Mở Bài
Chủ đề về tác động của đô thị hóa đến sức khỏe cộng đồng là một trong những đề tài xuất hiện thường xuyên trong kỳ thi IELTS Reading, đặc biệt ở phần thi Academic. Với xu hướng toàn cầu hóa và phát triển đô thị ngày càng gia tăng, việc hiểu rõ những ảnh hưởng tích cực lẫn tiêu cực của quá trình này đến sức khỏe con người trở nên vô cùng quan trọng.
Bài viết này cung cấp cho bạn một đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với 3 passages từ dễ đến khó, bao gồm 40 câu hỏi đa dạng giống như thi thật. Bạn sẽ được luyện tập với các dạng câu hỏi phổ biến như Multiple Choice, True/False/Not Given, Matching Headings, và nhiều dạng khác. Mỗi câu hỏi đều có đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích cụ thể về vị trí thông tin trong bài và kỹ thuật paraphrase.
Đề thi này phù hợp cho học viên từ band 5.0 trở lên, giúp bạn làm quen với độ khó tăng dần và rèn luyện khả năng quản lý thời gian hiệu quả. Bên cạnh đó, bạn sẽ được trang bị kho từ vựng phong phú về chủ đề đô thị hóa và sức khỏe cộng đồng, cùng với các chiến lược làm bài thực chiến từ kinh nghiệm giảng dạy hơn 20 năm.
Hướng Dẫn Làm Bài IELTS Reading
Tổng Quan Về IELTS Reading Test
IELTS Reading Test là một phần quan trọng trong kỳ thi IELTS, đánh giá khả năng đọc hiểu của thí sinh qua 3 passages với độ khó tăng dần. Bạn có 60 phút để hoàn thành 40 câu hỏi, không có thời gian phụ để chép đáp án vào answer sheet.
Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:
- Passage 1: 15-17 phút (độ khó dễ, band 5.0-6.5)
- Passage 2: 18-20 phút (độ khó trung bình, band 6.0-7.5)
- Passage 3: 23-25 phút (độ khó cao, band 7.0-9.0)
Lưu ý rằng mỗi câu trả lời đúng được tính 1 điểm, không có điểm âm cho câu sai. Do đó, hãy cố gắng trả lời tất cả các câu hỏi ngay cả khi không chắc chắn.
Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này
Đề thi mẫu này bao gồm đầy đủ các dạng câu hỏi phổ biến nhất trong IELTS Reading:
- Multiple Choice – Chọn đáp án đúng từ các phương án cho sẵn
- True/False/Not Given – Xác định thông tin đúng, sai hay không được đề cập
- Yes/No/Not Given – Xác định ý kiến của tác giả
- Matching Headings – Ghép tiêu đề với đoạn văn
- Sentence Completion – Hoàn thành câu với thông tin từ bài đọc
- Summary Completion – Điền từ vào đoạn tóm tắt
- Matching Features – Ghép đặc điểm với các yếu tố trong bài
IELTS Reading Practice Test
PASSAGE 1 – Urban Growth and Community Health: An Introduction
Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút
The world is experiencing an unprecedented wave of urbanization. According to the United Nations, more than half of the global population now lives in urban areas, and this proportion is expected to reach 68% by 2050. This dramatic shift from rural to urban living has profound implications for public health, creating both opportunities and challenges that affect millions of people worldwide.
Urban environments offer numerous advantages that can positively impact health outcomes. Cities typically provide better access to healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and specialized medical centers. This concentration of medical resources means that urban residents often receive faster treatment and have access to more advanced medical technologies than their rural counterparts. Additionally, cities usually have more healthcare professionals per capita, reducing waiting times and improving the quality of care.
Another significant benefit of urbanization is improved sanitation infrastructure. Modern cities invest heavily in water treatment systems, sewage management, and waste disposal services. These systems help prevent the spread of infectious diseases that were once common in densely populated areas. For example, the development of comprehensive sanitation networks in European cities during the 19th century dramatically reduced outbreaks of cholera and typhoid fever. Today, well-planned urban areas continue to demonstrate that proper infrastructure can create healthier living environments.
Furthermore, urban areas often promote healthier lifestyle choices through better access to education and information. Cities typically have more schools, libraries, and public health campaigns that raise awareness about disease prevention, nutrition, and healthy habits. This educational advantage helps residents make informed decisions about their health and well-being. Many cities also offer recreational facilities such as gyms, swimming pools, and sports centers, encouraging physical activity among residents.
However, urbanization also brings significant health challenges that cannot be ignored. One of the most pressing issues is air pollution, which has become a major concern in rapidly growing cities, particularly in developing countries. Vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and construction dust contribute to poor air quality, leading to increased rates of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and even certain types of cancer. The World Health Organization estimates that ambient air pollution causes approximately 4.2 million premature deaths annually worldwide.
Urban sprawl and the design of modern cities also contribute to sedentary lifestyles. Many urban areas are built around automobile use rather than walking or cycling, leading to decreased physical activity among residents. This lack of exercise, combined with easy access to processed foods and fast food restaurants, has contributed to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and other lifestyle-related diseases in urban populations. The built environment of cities – including the availability of sidewalks, parks, and safe public spaces – plays a crucial role in determining residents’ physical activity levels.
Mental health is another area where urbanization shows mixed effects. While cities offer more mental health services and support networks, the urban lifestyle itself can be psychologically demanding. High levels of noise, overcrowding, long commutes, and the fast pace of city life can increase stress and anxiety. Studies have shown that urban residents have a higher risk of developing mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety, compared to those living in rural areas. The lack of green spaces and connection to nature in many cities may also contribute to these mental health challenges.
