ band 5.0 trở lên đang muốn luyện tập với đề thi giống thật 100% và cải thiện kỹ năng Reading một cách bài bản và hiệu quả.
1. Hướng Dẫn Làm Bài IELTS Reading
Tổng Quan Về IELTS Reading Test
IELTS Reading Test kéo dài 60 phút với 3 passages và tổng cộng 40 câu hỏi. Bạn cần tự quản lý thời gian hiệu quả để hoàn thành tất cả các câu hỏi. Không có thời gian bổ sung để chép đáp án sang phiếu trả lời, vì vậy bạn cần viết trực tiếp vào answer sheet trong 60 phút.
Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:
- Passage 1: 15-17 phút (độ khó thấp nhất, cần làm nhanh để dành thời gian cho passage khó hơn)
- Passage 2: 18-20 phút (độ khó trung bình, cần đọc kỹ hơn)
- Passage 3: 23-25 phút (độ khó cao nhất, cần thời gian suy luận và phân tích)
Mỗi câu trả lời đúng được 1 điểm, không có điểm âm cho câu trả lời sai. Điểm thô (raw score) từ 40 câu sẽ được chuyển đổi thành band score từ 1-9.
Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này
Đề thi mẫu này bao gồm 7 dạng câu hỏi phổ biến nhất trong IELTS Reading:
- Multiple Choice – Chọn đáp án đúng từ các lựa chọn A, B, C, D
- True/False/Not Given – Xác định thông tin đúng, sai hoặc không được đề cập
- Yes/No/Not Given – Xác định quan điểm của tác giả đồng ý, không đồng ý hoặc không được đề cập
- Matching Headings – Ghép tiêu đề phù hợp với từng đoạn văn
- Summary Completion – Điền từ vào chỗ trống trong đoạn tóm tắt
- Matching Features – Ghép đặc điểm với các đối tượng được đề cập
- Short-answer Questions – Trả lời ngắn câu hỏi với giới hạn số từ
Mỗi dạng câu hỏi yêu cầu kỹ năng đọc hiểu khác nhau, từ scanning thông tin cụ thể đến skimming ý chính và suy luận logic.
2. IELTS Reading Practice Test
PASSAGE 1 – The Rise of Renewable Energy
Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút
The global energy landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation as renewable energy sources increasingly replace traditional fossil fuels. This shift represents not merely a technological change but a profound restructuring of how societies generate and consume power. Solar panels, wind turbines, and hydroelectric dams are becoming common sights across continents, symbolizing humanity’s attempt to create a more sustainable future.
For over a century, coal, oil, and natural gas have been the dominant energy sources powering industrial development and economic growth. However, growing concerns about climate change and environmental degradation have prompted governments and businesses worldwide to seek cleaner alternatives. The burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and its associated problems such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and ecosystem disruption.
Renewable energy technologies have become increasingly cost-competitive in recent years. The price of solar photovoltaic panels has dropped by more than 90% since 2010, making solar power one of the cheapest sources of electricity in many regions. Similarly, wind energy costs have declined significantly due to improved turbine designs and economies of scale in manufacturing. These economic factors have accelerated adoption rates even in countries without strong environmental regulations.
The transition to renewable energy is creating new economic opportunities while disrupting established industries. The renewable energy sector now employs over 12 million people globally, according to recent estimates. Jobs in solar installation, wind turbine maintenance, and battery technology development are growing rapidly. Meanwhile, traditional energy sectors are facing challenges as coal mines close and oil demand projections are revised downward.
However, the shift to renewables presents several technical challenges. Unlike fossil fuel power plants that can generate electricity continuously, most renewable sources are intermittent – solar panels only work when the sun shines, and wind turbines require wind. This variability necessitates the development of energy storage systems, particularly large-scale batteries, to ensure a stable power supply. Grid infrastructure must also be modernized to handle electricity flowing from millions of distributed sources rather than a few large centralized power plants.
Different countries are adopting renewable energy at varying rates depending on their natural resources, economic capabilities, and political priorities. Nations with abundant sunshine like Morocco and Australia are investing heavily in solar power, while countries with favorable wind conditions such as Denmark and Scotland are expanding wind energy capacity. Some island nations, vulnerable to climate change impacts, are striving to achieve 100% renewable electricity within the next decade.
Government policies play a crucial role in determining the pace of renewable energy adoption. Feed-in tariffs, which guarantee prices for renewable electricity fed into the grid, have proven effective in many European countries. Tax incentives for renewable energy investments and carbon pricing mechanisms that make fossil fuels more expensive also encourage the transition. International agreements like the Paris Climate Accord have created frameworks for countries to commit to emissions reduction targets, further driving renewable energy deployment.
Public attitudes toward renewable energy are generally positive, with surveys showing strong support across different demographics. However, some communities resist renewable energy projects due to concerns about visual impact, particularly with wind farms, or land use changes for solar installations. Community engagement and benefit-sharing arrangements have proven important for gaining local acceptance of renewable energy projects.
The financial sector is increasingly recognizing the risks associated with fossil fuel investments and the opportunities in renewable energy. Major banks and investment funds are divesting from coal and other high-carbon assets while directing capital toward clean energy projects. This shift in financial flows is accelerating the energy transition by making it harder for fossil fuel projects to secure funding while lowering the cost of capital for renewable developments.
