Mở Bài
Chủ đề về tiền tệ kỹ thuật số (digital currencies) đang trở thành một trong những chủ đề nóng hổi và xuất hiện ngày càng nhiều trong các kỳ thi IELTS Reading gần đây. Sự phát triển vượt bậc của Bitcoin, Ethereum và các loại tiền điện tử khác đã tạo nên những thay đổi sâu sắc trong cấu trúc xã hội, hệ thống tài chính và cách thức giao dịch toàn cầu. Đây là chủ đề liên ngành, kết hợp giữa công nghệ, kinh tế, xã hội học và chính sách công, do đó rất phù hợp với định dạng học thuật của IELTS.
Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ được trải nghiệm một đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với đầy đủ 3 passages từ mức độ dễ đến khó, bao gồm 40 câu hỏi đa dạng giống như thi thật. Bạn sẽ học được cách xử lý các dạng câu hỏi phổ biến như True/False/Not Given, Matching Headings, Summary Completion và Multiple Choice. Đặc biệt, phần giải thích đáp án chi tiết sẽ giúp bạn hiểu rõ kỹ thuật paraphrase – yếu tố then chốt để đạt band điểm cao trong IELTS Reading. Bộ đề này phù hợp cho học viên từ band 5.0 trở lên, với từ vựng được phân loại theo độ khó và các tips thực chiến từ kinh nghiệm giảng dạy hơn 20 năm.
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. Điểm số của bạn được quy đổi thành band từ 1.0 đến 9.0 dựa trên số câu trả lời đúng. Mỗi passage có độ khó tăng dần, với Passage 1 thường dễ nhất và Passage 3 khó nhất.
Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:
- Passage 1: 15-17 phút (độ khó Easy, band 5.0-6.5)
- Passage 2: 18-20 phút (độ khó Medium, band 6.0-7.5)
- Passage 3: 23-25 phút (độ khó Hard, band 7.0-9.0)
Lưu ý quan trọng: Bạn phải tự quản lý thời gian và chuyển đáp án vào Answer Sheet. Không có thời gian thêm để chuyển đáp án như trong IELTS Listening.
Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này
Đề thi mẫu này bao gồm 7 dạng câu hỏi phổ biến nhất:
- Multiple Choice – Chọn đáp án đúng từ A, B, C, D
- True/False/Not Given – Xác định thông tin đúng, sai hay không được nhắc đến
- Matching Information – Ghép thông tin với đoạn văn tương ứng
- Sentence Completion – Hoàn thành câu với từ trong bài
- Matching Headings – Chọn tiêu đề phù hợp cho mỗi đoạn
- Summary Completion – Điền từ vào đoạn tóm tắt
- Short-answer Questions – Trả lời câu hỏi ngắn
Với chủ đề How is blockchain technology impacting financial transparency?, bạn sẽ thấy mối liên hệ chặt chẽ giữa công nghệ blockchain và sự phát triển của tiền tệ kỹ thuật số.
2. IELTS Reading Practice Test
PASSAGE 1 – The Digital Money Revolution
Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút
The world of money is undergoing a dramatic transformation. For thousands of years, humans have used physical objects as currency – from shells and precious metals to paper notes and coins. However, the 21st century has witnessed the emergence of a new form of money that exists purely in digital form: digital currencies. These virtual forms of payment are changing not only how we buy and sell goods, but also how societies function and interact economically.
Digital currencies can be broadly divided into two categories: cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, which operate independently of governments and banks, and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), which are issued and controlled by national governments. Bitcoin, launched in 2009 by an anonymous creator known as Satoshi Nakamoto, was the first successful cryptocurrency. It introduced the world to blockchain technology – a decentralized ledger system that records all transactions across a network of computers, making it nearly impossible to alter or hack.
The rise of digital currencies has created significant social implications. One of the most important is financial inclusion. According to the World Bank, approximately 1.7 billion adults worldwide do not have access to traditional banking services. Many of these individuals live in remote areas where banks have no physical presence, or they lack the documentation required to open bank accounts. Digital currencies offer a potential solution to this problem. With just a smartphone and internet connection, people can now send, receive, and store money without needing a bank account. This has revolutionary potential for developing countries, where mobile phone penetration is often higher than banking access.
Another major social change involves remittances – money sent by workers to their families in other countries. Traditional remittance services like Western Union or MoneyGram charge substantial fees, often between 5-10% of the amount sent, and transfers can take several days. Digital currencies enable near-instantaneous transfers at a fraction of the cost, sometimes less than 1%. For migrant workers who send money home regularly, this difference can be life-changing. A construction worker in Dubai sending money to the Philippines, for example, can now transfer funds directly to his family’s digital wallet within minutes, keeping more of his hard-earned income.
However, digital currencies also present challenges. Privacy concerns are paramount. While cryptocurrency transactions are recorded on public blockchains, user identities are typically pseudonymous – represented by long strings of numbers and letters rather than real names. This anonymity has made digital currencies attractive for illicit activities, including money laundering, tax evasion, and purchases on illegal marketplaces. Governments worldwide are grappling with how to regulate these currencies while preserving their beneficial features.