Infectious disease transmission is facilitated by the high population density characteristic of urban areas. When many people live in close proximity, diseases can spread more rapidly through communities. This was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when urban areas experienced higher rates of transmission compared to rural regions. Overcrowded housing, inadequate ventilation, and limited personal space in some urban neighborhoods create ideal conditions for disease outbreaks.
Despite these challenges, many cities are implementing innovative solutions to improve public health. Urban planning initiatives now increasingly focus on creating health-promoting environments. This includes developing pedestrian-friendly streets, expanding public transportation networks, increasing green spaces, and regulating industrial emissions. Some cities have introduced bike-sharing programs, urban gardens, and outdoor fitness equipment in public parks to encourage active lifestyles.
The key to maximizing the health benefits of urbanization while minimizing its negative impacts lies in thoughtful urban planning and evidence-based policies. Cities that prioritize public health in their development strategies can create environments that support both physical and mental well-being. As urbanization continues to reshape our world, understanding and addressing its effects on public health remains a critical priority for governments, health professionals, and communities worldwide.
Questions 1-5: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
-
According to the passage, what percentage of the global population is expected to live in urban areas by 2050?
A. 50%
B. 58%
C. 68%
D. 78% -
The passage mentions that 19th-century European cities reduced disease outbreaks through:
A. Better healthcare professionals
B. Comprehensive sanitation networks
C. Public health campaigns
D. Recreational facilities -
According to the World Health Organization, how many premature deaths are caused by ambient air pollution annually?
A. 2.4 million
B. 3.2 million
C. 4.2 million
D. 5.2 million -
The passage suggests that urban design centered around automobile use leads to:
A. Better air quality
B. Increased mental health services
C. Decreased physical activity
D. Improved sanitation -
What did the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate about urban areas?
A. They had better healthcare facilities
B. They experienced higher disease transmission rates
C. They had more mental health support
D. They implemented better health policies
Questions 6-10: 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
- Urban residents always receive better medical care than rural residents.
- Poor air quality in cities can lead to cardiovascular problems.
- All modern cities are designed to encourage walking and cycling.
- Urban residents have a higher risk of mental health disorders than rural residents.
- Every city has implemented bike-sharing programs to promote health.
Questions 11-13: Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.
- Cities offer better access to information through schools, libraries, and _____.
- The _____ of cities, including sidewalks and parks, affects how much residents exercise.
- Effective solutions to urban health challenges require _____ and evidence-based policies.
PASSAGE 2 – The Dual Nature of Urban Health Transitions
Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút
The relationship between urbanization and public health represents one of the most complex epidemiological paradoxes of our time. While cities concentrate resources and opportunities that can enhance health outcomes, they simultaneously create environmental stressors and social conditions that may undermine well-being. Understanding this duality requires examining the multifaceted mechanisms through which urban living influences human health across different populations and contexts.
Section A
The concept of the “urban health advantage” emerged from observations that, historically, cities with developed infrastructure demonstrated lower mortality rates and longer life expectancies compared to rural areas. This advantage stems primarily from three interconnected factors: enhanced access to preventive healthcare services, superior emergency medical response systems, and concentrated medical expertise. In high-income nations, urban residents benefit from proximity to specialized medical facilities, enabling early detection and treatment of diseases. Furthermore, the density of healthcare providers in cities facilitates continuity of care and allows for multidisciplinary approaches to complex health conditions. Research conducted in European cities has shown that urban dwellers have 30-40% better access to specialist consultations compared to rural populations, translating into improved outcomes for chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular conditions.
Section B
However, this urban health advantage is neither universal nor equally distributed. Socioeconomic disparities within cities create dramatic variations in health outcomes, often more pronounced than differences between urban and rural areas. The phenomenon of health inequity is particularly evident in rapidly urbanizing regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where informal settlements and slum conditions proliferate. In these contexts, residents face what researchers term the “worst of both worlds“: they lack access to the rural benefits of clean air and space while simultaneously being denied urban advantages like quality housing and healthcare. Studies from major cities in developing countries reveal that slum dwellers experience mortality rates comparable to or exceeding those in rural areas, despite living in supposedly resource-rich urban environments. Understanding the impact of urban development on public health requires recognizing these stark inequalities within urban populations.
Tác động của đô thị hóa đến sức khỏe cộng đồng qua các yếu tố môi trường và xã hội
Section C
The environmental health burden associated with urbanization manifests most significantly through air quality degradation. Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen oxides, and ground-level ozone generated by vehicular traffic and industrial activities create a toxic atmospheric cocktail that penetrates deep into human respiratory systems. Epidemiological studies have established robust associations between long-term exposure to urban air pollution and increased incidence of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ischemic heart disease, and stroke. The burden is not uniformly distributed; children, elderly individuals, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions face disproportionate risks. Moreover, emerging research suggests that air pollution may affect cognitive development in children and accelerate cognitive decline in older adults, adding a neurological dimension to the traditional respiratory and cardiovascular concerns.