As renewable energy becomes mainstream, it is beginning to reshape international relations and economic power structures. Countries that once depended on importing fossil fuels are gaining energy independence through domestic renewable resources. The geopolitical significance of oil-producing regions may diminish over time, while countries leading in renewable technology manufacturing and deployment may gain new forms of influence. This reconfiguration of energy geopolitics represents one of the most significant changes in global affairs since the oil age began.
Sự chuyển đổi năng lượng tái tạo thay thế nhiên liệu hóa thạch trên toàn cầu
Questions 1-13
Questions 1-5: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
1. According to the passage, the transformation in global energy represents:
A. only a technological advancement
B. a complete change in power generation and consumption
C. a temporary solution to energy problems
D. a minor adjustment to existing systems
2. What has happened to solar panel prices since 2010?
A. They have increased by 90%
B. They have remained stable
C. They have decreased by more than 90%
D. They have doubled in cost
3. The main challenge with renewable energy sources mentioned is:
A. they are too expensive
B. they are intermittent and variable
C. they create too many jobs
D. they are difficult to install
4. According to the passage, which factor is NOT mentioned as influencing renewable energy adoption rates?
A. Natural resources
B. Economic capabilities
C. Religious beliefs
D. Political priorities
5. The passage suggests that the financial sector is:
A. ignoring renewable energy completely
B. only investing in fossil fuels
C. moving investment away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy
D. uncertain about energy investments
Questions 6-9: True/False/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage? Write:
- TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
- FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
- NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
6. Renewable energy technologies have always been cheaper than fossil fuels.
7. The renewable energy sector employs more than 12 million people worldwide.
8. All countries are adopting renewable energy at the same rate.
9. Denmark is investing heavily in solar power due to abundant sunshine.
Questions 10-13: Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
10. The burning of fossil fuels releases __ into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
11. To ensure stable power supply with renewable energy, the development of __ is necessary.
12. Government policies such as __ have been effective in promoting renewable energy in European countries.
13. Some communities resist renewable energy projects due to concerns about __ and land use changes.
PASSAGE 2 – Economic Implications of the Energy Transition
Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút
The global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is generating far-reaching economic consequences that extend well beyond the energy sector itself. This transformation is recalibrating economic relationships between nations, redistributing wealth, and creating both winners and losers in the international economic order. Understanding these dynamics is essential for policymakers, businesses, and citizens navigating this unprecedented shift.
A. The Declining Economics of Fossil Fuels
The economic viability of fossil fuel extraction has been steadily eroding. The concept of “stranded assets” – fossil fuel reserves that may become economically unviable before their extraction – has emerged as a significant concern for energy companies and investors. As renewable energy costs continue to decline and climate policies tighten, trillions of dollars worth of coal, oil, and gas reserves may never be economically recoverable. This situation is particularly acute for high-cost producers such as Canadian oil sands operations and Arctic drilling projects, where extraction costs exceed the likely future market price of oil in a carbon-constrained world.
The financial implications are profound. Major oil companies have been forced to write down the value of their reserves, acknowledging that not all discovered resources will be extracted. Investors have begun scrutinizing the long-term viability of fossil fuel companies, with some pension funds and institutional investors divesting entirely from the sector. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle: as capital becomes scarcer and more expensive for fossil fuel projects, the economics deteriorate further, accelerating the transition to alternatives.
B. New Economic Powerhouses
While traditional energy exporters face uncertain futures, countries positioned to dominate renewable energy supply chains are emerging as new economic powerhouses. China has established itself as the world’s leading manufacturer of solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries, capturing the majority of global production capacity. This manufacturing dominance has created millions of jobs domestically and generated substantial export revenues, positioning China advantageously in the emerging green economy.
The raw materials required for renewable energy technologies are creating new resource dependencies. Lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements – essential for batteries and electric motors – are becoming the strategic resources of the 21st century, much as oil was in the 20th. Countries with significant deposits of these materials, such as Chile, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Australia, are gaining enhanced economic leverage. However, concerns about supply chain concentration and the environmental and social impacts of mining these materials are growing, potentially creating new geopolitical tensions.
C. Energy Independence and Trade Balances
For countries that are net importers of fossil fuels, the renewable energy transition offers the prospect of enhanced energy security and improved trade balances. Nations that have historically spent substantial portions of their GDP on oil and gas imports can now invest in domestic renewable energy infrastructure, keeping financial resources within their economies. India, for instance, imports over 80% of its oil needs, spending tens of billions of dollars annually. By developing domestic solar and wind capacity, India can redirect these funds toward internal economic development while reducing vulnerability to international energy price fluctuations.
This shift fundamentally alters economic relationships. Traditional energy-exporting nations, particularly those heavily dependent on oil revenues like Venezuela, Nigeria, and several Middle Eastern countries, face the prospect of sharply reduced income. For countries where oil exports constitute a large percentage of government revenue, this transition threatens fiscal crises and economic instability. Some oil-dependent economies are attempting to diversify by investing oil revenues in renewable energy and other sectors, though this economic restructuring faces significant challenges.
D. Employment and Industrial Transformation
The energy transition is creating a complex employment picture. While renewable energy is generally more labor-intensive than fossil fuel extraction – requiring more workers per unit of energy produced – the jobs are geographically and temporally distributed differently. Coal mining communities in regions like Appalachia in the United States or Silesia in Poland face economic devastation as mines close, with few alternative employment opportunities. The renewable energy jobs being created are often in different locations, requiring workers to relocate or necessitating substantial retraining programs.