Economic inequality is another concern. Early adopters of cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, have accumulated significant wealth as values have soared. Bitcoin’s price increased from less than $1 in 2010 to over $60,000 at its peak in 2021. This has created a new class of “crypto millionaires,” while those without technical knowledge or capital to invest have been left behind. Critics argue this wealth concentration contradicts the egalitarian ideals that originally motivated cryptocurrency development.
The volatility of digital currencies poses additional social risks. Unlike traditional currencies backed by governments and stable economies, cryptocurrency values can fluctuate wildly. Bitcoin has experienced numerous dramatic price swings, sometimes losing or gaining thousands of dollars in value within a single day. For individuals or businesses holding significant amounts of cryptocurrency, this unpredictability creates financial insecurity. Stories abound of people who became wealthy overnight when Bitcoin surged, only to lose everything when the market crashed.
Despite these challenges, digital currencies continue to gain mainstream acceptance. Major companies like Tesla, Microsoft, and PayPal now accept cryptocurrency payments. Several countries, including El Salvador, have adopted Bitcoin as legal tender alongside traditional currency. As technology improves and regulations develop, digital currencies will likely play an increasingly central role in the global economy, fundamentally reshaping social structures and economic relationships in ways we are only beginning to understand.
Cách mạng tiền tệ kỹ thuật số và ảnh hưởng xã hội trong IELTS Reading
Questions 1-13
Questions 1-5: True/False/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given 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
- Digital currencies have existed for thousands of years in various forms.
- Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency to successfully use blockchain technology.
- The World Bank estimates that 1.7 billion adults lack access to banking services.
- Traditional remittance services typically charge between 5-10% in fees.
- All governments have successfully created regulations for digital currencies.
Questions 6-9: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
-
According to the passage, what makes blockchain technology secure?
- A) It is controlled by governments
- B) It records transactions across multiple computers
- C) It requires bank authorization
- D) It uses paper documentation
-
Digital currencies can help with financial inclusion because:
- A) They require less documentation than traditional banks
- B) They are only available in developed countries
- C) They eliminate the need for internet access
- D) They are controlled by central banks
-
What is a major concern regarding cryptocurrency anonymity?
- A) It makes transactions too slow
- B) It prevents people from investing
- C) It can facilitate illegal activities
- D) It increases government control
-
The volatility of digital currencies means:
- A) Their value is guaranteed by governments
- B) They can experience rapid price changes
- C) They are more stable than traditional money
- D) They cannot be used for business transactions
Questions 10-13: Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- Cryptocurrency users are identified by __ rather than their real names on public blockchains.
- Early Bitcoin investors have been called “crypto millionaires” because of the __ they accumulated.
- El Salvador adopted Bitcoin as __ alongside its traditional currency.
- Critics say the concentration of wealth in cryptocurrencies goes against the __ that originally inspired their creation.
PASSAGE 2 – Reshaping Social Structures Through Digital Finance
Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút
The proliferation of digital currencies represents far more than a technological innovation; it constitutes a fundamental restructuring of social and economic relationships that have defined human civilization for centuries. While mainstream discourse often focuses on the financial mechanics of cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), the deeper sociological implications deserve equal scrutiny. These digital assets are reconfiguring power dynamics, trust mechanisms, and the very nature of monetary sovereignty in ways that challenge traditional institutional frameworks.
Disintermediation – the removal of intermediaries from transactions – stands as perhaps the most profound social shift enabled by digital currencies. Traditional financial systems operate through hierarchical structures of banks, payment processors, and regulatory bodies that act as gatekeepers to economic participation. This architecture inherently concentrates power in the hands of institutions that can grant or deny access to financial services. Digital currencies, particularly decentralized cryptocurrencies, circumvent these intermediaries through peer-to-peer networks. This democratization of finance has empowering implications for marginalized populations who have historically been excluded from formal financial systems due to geographic, socioeconomic, or political barriers.
Consider the case of Venezuela, where hyperinflation rendered the national currency virtually worthless, and authoritarian governance restricted citizens’ access to foreign currencies and international banking. In this context, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies emerged as lifelines, enabling Venezuelans to preserve wealth, conduct cross-border transactions, and maintain economic agency despite governmental constraints. Similarly, in countries with restrictive capital controls like China or Argentina, digital currencies provide channels for individuals to circumvent state-imposed limitations on moving money across borders. While governments view this as capital flight and a threat to economic stability, citizens see it as exercising fundamental economic freedom.
However, the relationship between digital currencies and social equity is paradoxical. While these technologies promise financial inclusion, they simultaneously risk creating new forms of exclusion and stratification. The “digital divide” – unequal access to technology, internet connectivity, and digital literacy – means that those who might benefit most from digital currencies often face the highest barriers to adoption. Rural populations in sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia may lack the smartphones, reliable electricity, or technical knowledge required to use cryptocurrency wallets safely. Moreover, the technical complexity of managing private keys, understanding blockchain protocols, and navigating cryptocurrency exchanges creates cognitive barriers that favor tech-savvy urban populations over others.