Section D
Urban form and infrastructure design exert profound influences on population-level health behaviors. The discipline of urban health geography examines how the spatial organization of cities shapes physical activity patterns, dietary choices, and social interactions. Cities characterized by sprawling development, automobile dependency, and insufficient pedestrian infrastructure create what public health researchers call “obesogenic environments” – settings that passively promote weight gain through limited opportunities for physical activity and easy access to energy-dense foods. Conversely, cities embracing compact development, mixed-use zoning, and active transportation infrastructure demonstrate lower rates of obesity and related metabolic disorders. The concept of “walkability” – measured through factors such as sidewalk quality, street connectivity, land-use diversity, and aesthetic appeal – has emerged as a critical determinant of urban health. Research from North American cities indicates that residents of highly walkable neighborhoods engage in 60-90 minutes more physical activity per week compared to those in car-dependent suburbs.
Section E
The psychological dimensions of urban living present equally compelling considerations. While cities offer cultural diversity, social opportunities, and economic prospects, they also generate unique psychosocial stressors. Urban sociologists have identified several pathways through which city life affects mental health: chronic noise exposure triggers stress response systems; lack of natural environments deprives residents of restorative experiences; social fragmentation reduces community cohesion; and perceived danger in public spaces limits social engagement. The neuroscience of urban stress reveals that city dwellers show heightened amygdala activity – a brain region involved in processing threats and emotions – when exposed to urban stressors. Interestingly, the duration of urban residence correlates with these neurobiological changes, suggesting cumulative effects of urban living on brain function. Similar to how the impact of climate change on the spread of diseases creates new health challenges, urban stress represents an evolving health concern that requires comprehensive responses.
Section F
Infectious disease dynamics in urban settings reflect the interplay between population density, mobility patterns, and environmental conditions. High-density living facilitates person-to-person transmission of respiratory pathogens, while inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure enables fecal-oral transmission routes. However, cities also possess surveillance capacities and healthcare resources that can rapidly detect and respond to outbreaks. The dual nature of urban environments as both disease incubators and response centers became evident during recent pandemic events. Cities that invested in robust public health infrastructure, maintained adequate healthcare surge capacity, and implemented evidence-based interventions managed to mitigate disease spread more effectively than those lacking such systems.
Section G
Moving forward, the concept of “healthy urban planning” integrates public health principles into city design from the outset. This approach recognizes that decisions about transportation networks, housing density, green space allocation, and industrial zoning are fundamentally health decisions. Progressive cities are adopting Health Impact Assessment (HIA) frameworks that systematically evaluate proposed policies and projects for potential health consequences. Examples of health-promoting urban interventions include congestion pricing to reduce traffic and pollution, mandatory green space ratios in new developments, protected bicycle lanes to encourage active transportation, and urban agriculture programs to improve food access. These multisectoral approaches acknowledge that improving urban health requires coordination across transportation, housing, environment, and health sectors.
The challenge confronting urban planners and public health professionals lies in creating cities that maximize health benefits while minimizing risks across diverse populations. This requires not only technical expertise in urban design and epidemiology but also political commitment to prioritizing health equity in urban development decisions.
Questions 14-19: Matching Headings
Choose the correct heading for sections A-G from the list of headings below.
List of Headings:
i. The unequal distribution of urban health benefits
ii. Future approaches to health-conscious city planning
iii. How city design influences lifestyle and disease rates
iv. Traditional advantages of living in developed cities
v. The role of noise in urban health problems
vi. Mental health challenges unique to city environments
vii. Air pollution as a major urban health threat
viii. Disease spread patterns in dense populations
ix. Transportation solutions for healthier cities
- Section A
- Section B
- Section C
- Section D
- Section E
- Section F
Questions 20-23: 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
- Urban residents in high-income countries always have better health outcomes than rural residents.
- Slum dwellers in developing countries may have worse health outcomes than rural populations.
- Air pollution primarily affects only the respiratory system.
- The duration of urban residence may lead to changes in brain function.
Questions 24-26: Summary Completion
Complete the summary below using words from the box.
Word Box:
A. sprawling B. compact C. walkability D. obesity
E. diversity F. infrastructure G. metabolic H. activity
Cities with (24) development and good pedestrian infrastructure show lower rates of (25) and related disorders. The concept of (26) _____, which includes factors like sidewalk quality and street connectivity, is important for determining urban health outcomes.
PASSAGE 3 – Urbanization and Public Health: A Critical Analysis of Contemporary Challenges and Innovative Interventions
Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)
Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút
The unprecedented velocity and magnitude of contemporary urbanization constitute what scholars term an “urban transition” – a fundamental reorganization of human settlement patterns with far-reaching implications for population health trajectories. As of 2023, urban agglomerations house 4.4 billion people, a figure projected to expand by an additional 2.5 billion by 2050, with 90% of this growth concentrated in Asia and Africa. This demographic metamorphosis necessitates a sophisticated understanding of the intricate pathways linking urban environments to health outcomes, transcending simplistic dichotomies between urban advantages and disadvantages to embrace the heterogeneity and contextual specificity that characterize urban health landscapes.
The theoretical framework for understanding urban health has evolved considerably from early sanitary science perspectives focused narrowly on infectious disease control to contemporary socioecological models that recognize health as emerging from dynamic interactions between individuals, built environments, social structures, and governance systems. This paradigmatic shift acknowledges that urban health outcomes reflect not merely the presence or absence of specific risk factors but rather the cumulative effects of multiple, intersecting determinants operating across different spatial scales and temporal horizons. The social determinants of health framework proves particularly salient in urban contexts, where structural inequalities in housing, employment, education, and environmental quality create pronounced health gradients that often surpass rural-urban differences in magnitude.