The automotive industry exemplifies this transformation. The shift to electric vehicles is fundamentally restructuring global auto manufacturing, with electric motors containing fewer parts than internal combustion engines and requiring different manufacturing skills. Traditional automotive manufacturing centers must adapt or decline, while new manufacturing hubs focused on batteries and electric components are emerging. This industrial reorganization has significant implications for employment patterns, regional economies, and international trade in manufactured goods.
E. Investment Patterns and Capital Allocation
Global investment patterns are shifting dramatically, with renewable energy attracting increasingly large capital flows. In 2022, global investment in renewable energy exceeded $500 billion, surpassing fossil fuel investment for the first time. This reallocation of capital reflects both regulatory changes and investors’ assessment of long-term economic returns. Green bonds – debt instruments specifically designated for environmental projects – have grown from a niche financial product to a mainstream investment vehicle, with issuance exceeding $500 billion annually.
However, this investment is unevenly distributed globally. Developed economies and China account for the vast majority of renewable energy investment, while many developing countries struggle to attract capital for clean energy projects despite often having excellent renewable resources. This investment gap risks creating a two-speed energy transition, where wealthy countries rapidly decarbonize while poorer nations remain locked into fossil fuel infrastructure due to capital constraints, potentially exacerbating global inequality.
The transition also affects consumer costs in complex ways. While renewable energy is becoming cheaper, the infrastructure upgrades required – modernized grids, energy storage, electric vehicle charging networks – require substantial upfront investment. How these costs are distributed among consumers, businesses, and governments has significant equity implications and affects public support for the transition.
Tác động kinh tế toàn cầu của chuyển đổi năng lượng tái tạo đến thương mại
Questions 14-26
Questions 14-18: Yes/No/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the passage? Write:
- YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
- NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
- NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
14. The economic transition to renewable energy affects only the energy sector.
15. All discovered fossil fuel reserves will eventually be extracted and used.
16. China’s dominance in renewable energy manufacturing has created employment opportunities within the country.
17. The mining of materials for renewable energy technologies has no environmental concerns.
18. The shift to electric vehicles requires the same manufacturing skills as traditional vehicles.
Questions 19-23: Matching Headings
The passage has five sections, A-E. Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below.
List of Headings:
i. Global disparities in clean energy financing
ii. The geographical redistribution of employment
iii. Economic risks facing traditional energy producers
iv. Countries benefiting from renewable technology production
v. Transportation sector undergoing major changes
vi. How renewable energy affects national economies and imports
vii. The growth of environmentally focused financial products
viii. Challenges in mining essential materials
19. Section A
20. Section B
21. Section C
22. Section D
23. Section E
Questions 24-26: Summary Completion
Complete the summary below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Countries that import large amounts of fossil fuels can benefit from renewable energy by achieving better 24. __ and improved trade balances. For example, India imports over 80% of its oil and spends billions of dollars annually. By developing renewable capacity, India can keep more money in its own economy. However, countries that depend heavily on oil exports face potential 25. __ as their revenues decline. The renewable energy sector attracted over 26. __ in global investment in 2022, exceeding fossil fuel investment for the first time.
PASSAGE 3 – Renewable Energy and the Reconfiguration of Global Power
Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)
Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút
The ascendancy of renewable energy is precipitating a fundamental reordering of international power structures, challenging the geopolitical paradigms that have dominated global affairs since the discovery of oil in the late 19th century. This transformation extends beyond mere substitution of energy sources; it represents a systemic disruption of the mechanisms through which nations project influence, exercise coercion, and maintain strategic advantages in the international system. The implications of this shift are profound and multifaceted, affecting everything from alliance structures to conflict patterns and the very nature of energy security itself.
The fossil fuel era created distinct patterns of geopolitical power characterized by asymmetric dependencies between energy producers and consumers. This system generated what scholars term “energy statecraft” – the strategic use of energy resources to achieve foreign policy objectives. Oil-exporting nations wielded their control over critical resources as instruments of influence, exemplified most dramatically by the 1973 oil embargo when Arab petroleum exporters curtailed production to pressure Western nations supporting Israel. The “resource curse” paradoxically affected many energy-rich nations, with hydrocarbon wealth simultaneously funding state power while fostering authoritarianism, corruption, and economic distortion that undermined broader development.
The architecture of global power in the hydrocarbon age was characterized by chokepoint vulnerabilities – strategic maritime passages like the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca through which substantial percentages of global oil trade must transit. Control over or the ability to disrupt these critical junctures has been a central preoccupation of naval strategy and a justification for forward military deployments. The United States’ role as guarantor of global energy security, predicated on its naval dominance and willingness to ensure open access to Middle Eastern oil, formed a cornerstone of American hegemony in the post-World War II international order. This arrangement created complex interdependencies: consumer nations gained energy security while producer nations received security guarantees and access to Western military technology and markets.
Renewable energy fundamentally disrupts these dynamics. Unlike fossil fuels, which are geographically concentrated in specific regions and whose extraction requires specialized geological formations, renewable energy resources are far more widely distributed. Solar irradiation and wind resources exist across virtually all regions, though with varying intensity. This ubiquity means that energy production can be substantially localized, reducing the strategic significance of long-distance energy transportation and the chokepoints it creates. A nation with adequate renewable resources and the technological capacity to harness them can achieve a degree of energy autonomy unattainable in the fossil fuel era, fundamentally altering the dynamics of energy security from concerns about supply disruption to questions of technological capability and capital availability.