The environmental implications of certain digital currencies have also sparked social controversy. Bitcoin’s proof-of-work consensus mechanism requires enormous computational power, leading to energy consumption comparable to that of entire nations. According to the Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index, Bitcoin mining consumes approximately 130 terawatt-hours annually – more than countries like Argentina or the Netherlands. This carbon footprint has generated ethical debates about whether the social benefits of decentralized finance justify the environmental costs. Younger generations, increasingly concerned about climate change, face a moral dilemma when considering cryptocurrency adoption. Some newer cryptocurrencies have addressed this through alternative consensus mechanisms like proof-of-stake, which require far less energy, representing an evolution in response to social pressure.
Digital currencies are also reconfiguring generational wealth transfer and inheritance practices. Unlike traditional assets that pass through established legal frameworks involving wills, probate courts, and estate lawyers, cryptocurrency holdings stored in digital wallets protected by private keys present unique challenges. When a cryptocurrency holder dies without properly documenting access credentials, those assets may become irretrievable, effectively removing wealth from circulation. Several high-profile cases have emerged of families unable to access millions of dollars in Bitcoin after a relative’s death. This has prompted new social practices around “crypto inheritance planning” and the emergence of specialized services to help families manage digital asset succession.
The pseudonymous nature of cryptocurrency transactions creates ambiguous social dynamics around transparency and accountability. While traditional banking systems allow authorities to track illicit financial flows through Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations, cryptocurrencies operate in a grey zone. This has dual implications: it protects political dissidents and vulnerable populations from governmental overreach, but also enables criminal enterprises, terrorist financing, and tax evasion. The social question becomes: how do communities balance individual privacy rights with collective security needs? Different societies are answering this question differently, with China banning cryptocurrencies entirely while Switzerland has created “Crypto Valley” to embrace the technology.
Furthermore, digital currencies are influencing labor relations and the nature of work itself. The rise of blockchain-based platforms has enabled new forms of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) – entities governed by smart contracts rather than traditional corporate hierarchies. These organizations allow global collaboration without centralized management, distributing both decision-making power and economic rewards according to predetermined algorithms. Some view this as a utopian vision of workplace democracy; others see risks of algorithmic governance that lacks the human judgment and ethical flexibility necessary for fair labor practices.
Tương tự như How digital payments are transforming global remittances, việc chuyển đổi sang thanh toán kỹ thuật số đang tạo ra những thay đổi sâu sắc trong cách mọi người gửi tiền và duy trì mối quan hệ kinh tế xuyên biên giới.
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
- The most significant social change brought by digital currencies is the removal of financial intermediaries.
- Venezuelans used cryptocurrencies primarily for illegal purposes.
- The technical complexity of digital currencies creates advantages for educated urban populations.
- Bitcoin’s energy consumption is acceptable given its social benefits.
- All new cryptocurrencies use proof-of-stake consensus mechanisms.
Questions 19-22: Matching Information
Match each statement with the correct paragraph (A-H). You may use any letter more than once.
Paragraph A – First paragraph (beginning “The proliferation of digital currencies…”)
Paragraph B – Second paragraph (beginning “Disintermediation…”)
Paragraph C – Third paragraph (beginning “Consider the case of Venezuela…”)
Paragraph D – Fourth paragraph (beginning “However, the relationship…”)
Paragraph E – Fifth paragraph (beginning “The environmental implications…”)
Paragraph F – Sixth paragraph (beginning “Digital currencies are also reconfiguring…”)
Paragraph G – Seventh paragraph (beginning “The pseudonymous nature…”)
Paragraph H – Eighth paragraph (beginning “Furthermore, digital currencies…”)
- A description of how cryptocurrency differs from traditional assets when passed to heirs
- An example of a country where digital currencies helped citizens during economic crisis
- Discussion of how workplace organization is changing due to blockchain technology
- Information about the energy usage of Bitcoin mining
Questions 23-26: Summary Completion
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Digital currencies present a complex relationship with social equality. While they promise greater financial inclusion, they also risk creating new forms of (23) __ due to the digital divide. People in rural areas often lack the necessary (24) __ to access cryptocurrency safely. Additionally, managing private keys and understanding blockchain requires (25) __ that many people don’t possess. The (26) __ of cryptocurrency systems tends to favor urban populations with better education and technology access.
PASSAGE 3 – Digital Currencies and the Reconceptualization of Economic Citizenship
Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)
Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút
The advent of digital currencies precipitates a reconceptualization of economic citizenship that challenges entrenched notions of state sovereignty, monetary policy, and the social contract between governments and governed. Traditional conceptions of citizenship have long encompassed both political rights and economic participation within geographically bounded nation-states, where governments wield monopolistic control over currency issuance, monetary policy, and the regulatory frameworks governing financial transactions. Digital currencies, particularly decentralized cryptocurrencies operating on permissionless blockchain networks, fundamentally disrupt this paradigm by enabling transnational economic agency that transcends governmental oversight and challenges the fiscal prerogatives historically reserved for sovereign states.