Epidemiological evidence reveals a nuanced picture wherein urbanization is associated with what demographers call a “health transition” – a shift in disease burden from communicable diseases toward non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries. However, this transition proceeds unevenly, with many cities in low- and middle-income countries experiencing a “double burden” wherein high rates of infectious diseases coexist with escalating NCD prevalence. This epidemiological polarization reflects the differential pace of economic development, infrastructure investment, and health system strengthening across and within urban areas. Notably, intra-urban health disparities frequently exceed inter-regional variations, with residents of informal settlements exhibiting mortality profiles resembling those of rural populations despite geographic proximity to advanced medical facilities. Such spatial health inequities underscore the limitations of aggregate urban health statistics and highlight the necessity of disaggregated analyses that illuminate health patterns across socioeconomic strata and neighborhood typologies.
Khó khăn sức khỏe từ đô thị hóa qua mô hình sinh thái xã hội
The atmospheric environment of cities merits particular scrutiny given the pervasive exposure to anthropogenic air pollutants and their demonstrable health consequences. Urban air pollution represents a synergistic mixture of primary pollutants directly emitted from sources like vehicles and industry, and secondary pollutants formed through photochemical reactions in the atmosphere. The health impacts extend beyond the well-established cardiorespiratory effects to encompass systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and emerging evidence of neurotoxicity and metabolic disruption. Longitudinal cohort studies employing advanced exposure assessment methodologies – including personal monitors, satellite-derived measurements, and land-use regression models – have strengthened causal inference regarding pollution-health relationships. Particularly concerning are findings regarding in utero exposures affecting fetal development and early childhood exposures influencing neurodevelopmental trajectories, suggesting that urban air quality has intergenerational implications. The disproportionate burden borne by socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, often residing in high-traffic corridors or near industrial zones, exemplifies environmental injustice and compounds existing health inequities.
The built environment’s architectural dimensions – encompassing urban form, land-use patterns, transportation infrastructure, and public space design – function as fundamental determinants of health-related behaviors and exposures. Empirical research utilizing geographic information systems (GIS), accelerometry, and GPS tracking has elucidated relationships between neighborhood built characteristics and objectively measured physical activity. The emerging field of “urban health informatics” integrates big data from multiple sources – including mobile device sensors, transit systems, social media, and commercial databases – to create granular assessments of how urban microenvironments shape daily movement patterns and activity levels. Beyond physical activity, built environment characteristics influence dietary behaviors through mechanisms such as food environment composition (the relative availability of healthy versus unhealthy food outlets), food access (geographic and economic barriers to healthy food acquisition), and food marketing (exposure to advertisements for energy-dense products). The concept of “food deserts” – neighborhoods lacking access to affordable, nutritious food – has evolved into more nuanced frameworks recognizing “food swamps” where healthy options are overwhelmed by unhealthy alternatives, and “food mirages” where apparent access masks affordability barriers.
Urban mental health presents particularly complex etiological puzzles given the multiplicity of potential mechanisms linking city living to psychiatric outcomes. Meta-analyses of epidemiological studies consistently document elevated risks of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and psychotic disorders among urban residents, with some evidence suggesting dose-response relationships between urbanization levels and mental illness prevalence. Proposed mechanisms are multifactorial and include chronic stress from environmental stimuli (noise, crowds, visual complexity), social stress from inequality, discrimination, and social isolation, circadian disruption from artificial lighting and altered activity patterns, and reduced access to natural environments with their stress-buffering properties. Neuroscientific investigations employing functional neuroimaging have identified neural correlates of urban upbringing and current residence, including altered stress processing in limbic regions and differences in social cognition networks. However, the directionality of associations remains contested, with ongoing debates regarding whether cities cause mental illness, attract individuals with psychiatric vulnerabilities, or both through reciprocal processes.
Infectious disease ecology in urban settings reflects the convergence of demographic density, population mixing, environmental contamination, and vector habitats. While sanitation improvements have largely controlled classical urban pestilences like cholera and typhoid in high-income cities, antimicrobial resistance fueled by healthcare intensity and pharmaceutical access represents an emerging urban health threat. Urban environments facilitate horizontal gene transfer among bacteria through sewage systems and healthcare settings, accelerating the evolution and dissemination of resistant organisms. Simultaneously, urbanization creates novel ecological niches for disease vectors; for instance, Aedes mosquitoes responsible for dengue, Zika, and chikungunya transmission thrive in peridomestic environments characteristic of informal urban settlements, where water storage practices and accumulated waste provide abundant breeding sites. The mobility patterns inherent to urban systems – including commuting, migration, and international connectivity – amplify disease transmission potential while simultaneously enabling rapid public health responses through surveillance systems and healthcare infrastructure.
Health equity considerations must remain paramount in urban health discourse and intervention. Spatial segregation along socioeconomic and ethnic lines creates divergent neighborhood environments with differential health risks and resource availability. The cumulative burden of multiple disadvantages – including substandard housing, environmental hazards, limited greenspace, poor food access, inadequate transit, and exposure to violence – produces what scholars term “weathering,” an accelerated biological aging process evident in biomarkers of physiological dysregulation. Addressing these fundamental causes of urban health inequities requires structural interventions that modify upstream determinants rather than merely treating downstream health consequences. This necessitates intersectoral collaboration engaging housing authorities, transportation agencies, environmental regulators, education systems, and economic development entities in addition to traditional health sectors.