However, this transition creates new dependencies and vulnerabilities that may constitute novel forms of strategic leverage. The technological intensity of renewable energy systems – sophisticated solar panels, advanced wind turbines, grid management software, and battery storage systems – means that technological prowess and manufacturing capacity become the crucial determinants of energy security rather than resource endowments. This shift advantages nations with advanced industrial capabilities and innovation ecosystems, particularly China, which has systematically developed dominant positions across renewable energy supply chains through strategic industrial policy, massive state investment, and exploitation of scale economies.
China’s commanding position in solar panel manufacturing (controlling approximately 80% of global production capacity), wind turbine production, and battery manufacturing represents a new form of energy-related strategic advantage. While this dominance doesn’t replicate the coercive potential of oil supply control – solar panels, once installed, continue generating electricity without ongoing imports – it creates dependencies during the transition phase when massive deployment of new infrastructure is required. Furthermore, China’s control over the processing of critical minerals essential to renewable technologies, particularly rare earth elements used in wind turbine magnets and electric vehicle motors, provides potential leverage analogous to OPEC’s historical role, though with different characteristics and constraints.
The raw material foundations of renewable energy technologies introduce additional geopolitical complexities. While renewable energy reduces dependence on fossil fuels, it increases requirements for materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements. The geography of these resources creates new strategic considerations. Lithium deposits are concentrated in the “lithium triangle” of Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia, along with Australia and China. Cobalt production is overwhelmingly concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where extraction occurs under conditions of political instability, weak governance, and significant human rights concerns, including child labor. This concentration of supply creates potential vulnerabilities analogous to fossil fuel dependencies, though the non-consumptive nature of these materials in their applications – they can be recycled – provides a long-term mitigation pathway absent with fossil fuels.
The reconfiguration of energy geopolitics has differential impacts on existing power structures. For the United States, the transition presents a complex mixture of challenges and opportunities. America’s role as security guarantor for global oil flows loses strategic salience, potentially reducing influence in resource-rich regions. However, the United States retains advantages in innovation capacity, with Silicon Valley and American research institutions at the forefront of developing advanced energy technologies, grid management systems, and energy storage solutions. The shale oil revolution temporarily transformed the United States into a net energy exporter, providing strategic flexibility during the transition period and altering the dynamics of its relationships with traditional allies and adversaries alike.
For the European Union, renewable energy alignment with strategic objectives is particularly strong. Europe’s limited domestic fossil fuel resources have created persistent energy insecurity and dependence on Russian natural gas, which Moscow has repeatedly weaponized for political leverage, most dramatically in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent energy supply disruptions. Renewable energy offers Europe a pathway toward strategic autonomy, reducing vulnerability to external energy coercion. The EU has consequently pursued aggressive renewable energy targets and carbon reduction commitments, framing climate policy as simultaneously addressing environmental and security imperatives. However, Europe’s dependence on imported renewable energy technology, particularly from China, represents a transitional vulnerability that European industrial policy is attempting to address through domestic manufacturing incentives and supply chain diversification.
Oil-exporting nations face existential challenges from this transition. For Gulf Arab states, whose economic models and political stability rest on hydrocarbon revenues, the energy transition threatens the foundation of state power and societal contracts. These nations are pursuing divergent strategies: the United Arab Emirates is investing heavily in renewable energy technology and attempting to position itself as a hub for clean energy development; Saudi Arabia has announced ambitious plans for domestic renewable deployment while continuing to maximize oil revenues during the transition period; others have been slower to adapt. The differential capacity of these nations to navigate the transition will likely reshape regional power hierarchies, potentially destabilizing a region already marked by significant tensions.
Russia’s position is particularly precarious. As a petrostate heavily dependent on fossil fuel exports for government revenue and international influence, Russia faces severe challenges in a decarbonizing world. Moscow has limited capacity to shift toward renewable energy leadership given its lag in relevant technologies and weakened economy. Russia’s strategic response has included obstructing international climate cooperation, supporting fossil fuel interests globally, and leveraging its remaining energy leverage as aggressively as possible while it retains potency. This desperation arguably contributes to increasingly aggressive Russian foreign policy, with energy revenues funding military modernization and authoritarian consolidation even as the long-term outlook deteriorates.
The renewable energy transition also affects patterns of international cooperation and conflict. Climate change itself operates as a threat multiplier, exacerbating resource scarcity, driving migration, and intensifying instability in vulnerable regions, factors that can precipitate conflicts. However, renewable energy cooperation offers opportunities for collaborative frameworks that differ from the zero-sum dynamics often characterizing fossil fuel geopolitics. The non-rivalrous nature of solar and wind resources – one nation’s wind energy production doesn’t diminish others’ potential – creates space for cooperative relationships, technology sharing, and joint infrastructure development, particularly in electricity grid integration across borders.
The question of whether renewable energy creates a more peaceful international order remains contested among scholars. Optimistic perspectives emphasize the reduced competition for finite resources, the localized nature of renewable energy production reducing interstate conflict drivers, and the collaborative opportunities inherent in addressing shared climate challenges. Pessimistic views highlight the new dependencies, technological asymmetries, critical mineral competition, and the dangerous transition period during which declining yet still powerful fossil fuel interests may act disruptively. The most likely outcome is a hybrid reality where renewable energy fundamentally reshapes but doesn’t eliminate geopolitical competition, creating a system with different vulnerability patterns, power resources, and conflict drivers than the fossil fuel order it replaces.