This disruption manifests most acutely in the domain of monetary sovereignty – the capacity of nation-states to exercise autonomous control over their money supply, interest rates, and currency valuation. Central banks have traditionally employed these levers to pursue macroeconomic objectives including price stability, full employment, and economic growth. The widespread adoption of digital currencies that operate independently of central bank policy creates the possibility of dollarization-like phenomena, wherein citizens preferentially adopt foreign or non-state currencies over their national fiat money, thereby undermining governmental capacity to implement monetary policy effectively. Zimbabwe’s hyperinflationary crisis provides a historical analogue: when the Zimbabwean dollar became worthless, citizens spontaneously adopted the US dollar and other foreign currencies, rendering the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s monetary policy impotent. Digital currencies enable similar de facto dollarization without requiring physical currency or formal government approval, representing what economist Saifedean Ammous terms “monetary secession.”
The implications for taxation and public finance are equally profound. Modern welfare states depend on their capacity to levy taxes and redistribute resources through fiscal policy. This redistributive capacity undergirds the social compact in democratic societies, funding public goods from education and healthcare to infrastructure and social safety nets. However, the pseudonymous and transnational nature of cryptocurrency transactions complicates tax enforcement mechanisms that presuppose transparent financial records and cooperation from regulated intermediaries like banks. While blockchain transparency theoretically enables transaction tracking, the practical challenges of linking pseudonymous addresses to real-world identities, particularly across jurisdictions, creates enforcement gaps that sophisticated actors can exploit for tax avoidance or evasion. The erosion of tax bases through such mechanisms threatens the fiscal sustainability of redistributive programs, potentially exacerbating social inequality and fraying the bonds of civic solidarity that sustain egalitarian societies.
Yet the relationship between digital currencies and social justice presents nuances that resist simplistic characterization. For marginalized populations subjected to financial exclusion, discriminatory practices, or authoritarian control, these technologies offer emancipatory possibilities that may outweigh their systemic risks. Consider unbanked populations in sub-Saharan Africa, where colonial-era banking infrastructure concentrated in urban centers has perpetuated economic marginalization of rural communities. Mobile-based cryptocurrency systems like M-Pesa in Kenya – though technically not a cryptocurrency but demonstrating similar principles of digital financial access – have dramatically expanded economic participation, enabling smallholder farmers to access microloans, savings mechanisms, and payment systems without brick-and-mortar banking infrastructure. Similarly, for LGBTQ+ individuals in countries where legal discrimination or social stigma creates barriers to formal banking, pseudonymous cryptocurrency accounts provide financial agency without mandatory disclosure of sensitive personal information.
The intersectionality of digital currency adoption with existing power structures reveals how these technologies can simultaneously serve as tools of liberation and oppression. Authoritarian regimes have paradoxically both embraced and feared digital currencies. China’s development of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) – the digital yuan – exemplifies this ambivalence. Unlike decentralized cryptocurrencies, CBDCs remain under governmental control, potentially enabling unprecedented surveillance of citizens’ economic activities. Every transaction conducted with digital yuan can be monitored in real-time by authorities, creating what privacy advocates describe as “programmable money” that could enforce social credit systems, restrict purchases based on political compliance, or freeze assets of dissidents instantaneously without judicial oversight. This dystopian potential stands in stark contrast to the libertarian ideals that motivated early cryptocurrency development.
The gendered dimensions of digital currency adoption warrant particular scrutiny. Research by the World Economic Forum indicates that women constitute approximately 5-7% of cryptocurrency users, despite representing 50% of the global population. This stark gender gap reflects and potentially amplifies existing disparities in technological access, financial literacy, and risk tolerance. The male-dominated cryptocurrency community has frequently been criticized for exclusionary culture, sexist rhetoric, and minimal representation of women in leadership positions within blockchain companies and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). Moreover, the speculative nature of cryptocurrency markets and their association with risk-taking behavior may disproportionately appeal to demographic groups with disposable income to invest and cultural socialization toward financial risk – factors that systematically exclude women, particularly those in developing economies or caregiving roles. Without intentional interventions to address these disparities, digital currencies risk replicating and entrenching the patriarchal economic structures they ostensibly aim to disrupt.
Furthermore, the intergenerational implications of digital currency adoption present underexplored social dimensions. Younger cohorts, often termed “digital natives,” demonstrate markedly higher adoption rates and technological fluency with cryptocurrency systems compared to older generations. This generational divide creates potential for intergenerational wealth transfers that deviate from historical patterns, as early cryptocurrency adopters – disproportionately young, technologically sophisticated individuals – accumulate substantial wealth independent of traditional career trajectories or inherited assets. However, this same dynamic creates vulnerabilities for elderly populations who may face particular exploitation through cryptocurrency scams, fraudulent investment schemes, and technical manipulation they lack the digital literacy to recognize or resist. The proliferation of cryptocurrency fraud targeting senior citizens represents a growing social problem requiring regulatory attention and intergenerational solidarity mechanisms.