Contemporary innovations in urban health promotion reflect growing recognition that health-supportive environments must be designed intentionally rather than assumed to emerge spontaneously. The “Healthy Cities” movement, initiated by the World Health Organization, promotes municipal-level health strategies emphasizing governance structures that embed health considerations across policy domains. Tactical urbanism interventions – including parklet installations, intersection modifications, and temporary bike lanes – allow rapid prototyping of environmental changes with iterative refinement based on community feedback and health monitoring. Smart city technologies offer potential for real-time health surveillance and targeted interventions, though they also raise concerns regarding data privacy, algorithmic bias, and digital divides that may exacerbate existing inequities. Participatory planning approaches that meaningfully engage diverse stakeholders, particularly marginalized communities often excluded from conventional planning processes, represent ethical imperatives and practical necessities for creating cities that serve all residents’ health needs.
The trajectory of urban health in coming decades will be shaped by how effectively cities navigate trade-offs between competing priorities, incorporate health considerations into non-health policies, and ensure equitable distribution of health-promoting resources and opportunities. As urbanization continues to reconfigure human ecology, maintaining population health amid environmental constraints and social complexity emerges as among the most consequential challenges confronting contemporary society.
Questions 27-31: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
-
According to the passage, what percentage of projected urban growth by 2050 will occur in Asia and Africa?
A. 50%
B. 70%
C. 80%
D. 90% -
The “double burden” experienced by many cities in low- and middle-income countries refers to:
A. High pollution and high crime rates
B. High infectious diseases and high non-communicable diseases
C. High costs and high population
D. High inequality and high migration -
What does the passage suggest about intra-urban health disparities?
A. They are smaller than rural-urban differences
B. They are equal to regional variations
C. They frequently exceed inter-regional variations
D. They have been eliminated in most cities -
According to the passage, urban air pollution has which newly identified health effect?
A. Respiratory problems only
B. Cardiovascular issues only
C. Neurotoxicity and metabolic disruption
D. Skin conditions -
The “weathering” phenomenon refers to:
A. Physical deterioration of buildings
B. Accelerated biological aging from cumulative disadvantages
C. Climate change effects on cities
D. Economic decline in urban areas
Questions 32-36: Matching Features
Match the following concepts (A-H) with the correct descriptions (Questions 32-36).
Concepts:
A. Food deserts
B. Food swamps
C. Food mirages
D. Tactical urbanism
E. Health Impact Assessment
F. Urban health informatics
G. Environmental injustice
H. Healthy Cities movement
- Areas where healthy food options are overwhelmed by unhealthy alternatives
- Rapid prototyping of environmental changes using temporary installations
- Integration of big data to assess how urban environments shape behaviors
- Framework for evaluating potential health consequences of policies before implementation
- Disproportionate burden of environmental hazards on disadvantaged populations
Questions 37-40: Short Answer Questions
Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- What type of models recognize health as emerging from dynamic interactions between individuals, environments, and systems?
- What field uses GIS, accelerometry, and GPS tracking to study relationships between neighborhood characteristics and physical activity?
- What type of mosquitoes thrive in urban environments and transmit diseases like dengue and Zika?
- What type of planning approaches meaningfully engage marginalized communities in city development?
Answer Keys – Đáp Án
PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13
- C
- B
- C
- C
- B
- NOT GIVEN
- TRUE
- FALSE
- TRUE
- NOT GIVEN
- public health campaigns
- built environment
- thoughtful urban planning
PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26
- iv
- i
- vii
- iii
- vi
- viii
- NO
- YES
- NO
- YES
- B
- D
- C
PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40
- D
- B
- C
- C
- B
- B
- D
- F
- E
- G
- socioecological models
- urban health informatics (accept: empirical research)
- Aedes mosquitoes
- participatory planning approaches (accept: participatory planning)
Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết
Passage 1 – Giải Thích
Câu 1: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: percentage, 2050, urban areas
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, câu 2
- Giải thích: Câu trong bài viết: “this proportion is expected to reach 68% by 2050”. Đây là thông tin trực tiếp, không cần paraphrase phức tạp. Các đáp án khác không xuất hiện trong bài.
Câu 2: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: 19th century, European cities, disease outbreaks
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, câu cuối
- Giải thích: Bài viết nêu rõ: “the development of comprehensive sanitation networks in European cities during the 19th century dramatically reduced outbreaks of cholera and typhoid fever”. Đây là ví dụ cụ thể về cách thức giảm dịch bệnh.
Câu 3: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: World Health Organization, premature deaths, air pollution
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, câu cuối
- Giải thích: Thông tin chính xác: “The World Health Organization estimates that ambient air pollution causes approximately 4.2 million premature deaths annually worldwide”.
Câu 5: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: COVID-19 pandemic, urban areas
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, câu 2-3
- Giải thích: Bài viết đề cập: “This was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when urban areas experienced higher rates of transmission compared to rural regions”. Đây là minh chứng rõ ràng về tốc độ lây nhiễm cao hơn ở đô thị.
Câu 6: NOT GIVEN
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Giải thích: Bài viết nói rằng đô thị có lợi thế về y tế nhưng không khẳng định “luôn luôn” tốt hơn. Từ “always” làm cho câu này trở nên tuyệt đối, trong khi bài viết thừa nhận sự phức tạp và không đồng đều.
Câu 7: TRUE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5
- Giải thích: Bài viết nêu rõ: “leading to increased rates of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems”. Cardiovascular problems chính là các vấn đề tim mạch.
Câu 8: FALSE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6
- Giải thích: Bài viết nói: “Many urban areas are built around automobile use rather than walking or cycling” – điều này mâu thuẫn trực tiếp với câu hỏi rằng tất cả các thành phố hiện đại được thiết kế để khuyến khích đi bộ và đạp xe.
