IELTS Reading: Thách Thức Cân Bằng Tăng Trưởng Kinh Tế và Bảo Vệ Môi Trường – Đề Thi Mẫu Có Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Mở bài

Chủ đề “Challenges Of Balancing Economic Growth And Environmental Protection” (Thách thức trong việc cân bằng tăng trưởng kinh tế và bảo vệ môi trường) là một trong những đề tài phổ biến nhất trong kỳ thi IELTS Reading. Với xu hướng toàn cầu hóa và các vấn đề môi trường ngày càng trở nên cấp thiết, Cambridge IELTS thường xuyên đưa chủ đề này vào các đề thi chính thức, đặc biệt trong các series Cambridge IELTS 12-19. Theo thống kê, chủ đề liên quan đến môi trường và phát triển bền vững xuất hiện với tần suất 15-20% trong tổng số đề thi IELTS Reading.

Bài viết này cung cấp cho bạn một bộ đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với 3 passages theo đúng chuẩn quốc tế, từ độ khó dễ đến nâng cao. Bạn sẽ được thực hành với đầy đủ các dạng câu hỏi phổ biến như Multiple Choice, True/False/Not Given, Matching Headings, Summary Completion và nhiều dạng khác. Mỗi câu hỏi đều có đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích cụ thể về vị trí thông tin trong bài và cách paraphrase. Đặc biệt, bài viết còn tổng hợp hệ thống từ vựng quan trọng với phiên âm, nghĩa và ví dụ minh họa giúp bạn nâng cao vốn từ học thuật.

Đề thi này phù hợp cho học viên có trình độ từ band 5.0 trở lên, muốn cải thiện kỹ năng đọc hiểu và làm quen với format thi thật. Hãy chuẩn bị đồng hồ bấm giờ 60 phút và bắt đầu ngay!

Hướng Dẫn Làm Bài IELTS Reading

Tổng Quan Về IELTS Reading Test

IELTS Reading Test là một phần thi quan trọng đánh giá khả năng đọc hiểu tiếng Anh học thuật của bạn. Cấu trúc bài thi bao gồm:

• Thời gian: 60 phút cho 3 passages (không có thời gian chuyển đáp án)
• Tổng số câu hỏi: 40 câu
• Điểm số: Mỗi câu đúng được 1 band, quy đổi thành thang điểm 0-9
• Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:
  • Passage 1 (Easy): 15-17 phút
  • Passage 2 (Medium): 18-20 phút
  • Passage 3 (Hard): 23-25 phút

Lưu ý quan trọng: Bạn nên viết đáp án trực tiếp vào phiếu trả lời trong quá trình làm bài vì không có thời gian bổ sung để chuyển đáp án.

Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này

Đề thi mẫu này bao gồm 7 dạng câu hỏi phổ biến nhất trong IELTS Reading:

1. Multiple Choice – Trắc nghiệm nhiều lựa chọn
2. True/False/Not Given – Xác định thông tin đúng/sai/không được đề cập
3. Matching Headings – Nối tiêu đề với đoạn văn
4. Summary Completion – Hoàn thiện đoạn tóm tắt
5. Matching Information – Xác định đoạn văn chứa thông tin
6. Sentence Completion – Hoàn thiện câu
7. Short-answer Questions – Câu hỏi trả lời ngắn

Kỹ thuật làm bài IELTS Reading hiệu quả giúp cân bằng thời gian giữa ba passages với độ khó tăng dần

IELTS Reading Practice Test

PASSAGE 1 – The Green Economy Revolution

Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút

The concept of a green economy has gained significant momentum in recent years as nations worldwide grapple with the dual challenge of maintaining economic prosperity while protecting the environment. This approach seeks to create a sustainable model of development that does not compromise the health of our planet for future generations. Understanding how countries are implementing green economic policies provides valuable insights into one of the most pressing issues of our time.

The transition to a green economy involves fundamental changes in how we produce and consume goods and services. Traditional economic models have historically prioritized rapid industrialization and resource extraction without fully considering environmental costs. However, the accumulation of greenhouse gases, loss of biodiversity, and depletion of natural resources have forced policymakers to reconsider this approach. A green economy, by contrast, aims to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and promote the use of renewable resources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.