Địa chính trị năng lượng và tái cấu trúc quyền lực toàn cầu hiện đại
Questions 27-40
Questions 27-31: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
27. According to the passage, “energy statecraft” in the fossil fuel era refers to:
A. the construction of power plants
B. the strategic use of energy resources for foreign policy goals
C. international cooperation on energy issues
D. the development of new energy technologies
28. The passage suggests that chokepoints in the hydrocarbon age were:
A. irrelevant to military strategy
B. only important for commercial shipping
C. central concerns for naval strategy and military deployment
D. beneficial for all countries equally
29. Renewable energy differs from fossil fuels in its geographical distribution because:
A. it is only found in a few countries
B. it requires specialized geological formations
C. it is more widely distributed globally
D. it is more expensive to extract
30. China’s position in renewable energy manufacturing is described as:
A. negligible and unimportant
B. dominant across major supply chains
C. equal to other major producers
D. declining in recent years
31. The passage indicates that critical minerals for renewable energy:
A. are unlimited and easily accessible
B. can be recycled, providing a long-term mitigation pathway
C. are only found in developed countries
D. are not important for renewable energy production
Questions 32-36: Matching Features
Match each country/region (32-36) with the correct characteristic (A-H) according to the passage.
Countries/Regions:
32. United States
33. European Union
34. China
35. Saudi Arabia
36. Russia
Characteristics:
A. Heavily dependent on oil exports and facing severe challenges
B. Controls approximately 80% of solar panel production
C. Pursuing aggressive renewable targets for both environmental and security reasons
D. Has limited domestic fossil fuel resources
E. Role as security guarantor for global oil flows becoming less important
F. Announced ambitious domestic renewable deployment plans
G. Leading in rare earth element deposits
H. Investing heavily in nuclear energy exclusively
Questions 37-40: Short-answer Questions
Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
37. What term describes the paradoxical negative effects that hydrocarbon wealth had on many energy-rich nations?
38. What percentage of global solar panel production capacity does China control?
39. Which region contains concentrated lithium deposits in Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia?
40. What type of international dynamics characterize fossil fuel geopolitics that differ from renewable energy cooperation?
3. Answer Keys – Đáp Án
PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13
- B
- C
- B
- C
- C
- FALSE
- TRUE
- FALSE
- FALSE
- greenhouse gases
- energy storage (systems) / large-scale batteries
- feed-in tariffs
- visual impact
PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26
- NO
- NO
- YES
- NO
- NO
- iii
- iv
- vi
- ii (hoặc v – cả hai đều chấp nhận được)
- i
- energy security
- fiscal crises
- $500 billion / 500 billion dollars
PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40
- B
- C
- C
- B
- B
- E
- C
- B
- F
- A
- resource curse
- 80% / eighty percent
- lithium triangle
- zero-sum dynamics
4. Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết
Passage 1 – Giải Thích
Câu 1: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: transformation, global energy, represents
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, câu đầu tiên
- Giải thích: Câu đầu tiên nói rõ “This shift represents not merely a technological change but a profound restructuring of how societies generate and consume power” – điều này cho thấy sự chuyển đổi không chỉ là thay đổi công nghệ mà là một sự tái cấu trúc toàn diện về cách tạo ra và tiêu thụ năng lượng. Đáp án B paraphrase ý này thành “a complete change in power generation and consumption.”
Câu 2: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: solar panel prices, since 2010
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, câu thứ hai
- Giải thích: Thông tin rõ ràng: “The price of solar photovoltaic panels has dropped by more than 90% since 2010” – giá đã giảm hơn 90%, đáp án C chính xác.
Câu 6: FALSE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: renewable energy technologies, always cheaper
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3
- Giải thích: Đoạn 3 nói “have become increasingly cost-competitive in recent years” – chỉ gần đây mới cạnh tranh về giá, không phải “always” (luôn luôn). Do đó câu này sai, chọn FALSE.
Câu 7: TRUE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: renewable energy sector, employs, 12 million people
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, câu thứ hai
- Giải thích: Câu trong bài nói rõ “The renewable energy sector now employs over 12 million people globally” – khớp chính xác với thông tin trong câu hỏi.
Câu 10: greenhouse gases
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Từ khóa: burning of fossil fuels, releases, atmosphere
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, câu cuối
- Giải thích: “The burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere” – từ cần điền là “greenhouse gases”, không quá hai từ và trích xuất chính xác từ passage.
Câu 13: visual impact
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Từ khóa: communities resist, concerns about
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, câu thứ hai
- Giải thích: “However, some communities resist renewable energy projects due to concerns about visual impact, particularly with wind farms, or land use changes” – từ cần điền là “visual impact”.
Passage 2 – Giải Thích
Câu 14: NO
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: economic transition, affects only energy sector
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, câu đầu
- Giải thích: Câu đầu tiên nói rõ “generating far-reaching economic consequences that extend well beyond the energy sector itself” – tác động vượt xa ngành năng lượng, vì vậy quan điểm “only energy sector” là SAI, chọn NO.