Câu 9: TRUE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7
- Giải thích: Bài viết khẳng định: “Studies have shown that urban residents have a higher risk of developing mental health disorders… compared to those living in rural areas”.
Câu 11: public health campaigns
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, câu 2
- Giải thích: Câu trong bài: “Cities typically have more schools, libraries, and public health campaigns that raise awareness…”
Câu 12: built environment
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, câu cuối
- Giải thích: “The built environment of cities – including the availability of sidewalks, parks, and safe public spaces – plays a crucial role in determining residents’ physical activity levels.”
Câu 13: thoughtful urban planning
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 10, câu đầu
- Giải thích: “The key to maximizing the health benefits of urbanization while minimizing its negative impacts lies in thoughtful urban planning and evidence-based policies.”
Passage 2 – Giải Thích
Câu 14: iv (Section A)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
- Giải thích: Section A thảo luận về “urban health advantage” và các lợi ích truyền thống của việc sống ở các thành phố phát triển, bao gồm tiếp cận y tế tốt hơn, hệ thống y tế khẩn cấp và chuyên môn y tế tập trung. Tiêu đề “Traditional advantages of living in developed cities” phản ánh chính xác nội dung này.
Câu 15: i (Section B)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
- Giải thích: Section B tập trung vào sự phân bố không đồng đều của lợi ích sức khỏe đô thị, đặc biệt là chênh lệch giữa các nhóm kinh tế xã hội khác nhau và vấn đề của khu ổ chuột. Đoạn văn nhấn mạnh rằng lợi thế sức khỏe đô thị “neither universal nor equally distributed”.
Câu 16: vii (Section C)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
- Giải thích: Section C chi tiết về ô nhiễm không khí như một mối đe dọa sức khỏe đô thị lớn, thảo luận về các chất ô nhiễm cụ thể, tác động sức khỏe và các nhóm dễ bị tổn thương.
Câu 17: iii (Section D)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
- Giải thích: Section D phân tích cách thiết kế đô thị ảnh hưởng đến lối sống và tỷ lệ bệnh tật, giới thiệu khái niệm “obesogenic environments” và “walkability”, cho thấy mối liên hệ giữa hình thức đô thị và các kết quả sức khỏe.
Câu 18: vi (Section E)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
- Giải thích: Section E tập trung vào các chiều kích tâm lý của cuộc sống đô thị, thảo luận về các yếu tố căng thẳng tâm lý độc đáo, thay đổi thần kinh sinh học và tác động của môi trường đô thị đến sức khỏe tâm thần.
Câu 19: viii (Section F)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
- Giải thích: Section F thảo luận về động lực bệnh truyền nhiễm trong môi trường đô thị, giải thích cách mật độ dân số cao và các điều kiện môi trường ảnh hưởng đến sự lây lan bệnh tật.
Câu 20: NO
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Giải thích: Mặc dù Section A nói về lợi thế sức khỏe đô thị ở các quốc gia có thu nhập cao, Section B làm rõ rằng lợi thế này không phổ quát và có sự chênh lệch đáng kể trong các thành phố. Từ “always” làm cho tuyên bố này không chính xác.
Câu 21: YES
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Vị trí: Section B
- Giải thích: Bài viết nêu rõ: “Studies from major cities in developing countries reveal that slum dwellers experience mortality rates comparable to or exceeding those in rural areas”. Điều này xác nhận quan điểm của tác giả.
Câu 22: NO
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Vị trí: Section C
- Giải thích: Bài viết đề cập ô nhiễm không khí ảnh hưởng đến “respiratory and cardiovascular concerns” và “emerging research suggests that air pollution may affect cognitive development… adding a neurological dimension”. Điều này cho thấy tác động vượt ra ngoài hệ hô hấp.
Câu 23: YES
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Vị trí: Section E
- Giải thích: “Interestingly, the duration of urban residence correlates with these neurobiological changes, suggesting cumulative effects of urban living on brain function.”
Câu 24-26: B, D, C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
- Vị trí: Section D
- Giải thích: Bài viết nói: “cities embracing compact development, mixed-use zoning, and active transportation infrastructure demonstrate lower rates of obesity and related metabolic disorders. The concept of ‘walkability’… has emerged as a critical determinant of urban health.”
Passage 3 – Giải Thích
Câu 27: D
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Vị trí: Đoạn 1, câu 2
- Giải thích: “a figure projected to expand by an additional 2.5 billion by 2050, with 90% of this growth concentrated in Asia and Africa”. Đây là thông tin số liệu cụ thể và rõ ràng.
Câu 28: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Vị trí: Đoạn 3
- Giải thích: Bài viết giải thích: “many cities in low- and middle-income countries experiencing a ‘double burden’ wherein high rates of infectious diseases coexist with escalating NCD prevalence”. NCD là non-communicable diseases (bệnh không lây nhiễm).
Câu 29: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Vị trí: Đoạn 3
- Giải thích: “Notably, intra-urban health disparities frequently exceed inter-regional variations”. Đây là khẳng định trực tiếp về mức độ chênh lệch sức khỏe trong nội bộ đô thị.
Câu 30: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Vị trí: Đoạn 4
- Giải thích: “The health impacts extend beyond the well-established cardiorespiratory effects to encompass systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and emerging evidence of neurotoxicity and metabolic disruption.”
Câu 31: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Vị trí: Đoạn 7
- Giải thích: “The cumulative burden of multiple disadvantages… produces what scholars term ‘weathering,’ an accelerated biological aging process evident in biomarkers of physiological dysregulation.”