Several countries have emerged as pioneers in implementing green economic policies. Denmark, for example, has made remarkable progress in wind energy development. By 2020, wind power accounted for nearly 50% of the country’s electricity consumption. The Danish government has set ambitious targets to become completely carbon-neutral by 2050. This commitment has not only helped reduce environmental degradation but has also created thousands of jobs in the renewable energy sector. The success of Denmark’s wind energy industry demonstrates that environmental protection and economic growth can be mutually reinforcing rather than conflicting goals.

Germany offers another compelling example through its Energiewende (energy transition) policy. Launched in 2010, this comprehensive strategy aims to transform Germany’s energy system from one based on fossil fuels and nuclear power to one dominated by renewable energy sources. The policy includes substantial investments in solar and wind power, improvements in energy efficiency, and the gradual phase-out of nuclear power plants. Despite some challenges, including higher electricity costs for consumers, the Energiewende has significantly reduced Germany’s carbon footprint while maintaining the country’s position as Europe’s largest economy.

In Asia, South Korea has implemented its Green Growth Strategy, which treats environmental sustainability as a driver of economic development rather than a constraint. The government has invested heavily in green technologies, including electric vehicles, smart grids, and energy-efficient buildings. South Korea’s approach demonstrates how strategic planning and government support can help countries leapfrog to cleaner technologies while creating new economic opportunities. The country’s green technology exports have become a significant source of revenue, proving that environmental policies can enhance international competitiveness.

However, the path to a green economy is not without obstacles. One major challenge is the initial investment required to develop renewable energy infrastructure. Building solar farms, wind turbines, and upgrading existing power grids demands substantial capital, which can be difficult for developing nations to secure. Additionally, there is often resistance from established industries that rely on fossil fuels. Coal miners, oil workers, and others in traditional energy sectors may face job losses during the transition, creating social and political tensions.

Another significant challenge involves balancing the immediate costs of green policies with their long-term benefits. Renewable energy projects often require years before they become cost-effective, and governments must convince taxpayers that these investments are worthwhile. Furthermore, international cooperation remains crucial but difficult to achieve. Climate change is a global problem requiring coordinated action, yet countries have different economic priorities and development levels, making consensus challenging to reach.

Despite these challenges, the economic benefits of environmental protection are becoming increasingly clear. The renewable energy sector has become a major source of employment, with millions of jobs created globally. Innovation in green technologies has sparked new industries and entrepreneurial opportunities. Moreover, avoiding the future costs of climate change – such as natural disasters, health problems, and resource scarcity – represents enormous potential savings. Many economists now argue that failing to invest in environmental protection would be far more expensive in the long run than the upfront costs of transitioning to a green economy.

The involvement of the private sector has also proved essential for accelerating the green transition. Major corporations are increasingly adopting sustainable practices, driven by both regulatory requirements and consumer demand. Companies that prioritize environmental responsibility often gain competitive advantages, including improved brand reputation, reduced operating costs through energy efficiency, and access to growing markets for green products. This alignment of business interests with environmental goals suggests that the green economy can be both ecologically sound and economically viable.

Looking ahead, the success of the green economy will depend on continued innovation, political will, and public engagement. Technological advances in areas such as battery storage, carbon capture, and artificial intelligence promise to make renewable energy more efficient and affordable. Governments must maintain supportive policies while ensuring a just transition that helps workers and communities affected by the shift away from fossil fuels. Citizens also have a role to play through their consumption choices and support for sustainable practices. The challenge of balancing economic growth with environmental protection is complex, but the examples of countries making progress demonstrate that it is achievable with the right combination of policies, technologies, and collective commitment.

Questions 1-13

Questions 1-5: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

1. What is the main purpose of a green economy according to the passage?

   • A) To stop all industrial activities
   • B) To create sustainable development without harming the planet
   • C) To make all countries equally wealthy
   • D) To eliminate all carbon emissions immediately

2. What percentage of Denmark’s electricity came from wind power by 2020?

   • A) 30%
   • B) 40%
   • C) Nearly 50%
   • D) 60%

3. Germany’s Energiewende policy aims to:

   • A) Increase nuclear power production
   • B) Import more fossil fuels
   • C) Transform the energy system to renewable sources
   • D) Reduce electricity costs for all consumers

4. What does South Korea’s Green Growth Strategy treat environmental sustainability as?

   • A) A constraint on development
   • B) A driver of economic development
   • C) An optional policy
   • D) A short-term goal

5. According to the passage, what has happened to the renewable energy sector globally?

   • A) It has created millions of jobs
   • B) It has failed to grow
   • C) It has only benefited wealthy nations
   • D) It has replaced all fossil fuel jobs

Questions 6-9: True/False/Not Given

Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

6. Traditional economic models always considered environmental costs in their planning.

7. Denmark aims to become carbon-neutral by 2050.

8. South Korea’s green technology exports have become unprofitable.

9. Developing nations find it easy to secure capital for renewable energy infrastructure.

Questions 10-13: Sentence Completion

Complete the sentences below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

10. The accumulation of greenhouse gases and loss of __ have forced policymakers to reconsider traditional economic approaches.