The evolution of How is the rise of fintech affecting traditional banking? demonstrates the broader transformation of financial systems beyond just currencies, encompassing lending, investment, and wealth management in ways that fundamentally alter social relationships with economic institutions. Digital currencies constitute one component of this larger fintech revolution, but their decentralized nature and challenge to monetary sovereignty make them particularly consequential for social structures.
The discourse surrounding cryptocurrency regulation reveals fundamental tensions between competing social values: individual liberty versus collective security, innovation versus stability, privacy versus transparency. Libertarian advocates view minimal regulation as essential to preserving the emancipatory potential of decentralized finance, arguing that governmental oversight inevitably leads to the same centralized control and exclusionary practices that digital currencies aim to eliminate. Conversely, progressive critics contend that absence of regulation creates power vacuums that well-resourced actors – including criminal organizations, oligarchs, and corporations – can exploit to concentrate wealth and perpetuate injustice without accountability mechanisms. This ideological schism reflects deeper disagreements about the proper relationship between markets, states, and civil society in organizing economic life – questions that societies have grappled with since the inception of capitalism itself.
Tác động xã hội của tiền tệ kỹ thuật số đối với các tầng lớp dân cư
Ultimately, the social implications of digital currencies extend far beyond technical or economic considerations to encompass fundamental questions about power, justice, freedom, and the institutional arrangements that shape human flourishing. As these technologies continue to evolve and proliferate, societies must navigate the complex trade-offs they present, seeking governance frameworks that maximize their emancipatory potential while mitigating their capacity for exploitation and harm. This navigation requires inclusive dialogue that incorporates diverse perspectives – from technology developers and policy makers to marginalized communities whose livelihoods and well-being hang in the balance.
Questions 27-40
Questions 27-31: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- According to the passage, digital currencies challenge traditional economic citizenship by:
- A) Making all transactions completely anonymous
- B) Enabling economic activity beyond government control
- C) Eliminating the need for money entirely
- D) Requiring citizens to hold multiple passports
- The concept of “monetary secession” refers to:
- A) Governments creating their own cryptocurrencies
- B) Citizens abandoning national currency for alternatives
- C) Banks refusing to accept digital payments
- D) Countries leaving international monetary organizations
- The passage suggests that China’s digital yuan:
- A) Provides complete financial privacy for users
- B) Operates independently of government control
- C) Could enable extensive surveillance of transactions
- D) Has been rejected by Chinese citizens
- According to research mentioned in the passage, what percentage of cryptocurrency users are women?
- A) Approximately 50%
- B) Around 20-25%
- C) About 5-7%
- D) More than 60%
- The author’s overall stance on digital currency regulation appears to be:
- A) Strongly in favor of minimal government intervention
- B) Advocating for complete prohibition of cryptocurrencies
- C) Recognizing the complexity and competing values involved
- D) Dismissive of both libertarian and progressive perspectives
Questions 32-36: Matching Features
Match each group or population (32-36) with the correct description (A-H) from the passage.
Groups/Populations:
32. Senior citizens
33. LGBTQ+ individuals in discriminatory countries
34. Rural African farmers
35. Early cryptocurrency adopters
36. Authoritarian regimes
Descriptions:
- A) Have accumulated substantial wealth outside traditional career paths
- B) May face particular vulnerability to cryptocurrency fraud
- C) Have both embraced and feared digital currencies
- D) Benefit from pseudonymous accounts that protect identity
- E) Gained economic access through mobile-based systems
- F) Control all cryptocurrency development
- G) Are completely excluded from digital finance
- H) Represent the majority of blockchain developers
Questions 37-40: Short-answer Questions
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- What does the pseudonymous nature of cryptocurrency transactions complicate for governments?
- What type of banking infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa has perpetuated economic marginalization?
- What term do privacy advocates use to describe money that authorities could control and monitor extensively?
- What does the passage identify as necessary for navigating the complex trade-offs of digital currencies?
3. Answer Keys – Đáp Án
PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13
- FALSE
- TRUE
- TRUE
- TRUE
- NOT GIVEN
- B
- A
- C
- B
- long strings / numbers and letters
- significant wealth
- legal tender
- egalitarian ideals
PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26
- YES
- NOT GIVEN
- YES
- NOT GIVEN
- NOT GIVEN
- F
- C
- H
- E
- exclusion / stratification
- smartphones / reliable electricity
- technical knowledge / digital literacy
- technical complexity
PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40
- B
- B
- C
- C
- C
- B
- D
- E
- A
- C
- tax enforcement (mechanisms)
- colonial-era (banking infrastructure)
- programmable money
- inclusive dialogue
4. Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết
Passage 1 – Giải Thích
Câu 1: FALSE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: digital currencies, existed, thousands of years
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 1-3
- Giải thích: Bài đọc nói rõ “For thousands of years, humans have used physical objects as currency” và sau đó nhấn mạnh “the 21st century has witnessed the emergence of a new form of money that exists purely in digital form.” Điều này cho thấy tiền tệ kỹ thuật số là hiện tượng mới của thế kỷ 21, chứ không tồn tại hàng nghìn năm. Câu phát biểu mâu thuẫn với thông tin này.