Câu 32: B (Food swamps)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
- Vị trí: Đoạn 5
- Giải thích: Bài viết định nghĩa: “‘food swamps’ where healthy options are overwhelmed by unhealthy alternatives”.
Câu 33: D (Tactical urbanism)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
- Vị trí: Đoạn 8
- Giải thích: “Tactical urbanism interventions – including parklet installations, intersection modifications, and temporary bike lanes – allow rapid prototyping of environmental changes”.
Câu 34: F (Urban health informatics)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
- Vị trí: Đoạn 5
- Giải thích: “The emerging field of ‘urban health informatics’ integrates big data from multiple sources… to create granular assessments of how urban microenvironments shape daily movement patterns”.
Câu 35: E (Health Impact Assessment)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
- Vị trí: Đoạn 8
- Giải thích: “Progressive cities are adopting Health Impact Assessment (HIA) frameworks that systematically evaluate proposed policies and projects for potential health consequences”.
Câu 36: G (Environmental injustice)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
- Vị trí: Đoạn 4
- Giải thích: “The disproportionate burden borne by socioeconomically disadvantaged populations… exemplifies environmental injustice”.
Câu 37: socioecological models
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short Answer
- Vị trí: Đoạn 2
- Giải thích: “contemporary socioecological models that recognize health as emerging from dynamic interactions between individuals, built environments, social structures, and governance systems”.
Câu 38: urban health informatics (hoặc empirical research)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short Answer
- Vị trí: Đoạn 5
- Giải thích: “Empirical research utilizing geographic information systems (GIS), accelerometry, and GPS tracking has elucidated relationships between neighborhood built characteristics and objectively measured physical activity.”
Câu 39: Aedes mosquitoes
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short Answer
- Vị trí: Đoạn 6
- Giải thích: “Aedes mosquitoes responsible for dengue, Zika, and chikungunya transmission thrive in peridomestic environments characteristic of informal urban settlements”.
Câu 40: participatory planning approaches (hoặc participatory planning)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short Answer
- Vị trí: Đoạn 8
- Giải thích: “Participatory planning approaches that meaningfully engage diverse stakeholders, particularly marginalized communities often excluded from conventional planning processes”.
Từ Vựng Quan Trọng Theo Passage
Passage 1 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| unprecedented | adj | /ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd/ | chưa từng có, chưa có tiền lệ | unprecedented wave of urbanization | unprecedented growth/scale/level |
| profound | adj | /prəˈfaʊnd/ | sâu sắc, to lớn | profound implications for public health | profound impact/effect/influence |
| concentration | n | /ˌkɒnsnˈtreɪʃn/ | sự tập trung | concentration of medical resources | high concentration of |
| sanitation | n | /ˌsænɪˈteɪʃn/ | vệ sinh môi trường | improved sanitation infrastructure | sanitation systems/facilities |
| infrastructure | n | /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə(r)/ | cơ sở hạ tầng | water treatment systems and infrastructure | basic/modern infrastructure |
| infectious | adj | /ɪnˈfekʃəs/ | truyền nhiễm | infectious diseases | infectious disease/agent |
| comprehensive | adj | /ˌkɒmprɪˈhensɪv/ | toàn diện | comprehensive sanitation networks | comprehensive study/approach |
| sedentary | adj | /ˈsedntri/ | ít vận động | sedentary lifestyles | sedentary lifestyle/behavior |
| obesity | n | /əʊˈbiːsəti/ | béo phì | rising rates of obesity | childhood obesity/obesity epidemic |
| respiratory | adj | /rəˈspərətri/ | thuộc hô hấp | respiratory diseases | respiratory problems/infections |
| cardiovascular | adj | /ˌkɑːdiəʊˈvæskjələ(r)/ | thuộc tim mạch | cardiovascular problems | cardiovascular disease/health |
| transmission | n | /trænzˈmɪʃn/ | sự lây truyền | disease transmission | disease transmission/transmission rate |
Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| epidemiological | adj | /ˌepɪdiːmiəˈlɒdʒɪkl/ | thuộc dịch tễ học | epidemiological paradoxes | epidemiological study/research |
| undermine | v | /ˌʌndəˈmaɪn/ | làm suy yếu | conditions that may undermine well-being | undermine health/efforts |
| duality | n | /djuːˈæləti/ | tính chất kép | understanding this duality | duality of nature |
| preventive | adj | /prɪˈventɪv/ | phòng ngừa | preventive healthcare services | preventive care/measures |
| proximity | n | /prɒkˈsɪməti/ | sự gần gũi | proximity to specialized facilities | close proximity to |
| disparities | n | /dɪˈspærətiz/ | sự chênh lệch | socioeconomic disparities | health disparities/income disparities |