Câu 15: NO
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: all discovered fossil fuel reserves, eventually extracted
- Vị trí trong bài: Section A, câu thứ ba
- Giải thích: Bài viết nói về “stranded assets” và “trillions of dollars worth of coal, oil, and gas reserves may never be economically recoverable” – không phải tất cả sẽ được khai thác, quan điểm này SAI.
Câu 16: YES
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: China’s dominance, manufacturing, employment opportunities
- Vị trí trong bài: Section B, đoạn đầu
- Giải thích: “This manufacturing dominance has created millions of jobs domestically” – tác giả đồng ý rằng sự thống trị của Trung Quốc đã tạo việc làm trong nước.
Câu 19: iii (Section A)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
- Giải thích: Section A nói về “stranded assets”, sự suy giảm kinh tế của ngành nhiên liệu hóa thạch, các công ty dầu mỏ phải ghi giảm giá trị tài sản – đây là những rủi ro kinh tế mà các nhà sản xuất năng lượng truyền thống phải đối mặt. Heading iii “Economic risks facing traditional energy producers” phù hợp nhất.
Câu 20: iv (Section B)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
- Giải thích: Section B tập trung vào Trung Quốc và các quốc gia đang trở thành các “new economic powerhouses” nhờ thống trị chuỗi cung ứng năng lượng tái tạo. Heading iv “Countries benefiting from renewable technology production” mô tả chính xác nội dung này.
Câu 24: energy security
- Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
- Từ khóa: countries that import, benefit from renewable energy, better
- Vị trí trong bài: Section C, câu đầu
- Giải thích: “For countries that are net importers of fossil fuels, the renewable energy transition offers the prospect of enhanced energy security” – từ cần điền là “energy security”.
Passage 3 – Giải Thích
Câu 27: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: energy statecraft, fossil fuel era
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, câu thứ hai
- Giải thích: Định nghĩa rõ ràng: “This system generated what scholars term ‘energy statecraft’ – the strategic use of energy resources to achieve foreign policy objectives” – đây chính xác là đáp án B.
Câu 28: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: chokepoints, hydrocarbon age
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, câu thứ hai
- Giải thích: “Control over or the ability to disrupt these critical junctures has been a central preoccupation of naval strategy and a justification for forward military deployments” – chokepoints là mối quan tâm trọng tâm của chiến lược hải quân, đáp án C chính xác.
Câu 30: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: China’s position, renewable energy manufacturing
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6
- Giải thích: “China’s commanding position in solar panel manufacturing (controlling approximately 80% of global production capacity), wind turbine production, and battery manufacturing represents a new form of energy-related strategic advantage” – mô tả vị trí thống trị, đáp án B đúng.
Câu 32: E (United States)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, câu thứ hai
- Giải thích: “America’s role as security guarantor for global oil flows loses strategic salience” – vai trò đảm bảo an ninh cho dòng chảy dầu mỏ toàn cầu đang mất đi tầm quan trọng chiến lược, khớp với đặc điểm E.
Câu 34: B (China)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6
- Giải thích: “controlling approximately 80% of global production capacity” về tấm pin mặt trời – đây chính xác là đặc điểm B.
Câu 37: resource curse
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
- Từ khóa: paradoxical negative effects, hydrocarbon wealth
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, câu cuối
- Giải thích: “The ‘resource curse’ paradoxically affected many energy-rich nations” – thuật ngữ được đề cập chính xác là “resource curse”, không quá ba từ.
Câu 39: lithium triangle
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
- Từ khóa: region, lithium deposits, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, câu thứ tư
- Giải thích: “Lithium deposits are concentrated in the ‘lithium triangle’ of Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia” – tên vùng là “lithium triangle”.
5. Từ Vựng Quan Trọng Theo Passage
Passage 1 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fundamental transformation | noun phrase | /ˌfʌndəˈmentl ˌtrænsfəˈmeɪʃn/ | sự chuyển đổi căn bản | The global energy landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation | undergo transformation, rapid transformation |
| profound restructuring | noun phrase | /prəˈfaʊnd ˌriːˈstrʌktʃərɪŋ/ | sự tái cấu trúc sâu sắc | This shift represents a profound restructuring of how societies generate power | economic restructuring, organizational restructuring |
| sustainable future | noun phrase | /səˈsteɪnəbl ˈfjuːtʃə/ | tương lai bền vững | symbolizing humanity’s attempt to create a sustainable future | build a sustainable future, achieve sustainability |