Câu 2: TRUE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: Bitcoin, first successful cryptocurrency, blockchain technology
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 4-6
- Giải thích: Passage nói: “Bitcoin, launched in 2009… was the first successful cryptocurrency. It introduced the world to blockchain technology.” Câu phát biểu hoàn toàn đúng với thông tin này.
Câu 6: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: blockchain technology, secure
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 6-8
- Giải thích: Bài viết giải thích blockchain là “a decentralized ledger system that records all transactions across a network of computers, making it nearly impossible to alter or hack.” Điều này được paraphrase thành đáp án B “It records transactions across multiple computers.” Các đáp án khác không được đề cập hoặc sai với nội dung.
Câu 10: long strings / numbers and letters
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Từ khóa: Cryptocurrency users, identified, public blockchains
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng 2-4
- Giải thích: Passage nói: “user identities are typically pseudonymous – represented by long strings of numbers and letters rather than real names.” Đây là thông tin cần điền vào chỗ trống, phải dùng đúng từ trong bài.
Passage 2 – Giải Thích
Câu 14: YES
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: most significant social change, removal of financial intermediaries
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn B (đoạn 2), dòng 1-2
- Giải thích: Tác giả viết: “Disintermediation… stands as perhaps the most profound social shift enabled by digital currencies.” Từ “profound” được paraphrase thành “significant” trong câu hỏi. Đây rõ ràng là quan điểm của tác giả.
Câu 16: YES
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: technical complexity, advantages, educated urban populations
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn D (đoạn 4), dòng cuối
- Giải thích: Tác giả nói: “the technical complexity of managing private keys, understanding blockchain protocols… creates cognitive barriers that favor tech-savvy urban populations over others.” Điều này khẳng định rằng độ phức tạp kỹ thuật tạo lợi thế cho dân thành thị có học vấn.
Câu 19: F
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
- Từ khóa: cryptocurrency, differs from traditional assets, passed to heirs
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn F (đoạn 6)
- Giải thích: Đoạn F thảo luận chi tiết về “generational wealth transfer and inheritance practices” và cách cryptocurrency khác biệt với “traditional assets that pass through established legal frameworks.” Đây là đoạn duy nhất bàn về vấn đề thừa kế.
Câu 23-26: Phần Summary Completion
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn D (đoạn 4)
- Giải thích:
- 23: “new forms of exclusion and stratification” được nhắc trực tiếp
- 24: “lack the smartphones, reliable electricity” là thông tin cụ thể về thiếu hụt
- 25: “technical knowledge” hoặc “digital literacy” đều được nhắc là rào cản
- 26: “technical complexity… that favor tech-savvy urban populations” cho thấy đây là yếu tố tạo lợi thế
Passage 3 – Giải Thích
Câu 27: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: digital currencies challenge, traditional economic citizenship
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, câu đầu và cuối
- Giải thích: Passage nói digital currencies “enable transnational economic agency that transcends governmental oversight” – tức là cho phép hoạt động kinh tế vượt qua sự giám sát của chính phủ. Đáp án B paraphrase ý này thành “economic activity beyond government control.”
Câu 30: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: percentage, cryptocurrency users, women
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 1-2
- Giải thích: Bài viết trích dẫn World Economic Forum: “women constitute approximately 5-7% of cryptocurrency users.” Đây là thông tin cụ thể và rõ ràng.
Câu 37: tax enforcement (mechanisms)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Question
- Từ khóa: pseudonymous nature, complicates, governments
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 4-6
- Giải thích: Passage nói: “the pseudonymous and transnational nature of cryptocurrency transactions complicates tax enforcement mechanisms.” Câu trả lời phải là “tax enforcement” hoặc “tax enforcement mechanisms” (không quá 3 từ).
Câu 39: programmable money
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Question
- Từ khóa: term, privacy advocates, money, authorities control and monitor
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng 8-10
- Giải thích: Bài viết nói: “privacy advocates describe as ‘programmable money’ that could enforce social credit systems, restrict purchases… or freeze assets.” Thuật ngữ chính xác là “programmable money.”