| proliferate | v | /prəˈlɪfəreɪt/ | phát triển nhanh | informal settlements proliferate | proliferate rapidly |
| degradation | n | /ˌdeɡrəˈdeɪʃn/ | sự suy thoái | air quality degradation | environmental degradation |
| particulate matter | n | /pɑːˈtɪkjələt ˈmætə(r)/ | bụi mịn | particulate matter PM2.5 | particulate matter exposure |
| disproportionate | adj | /ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃənət/ | không cân xứng | disproportionate risks | disproportionate impact/effect |
| sprawling | adj | /ˈsprɔːlɪŋ/ | lan rộng không kiểm soát | sprawling development | sprawling cities/suburbs |
| obesogenic | adj | /əʊˌbiːsəˈdʒenɪk/ | gây béo phì | obesogenic environments | obesogenic environment/society |
| walkability | n | /ˌwɔːkəˈbɪləti/ | khả năng đi bộ | concept of walkability | urban walkability |
| psychosocial | adj | /ˌsaɪkəʊˈsəʊʃl/ | tâm lý xã hội | psychosocial stressors | psychosocial factors/support |
| fragmentation | n | /ˌfræɡmenˈteɪʃn/ | sự phân mảnh | social fragmentation | social fragmentation/habitat fragmentation |
Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| unprecedented | adj | /ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd/ | chưa từng có | unprecedented velocity | unprecedented scale/level |
| magnitude | n | /ˈmæɡnɪtjuːd/ | quy mô lớn | magnitude of urbanization | magnitude of the problem |
| metamorphosis | n | /ˌmetəˈmɔːfəsɪs/ | sự biến đổi | demographic metamorphosis | undergo metamorphosis |
| intricate | adj | /ˈɪntrɪkət/ | phức tạp, rắc rối | intricate pathways | intricate details/patterns |
| heterogeneity | n | /ˌhetərəʊdʒəˈniːəti/ | tính không đồng nhất | embrace the heterogeneity | genetic heterogeneity |
| paradigmatic | adj | /ˌpærədɪɡˈmætɪk/ | thuộc mô hình | paradigmatic shift | paradigmatic change |
| cumulative | adj | /ˈkjuːmjələtɪv/ | tích lũy | cumulative effects | cumulative impact/exposure |
| determinants | n | /dɪˈtɜːmɪnənts/ | yếu tố quyết định | social determinants of health | key determinants/health determinants |
| nuanced | adj | /ˈnjuːɑːnst/ | tinh tế, nhiều sắc thái | nuanced picture | nuanced understanding/approach |
| polarization | n | /ˌpəʊləraɪˈzeɪʃn/ | sự phân cực | epidemiological polarization | political polarization |
| disparities | n | /dɪˈspærətiz/ | sự chênh lệch | intra-urban health disparities | health disparities/income disparities |
| disaggregated | adj | /dɪsˈæɡrɪɡeɪtɪd/ | được phân tách | disaggregated analyses | disaggregated data |
| synergistic | adj | /ˌsɪnəˈdʒɪstɪk/ | có sự cộng hưởng | synergistic mixture | synergistic effect |
| anthropogenic | adj | /ˌænθrəpəˈdʒenɪk/ | do con người tạo ra | anthropogenic air pollutants | anthropogenic emissions |
| neurotoxicity | n | /ˌnjʊərəʊtɒkˈsɪsəti/ | độc tính thần kinh | evidence of neurotoxicity | neurotoxicity effects |
| intergenerational | adj | /ˌɪntədʒenəˈreɪʃənl/ | liên thế hệ | intergenerational implications | intergenerational transmission |
| etiological | adj | /ˌiːtiəˈlɒdʒɪkl/ | thuộc nguyên nhân học | etiological puzzles | etiological factors |
| multifactorial | adj | /ˌmʌltifækˈtɔːriəl/ | đa yếu tố | mechanisms are multifactorial | multifactorial disease |
Kết Bài
Chủ đề về tác động của đô thị hóa đến sức khỏe cộng đồng là một trong những đề tài quan trọng và thường xuyên xuất hiện trong IELTS Reading Test. Qua bộ đề thi mẫu hoàn chỉnh này, bạn đã được tiếp cận với ba passages có độ khó tăng dần, từ Easy (band 5.0-6.5) đến Medium (band 6.0-7.5) và Hard (band 7.0-9.0), phản ánh chính xác cấu trúc và độ khó của đề thi IELTS thật.
Bộ đề bao gồm đầy đủ 40 câu hỏi với 7 dạng câu hỏi phổ biến nhất trong IELTS Reading: Multiple Choice, True/False/Not Given, Yes/No/Not Given, Matching Headings, Sentence Completion, Summary Completion, Matching Features, và Short Answer Questions. Mỗi dạng câu hỏi đều yêu cầu kỹ năng đọc hiểu và chiến lược làm bài khác nhau, giúp bạn rèn luyện toàn diện các kỹ năng cần thiết.
Phần đáp án chi tiết không chỉ cung cấp câu trả lời đúng mà còn giải thích cặn kẽ vị trí thông tin trong bài, kỹ thuật paraphrase, và lý do tại sao các đáp án khác không chính xác. Đây là điều vô cùng quan trọng để bạn hiểu được logic của đề thi và cải thiện kỹ năng làm bài một cách bài bản.
Kho từ vựng phong phú về chủ đề đô thị hóa và sức khỏe cộng đồng được trình bày trong bảng từ vựng sẽ giúp bạn không chỉ trong phần thi Reading mà còn có thể ứng dụng vào Writing và Speaking. Hãy dành thời gian học thuộc và thực hành sử dụng những từ vựng này trong ngữ cảnh thực tế.
Để đạt kết quả tốt nhất, hãy luyện tập đề thi này trong điều kiện giống thi thật: 60 phút cho cả 3 passages, không tra từ điển, và tự chấm điểm sau đó. Phân tích kỹ những câu sai để hiểu rõ nguyên nhân và cải thiện cho lần sau. Chúc bạn ôn tập hiệu quả và đạt band điểm mong muốn trong kỳ thi IELTS!
[…] children, with the majority occurring in regions lacking adequate water and sanitation facilities. What are the effects of urbanization on public health? đã chỉ ra mối liên hệ chặt chẽ giữa đô thị hóa nhanh và những thách thức […]