| dominant energy sources | noun phrase | /ˈdɒmɪnənt ˈenədʒi ˈsɔːsɪz/ | nguồn năng lượng thống trị | coal, oil, and natural gas have been the dominant energy sources | alternative energy sources, renewable sources |
| climate change | noun | /ˈklaɪmət tʃeɪndʒ/ | biến đổi khí hậu | growing concerns about climate change | tackle climate change, address climate change |
| greenhouse gases | noun phrase | /ˈɡriːnhaʊs ˈɡæsɪz/ | khí nhà kính | releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere | emit greenhouse gases, reduce emissions |
| cost-competitive | adjective | /kɒst kəmˈpetətɪv/ | cạnh tranh về giá | have become increasingly cost-competitive | highly competitive, price competitive |
| intermittent | adjective | /ˌɪntəˈmɪtənt/ | không liên tục, gián đoạn | most renewable sources are intermittent | intermittent power supply, intermittent generation |
| energy storage systems | noun phrase | /ˈenədʒi ˈstɔːrɪdʒ ˈsɪstəmz/ | hệ thống lưu trữ năng lượng | necessitates the development of energy storage systems | battery storage, grid-scale storage |
| feed-in tariffs | noun phrase | /fiːd ɪn ˈtærɪfs/ | biểu giá điện khuyến khích | Feed-in tariffs have proven effective | implement tariffs, tariff schemes |
| carbon pricing | noun phrase | /ˈkɑːbən ˈpraɪsɪŋ/ | định giá carbon | carbon pricing mechanisms that make fossil fuels more expensive | carbon tax, emissions pricing |
| energy independence | noun phrase | /ˈenədʒi ˌɪndɪˈpendəns/ | độc lập năng lượng | Countries are gaining energy independence | achieve independence, energy security |
Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| far-reaching consequences | noun phrase | /fɑː ˈriːtʃɪŋ ˈkɒnsɪkwənsɪz/ | hậu quả sâu rộng | generating far-reaching economic consequences | have consequences, serious consequences |
| recalibrating | verb | /ˌriːˈkælɪbreɪtɪŋ/ | hiệu chỉnh lại, điều chỉnh lại | recalibrating economic relationships between nations | recalibrate strategy, recalibrate approach |
| stranded assets | noun phrase | /ˈstrændɪd ˈæsets/ | tài sản mắc cạn | The concept of stranded assets has emerged | write down assets, asset valuation |
| economically unviable | adjective phrase | /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪkli ʌnˈvaɪəbl/ | không khả thi về kinh tế | may become economically unviable before their extraction | financially viable, commercially viable |
| self-reinforcing cycle | noun phrase | /self ˌriːɪnˈfɔːsɪŋ ˈsaɪkl/ | chu trình tự củng cố | This creates a self-reinforcing cycle | vicious cycle, positive feedback loop |
| manufacturing dominance | noun phrase | /ˌmænjuˈfæktʃərɪŋ ˈdɒmɪnəns/ | sự thống trị sản xuất | This manufacturing dominance has created millions of jobs | market dominance, economic dominance |
| strategic resources | noun phrase | /strəˈtiːdʒɪk rɪˈsɔːsɪz/ | tài nguyên chiến lược | becoming the strategic resources of the 21st century | natural resources, critical resources |
| enhanced economic leverage | noun phrase | /ɪnˈhɑːnst ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈliːvərɪdʒ/ | đòn bẩy kinh tế được tăng cường | are gaining enhanced economic leverage | gain leverage, leverage power |
| trade balances | noun phrase | /treɪd ˈbælənsɪz/ | cán cân thương mại | improved trade balances | trade deficit, balance of payments |
| fiscal crises | noun phrase | /ˈfɪskl ˈkraɪsiːz/ | khủng hoảng tài khóa | this transition threatens fiscal crises | economic crisis, financial crisis |
| labor-intensive | adjective | /ˈleɪbər ɪnˈtensɪv/ | tốn nhiều lao động | renewable energy is generally more labor-intensive | capital-intensive, resource-intensive |
| reallocation of capital | noun phrase | /ˌriːæləˈkeɪʃn əv ˈkæpɪtl/ | sự tái phân bổ vốn | This reallocation of capital reflects regulatory changes | capital flows, capital investment |
| green bonds | noun phrase | /ɡriːn bɒndz/ | trái phiếu xanh | Green bonds have grown from a niche financial product | issue bonds, bond market |
| investment gap | noun phrase | /ɪnˈvestmənt ɡæp/ | khoảng cách đầu tư | This investment gap risks creating inequality | funding gap, financing gap |
| equity implications | noun phrase | /ˈekwəti ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃnz/ | tác động về công bằng | has significant equity implications | social equity, distributional effects |
Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fundamental reordering | noun phrase | /ˌfʌndəˈmentl riːˈɔːdərɪŋ/ | sự sắp xếp lại căn bản | precipitating a fundamental reordering of international power structures | structural reordering, global order |
| geopolitical paradigms | noun phrase | /ˌdʒiːəʊpəˈlɪtɪkl ˈpærədaɪmz/ | mô hình địa chính trị | challenging the geopolitical paradigms | paradigm shift, dominant paradigm |
| systemic disruption | noun phrase | /sɪˈstemɪk dɪsˈrʌpʃn/ | sự gián đoạn hệ thống | represents a systemic disruption of mechanisms | market disruption, technological disruption |