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| dramatic transformation | noun phrase | /drəˈmætɪk ˌtrænsfəˈmeɪʃən/ | sự chuyển đổi mạnh mẽ | The world of money is undergoing a dramatic transformation | undergo a dramatic transformation |
| emergence | noun | /ɪˈmɜːdʒəns/ | sự xuất hiện, nổi lên | the emergence of a new form of money | the emergence of (something) |
| cryptocurrency | noun | /ˈkrɪptoʊˌkɜːrənsi/ | tiền mã hóa | cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum | digital/virtual cryptocurrency |
| decentralized ledger | noun phrase | /diːˈsentrəlaɪzd ˈledʒər/ | sổ cái phi tập trung | a decentralized ledger system | blockchain uses a decentralized ledger |
| financial inclusion | noun phrase | /faɪˈnænʃəl ɪnˈkluːʒən/ | hòa nhập tài chính | One of the most important is financial inclusion | promote/enhance financial inclusion |
| remote areas | noun phrase | /rɪˈmoʊt ˈeəriəz/ | vùng xa xôi, hẻo lánh | people live in remote areas | in/from remote areas |
| remittances | noun | /rɪˈmɪtənsɪz/ | kiều hối, tiền chuyển về | money sent by workers – remittances | send/receive remittances |
| substantial fees | noun phrase | /səbˈstænʃəl fiːz/ | phí đáng kể | charge substantial fees | charge/pay substantial fees |
| near-instantaneous | adjective | /nɪər ˌɪnstənˈteɪniəs/ | gần như tức thì | enable near-instantaneous transfers | near-instantaneous transfer/response |
| anonymity | noun | /ˌænəˈnɪməti/ | sự ẩn danh | This anonymity has made digital currencies attractive | maintain/preserve anonymity |
| volatility | noun | /ˌvɑːləˈtɪləti/ | tính biến động | The volatility of digital currencies | market/price volatility |
| mainstream acceptance | noun phrase | /ˈmeɪnstriːm əkˈseptəns/ | sự chấp nhận rộng rãi | continue to gain mainstream acceptance | gain/achieve mainstream acceptance |
Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| proliferation | noun | /prəˌlɪfəˈreɪʃən/ | sự gia tăng nhanh, phổ biến | The proliferation of digital currencies | the proliferation of (something) |
| fundamental restructuring | noun phrase | /ˌfʌndəˈmentl ˌriːˈstrʌktʃərɪŋ/ | sự tái cấu trúc căn bản | constitutes a fundamental restructuring | undergo fundamental restructuring |
| sociological implications | noun phrase | /ˌsoʊsiəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃənz/ | hàm ý xã hội học | the deeper sociological implications | examine/explore sociological implications |
| disintermediation | noun | /ˌdɪsˌɪntərˌmiːdiˈeɪʃən/ | phi trung gian hóa | Disintermediation stands as the most profound shift | financial/banking disintermediation |
| hierarchical structures | noun phrase | /ˌhaɪəˈrɑːkɪkəl ˈstrʌktʃərz/ | cấu trúc phân cấp | operate through hierarchical structures | establish/maintain hierarchical structures |
| gatekeepers | noun | /ˈɡeɪtˌkiːpərz/ | người kiểm soát quyền truy cập | act as gatekeepers to economic participation | financial/institutional gatekeepers |
| circumvent | verb | /ˌsɜːrkəmˈvent/ | vượt qua, lách luật | cryptocurrencies circumvent these intermediaries | circumvent regulations/restrictions |
| democratization | noun | /dɪˌmɑːkrətaɪˈzeɪʃən/ | quá trình dân chủ hóa | This democratization of finance | the democratization of (something) |
| marginalized populations | noun phrase | /ˈmɑːrdʒɪnəlaɪzd ˌpɑːpjəˈleɪʃənz/ | nhóm dân cư thiệt thòi | empowering implications for marginalized populations | support/help marginalized populations |
| hyperinflation | noun | /ˌhaɪpərɪnˈfleɪʃən/ | siêu lạm phát | hyperinflation rendered the currency worthless | experience/suffer hyperinflation |
| digital divide | noun phrase | /ˈdɪdʒɪtl dɪˈvaɪd/ | khoảng cách kỹ thuật số | The digital divide means unequal access | bridge/narrow the digital divide |
| digital literacy | noun phrase | /ˈdɪdʒɪtl ˈlɪtərəsi/ | kiến thức kỹ thuật số | unequal access and digital literacy | improve/enhance digital literacy |
| proof-of-work | noun phrase | /pruːf əv wɜːrk/ | cơ chế chứng minh công việc | Bitcoin’s proof-of-work consensus mechanism | proof-of-work/proof-of-stake mechanism |
| consensus mechanism | noun phrase | /kənˈsensəs ˈmekənɪzəm/ | cơ chế đồng thuận | alternative consensus mechanisms like proof-of-stake | blockchain consensus mechanism |
| pseudonymous | adjective | /sjuːˈdɑːnɪməs/ | dùng bút danh, giả danh | The pseudonymous nature of transactions | pseudonymous/anonymous transactions |
Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| precipitate | verb | /prɪˈsɪpɪteɪt/ | gây ra, xúc tiến | The advent precipitates a reconceptualization | precipitate a crisis/change |
| reconceptualization | noun | /ˌriːkənˌseptʃuəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/ | sự tái khái niệm hóa | precipitates a reconceptualization of citizenship | require reconceptualization of (something) |
| entrenched notions | noun phrase | /ɪnˈtrentʃt ˈnoʊʃənz/ | quan niệm đã ăn sâu | challenges entrenched notions of state sovereignty | challenge/question entrenched notions |
| wield | verb | /wiːld/ | nắm giữ, sử dụng (quyền lực) | governments wield monopolistic control | wield power/influence/control |
| monopolistic control | noun phrase | /məˌnɑːpəˈlɪstɪk kənˈtroʊl/ | sự kiểm soát độc quyền | wield monopolistic control over currency | exercise/maintain monopolistic control |
| permissionless | adjective | /pərˈmɪʃənləs/ | không cần cho phép | operating on permissionless blockchain networks | permissionless/permissioned blockchain |
| transcend | verb | /trænˈsend/ | vượt qua, siêu việt | enable agency that transcends governmental oversight | transcend boundaries/limitations |
| fiscal prerogatives | noun phrase | /ˈfɪskəl prɪˈrɑːɡətɪvz/ | đặc quyền tài khóa | challenges the fiscal prerogatives of states | exercise/defend fiscal prerogatives |
| monetary sovereignty | noun phrase | /ˈmɑːnɪteri ˈsɑːvrənti/ | chủ quyền tiền tệ | manifests in the domain of monetary sovereignty | protect/maintain monetary sovereignty |
| macroeconomic objectives | noun phrase | /ˌmækroʊˌiːkəˈnɑːmɪk əbˈdʒektɪvz/ | mục tiêu kinh tế vĩ mô | pursue macroeconomic objectives | achieve/pursue macroeconomic objectives |
| dollarization | noun | /ˌdɑːləraɪˈzeɪʃən/ | đô la hóa | creates dollarization-like phenomena | economic/currency dollarization |
| levy taxes | verb phrase | /ˈlevi ˈtæksɪz/ | đánh thuế | capacity to levy taxes | levy/impose taxes |
| redistribute resources | verb phrase | /ˌriːdɪˈstrɪbjuːt rɪˈsɔːrsɪz/ | phân phối lại nguồn lực | redistribute resources through fiscal policy | redistribute wealth/resources |
| undergird | verb | /ˌʌndərˈɡɜːrd/ | hỗ trợ nền tảng, làm nền móng | This capacity undergirds the social compact | undergird the foundation/system |
| emancipatory | adjective | /ɪˈmænsɪpətɔːri/ | giải phóng, tự do hóa | offer emancipatory possibilities | emancipatory potential/possibilities |
| intersectionality | noun | /ˌɪntərsekʃəˈnæləti/ | tính giao thoa | The intersectionality of digital currency adoption | explore/examine intersectionality |
| dystopian potential | noun phrase | /dɪsˈtoʊpiən pəˈtenʃəl/ | tiềm năng xấu xa | This dystopian potential stands in contrast | dystopian/utopian potential |
| ideological schism | noun phrase | /ˌaɪdiəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl ˈskɪzəm/ | sự chia rẽ về tư tưởng | This ideological schism reflects deeper disagreements | ideological/political schism |
Từ vựng quan trọng IELTS Reading về tiền tệ kỹ thuật số và ứng dụng
Kết Bài
Chủ đề Social Implications Of Digital Currencies không chỉ là một chủ đề thời sự mà còn phản ánh những thay đổi sâu sắc trong cấu trúc xã hội và kinh tế toàn cầu. Qua bộ đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh này với 3 passages tăng dần về độ khó, bạn đã được trải nghiệm một bài thi chân thực với đầy đủ 40 câu hỏi đa dạng dạng.
Passage 1 giới thiệu những khái niệm cơ bản về tiền tệ kỹ thuật số, phù hợp để xây dựng nền tảng hiểu biết. Passage 2 đi sâu vào các vấn đề xã hội phức tạp hơn như bất bình đẳng kỹ thuật số, tác động môi trường và thay đổi trong cấu trúc lao động. Passage 3 yêu cầu khả năng phân tích cao với những khái niệm học thuật về chủ quyền tiền tệ, công dân kinh tế và những mâu thuẫn tư tưởng xung quanh quy định tiền mã hóa.
Phần đáp án chi tiết không chỉ cung cấp câu trả lời đúng mà còn giải thích rõ ràng vị trí thông tin, cách paraphrase và kỹ thuật làm bài cho từng dạng câu hỏi. Điều này giúp bạn tự đánh giá năng lực và học hỏi từ những sai lầm. Bộ từ vựng được phân loại theo 3 levels sẽ là tài liệu quý giá để bạn mở rộng vốn từ học thuật, đặc biệt trong lĩnh vực tài chính – công nghệ.
Hãy nhớ rằng, thành công trong IELTS Reading không chỉ đến từ việc làm nhiều bài tập mà còn từ việc hiểu sâu cấu trúc câu hỏi, rèn luyện kỹ năng skimming-scanning, và xây dựng vốn từ vựng chủ đề một cách bài bản. Chúc bạn học tập hiệu quả và đạt band điểm mong muốn trong kỳ thi IELTS sắp tới!