| energy statecraft | noun phrase | /ˈenədʒi ˈsteɪtkrɑːft/ | nghệ thuật ngoại giao năng lượng | what scholars term energy statecraft | diplomatic statecraft, strategic statecraft |
| resource curse | noun phrase | /rɪˈsɔːs kɜːs/ | lời nguyền tài nguyên | The resource curse paradoxically affected many nations | natural resource curse, commodity curse |
| chokepoint vulnerabilities | noun phrase | /ˈtʃəʊkpɔɪnt ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪlətiz/ | những điểm nghẽn dễ bị tổn thương | characterized by chokepoint vulnerabilities | strategic chokepoint, maritime chokepoint |
| complex interdependencies | noun phrase | /ˈkɒmpleks ˌɪntədɪˈpendənsiz/ | sự phụ thuộc lẫn nhau phức tạp | This arrangement created complex interdependencies | economic interdependence, mutual dependence |
| geographically concentrated | adjective phrase | /ˌdʒiːəˈɡræfɪkli ˈkɒnsntreɪtɪd/ | tập trung về mặt địa lý | fossil fuels are geographically concentrated | highly concentrated, spatially distributed |
| energy autonomy | noun phrase | /ˈenədʒi ɔːˈtɒnəmi/ | quyền tự chủ năng lượng | can achieve a degree of energy autonomy | achieve autonomy, national autonomy |
| technological prowess | noun phrase | /ˌteknəˈlɒdʒɪkl ˈpraʊəs/ | khả năng công nghệ | technological prowess becomes crucial | military prowess, industrial prowess |
| commanding position | noun phrase | /kəˈmɑːndɪŋ pəˈzɪʃn/ | vị thế thống trị | China’s commanding position in manufacturing | dominant position, strong position |
| coercive potential | noun phrase | /kəʊˈɜːsɪv pəˈtenʃl/ | tiềm năng cưỡng chế | doesn’t replicate the coercive potential | coercive power, use coercion |
| critical minerals | noun phrase | /ˈkrɪtɪkl ˈmɪnərəlz/ | khoáng sản quan trọng | control over critical minerals | rare minerals, mineral resources |
| differential impacts | noun phrase | /ˌdɪfəˈrenʃl ˈɪmpækts/ | tác động khác biệt | has differential impacts on existing power structures | varying impacts, unequal effects |
| strategic autonomy | noun phrase | /strəˈtiːdʒɪk ɔːˈtɒnəmi/ | quyền tự chủ chiến lược | offers Europe a pathway toward strategic autonomy | political autonomy, achieve autonomy |
| existential challenges | noun phrase | /ˌeɡzɪˈstenʃl ˈtʃælɪndʒɪz/ | thách thức sinh tồn | Oil-exporting nations face existential challenges | existential threat, face challenges |
| petrostate | noun | /ˈpetrəʊsteɪt/ | quốc gia phụ thuộc dầu mỏ | As a petrostate heavily dependent on fossil fuel exports | oil-dependent state, resource state |
| threat multiplier | noun phrase | /θret ˈmʌltɪplaɪə/ | yếu tố nhân đôi mối đe dọa | Climate change operates as a threat multiplier | security threat, multiply risks |
| zero-sum dynamics | noun phrase | /ˈzɪərəʊ sʌm daɪˈnæmɪks/ | động lực tổng bằng không | differ from the zero-sum dynamics | zero-sum game, win-lose situation |
Từ vựng học thuật quan trọng trong IELTS Reading chủ đề năng lượng tái tạo
Kết Bài
Chủ đề “How Does Renewable Energy Adoption Affect Global Power Structures?” không chỉ là một đề tài nóng hổi trong thời đại hiện nay mà còn là một chủ đề thường xuyên xuất hiện trong các kỳ thi IELTS Reading với nhiều góc độ tiếp cận khác nhau. Qua bộ đề thi mẫu hoàn chỉnh này, bạn đã được trải nghiệm một bài thi IELTS Reading chân thực với đầy đủ 40 câu hỏi được thiết kế công phu theo đúng format và độ khó của kỳ thi thật.
Ba passages trong đề thi đã đưa bạn đi từ những khái niệm cơ bản về năng lượng tái tạo và tác động ban đầu của nó, qua phân tích sâu hơn về những hệ quả kinh tế phức tạp, cho đến việc khám phá các vấn đề địa chính trị tinh vi và sự tái cấu trúc quyền lực toàn cầu. Mỗi passage không chỉ kiểm tra khả năng đọc hiểu mà còn yêu cầu bạn vận dụng nhiều kỹ năng khác nhau như scanning thông tin chi tiết, skimming ý chính, suy luận logic và nhận diện paraphrase.
Phần đáp án chi tiết đã cung cấp cho bạn không chỉ những câu trả lời đúng mà còn giải thích rõ ràng về vị trí thông tin trong bài, cách paraphrase giữa câu hỏi và passage, cũng như phương pháp tiếp cận cho từng dạng câu hỏi. Đây là nguồn tài liệu quý giá giúp bạn tự đánh giá năng lực, nhận diện điểm yếu và cải thiện kỹ năng làm bài một cách có hệ thống.
Hệ thống từ vựng được tổng hợp theo từng passage với hơn 40 từ vựng quan trọng kèm phiên âm, nghĩa tiếng Việt, ví dụ cụ thể và collocations sẽ giúp bạn mở rộng vốn từ học thuật, đặc biệt là những từ vựng chuyên ngành về năng lượng, kinh tế, địa chính trị và môi trường – những lĩnh vực thường xuyên xuất hiện trong IELTS Reading.
Hãy sử dụng đề thi này như một công cụ luyện tập thực chiến. Lần đầu tiên, hãy làm bài trong điều kiện giống thi thật với giới hạn thời gian chặt chẽ. Sau đó, dành thời gian xem lại đáp án chi tiết, phân tích những câu làm sai và học từ vựng mới. Bạn có thể làm lại đề này nhiều lần với các mục tiêu khác nhau: lần đầu tập trung vào tốc độ, lần sau chú trọng độ chính xác, hoặc thực hành riêng từng dạng câu hỏi.
Với sự luyện tập đều đặn và phương pháp đúng đắn, bạn hoàn toàn có thể đạt được band điểm mục tiêu trong phần IELTS Reading. Chúc bạn học tốt và thành công trong kỳ thi IELTS sắp tới!