11. One major obstacle to a green economy is the __ required to develop renewable energy infrastructure.

12. Workers in traditional energy sectors may face __ during the transition to renewable energy.

13. Major corporations are adopting sustainable practices due to regulatory requirements and __.

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PASSAGE 2 – The Economics of Environmental Policy

Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút

The relationship between economic development and environmental protection has long been characterized as a fundamental trade-off, where gains in one area necessarily come at the expense of the other. However, contemporary research and real-world evidence increasingly challenge this conventional wisdom, suggesting that the relationship is far more nuanced and that synergies between these two objectives are not only possible but potentially transformative for society. Understanding the economic mechanisms underlying environmental policy has become paramount for policymakers seeking to design effective interventions that can deliver both prosperity and sustainability.

At the heart of the environmental economics debate lies the concept of externalities – costs or benefits that affect parties who did not choose to incur them. Environmental degradation represents a classic negative externality: when a factory pollutes a river, the costs are borne not by the factory owner but by downstream communities, fishermen, and ecosystems. Traditional market mechanisms fail to account for these external costs, leading to overproduction of pollution and underinvestment in environmental protection. Economic theory suggests that correcting these market failures through appropriate policy instruments can improve both economic efficiency and environmental outcomes simultaneously.

Carbon pricing represents one of the most extensively studied policy mechanisms for addressing climate change. By putting a price on carbon emissions – either through a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade system – governments can internalize the environmental costs of fossil fuel use. The theoretical appeal of carbon pricing lies in its economic efficiency: it allows market forces to determine the most cost-effective ways to reduce emissions rather than having governments mandate specific technologies or approaches. British Columbia’s carbon tax, introduced in 2008, provides empirical evidence for this approach. Studies have shown that the province reduced its per capita fuel consumption by approximately 15% compared to the rest of Canada, while maintaining comparable economic growth rates. This demonstrates that well-designed carbon pricing can achieve environmental objectives without compromising economic performance.

The European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), the world’s largest carbon market, offers further insights into the complexities of implementing such policies at scale. Launched in 2005, the EU ETS covers approximately 40% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions from more than 11,000 power stations and industrial plants. The system operates by setting a cap on total emissions and allowing companies to buy and sell emission allowances. While the EU ETS has contributed to significant emissions reductions, its effectiveness has been constrained by several challenges. Initial overallocation of permits led to low carbon prices that provided insufficient incentive for decarbonization. Political resistance from energy-intensive industries has also resulted in numerous exemptions and free allocations that dilute the system’s stringency. These experiences highlight the importance of careful policy design and the political economy challenges inherent in environmental regulation.

Beyond carbon pricing, green fiscal reform offers another avenue for aligning economic and environmental objectives. This approach involves restructuring tax systems to shift the burden from “goods” such as labor and income to “bads” such as pollution and resource depletion. The revenue-neutral nature of many green fiscal reforms – where environmental taxes offset reductions in other taxes – can help mitigate economic concerns while generating environmental benefits. Scandinavian countries have been pioneers in this area, implementing substantial taxes on energy, carbon, and other pollutants while simultaneously reducing taxes on labor. Research suggests these reforms have contributed to both improved environmental performance and maintained or enhanced employment levels, challenging the notion that environmental protection necessarily comes at the cost of jobs.

The concept of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) has significantly influenced thinking about the relationship between economic development and environmental quality. The EKC hypothesis posits that environmental degradation initially increases with economic growth but eventually decreases after reaching a certain income threshold, creating an inverted U-shaped relationship. Proponents argue that as countries become wealthier, they can afford better environmental protection, develop cleaner technologies, and shift toward less pollution-intensive service sectors. However, this optimistic interpretation has faced substantial criticism. Critics point out that the EKC relationship holds for some local pollutants but not for global issues like carbon emissions, which continue to rise with income even in wealthy nations. Moreover, wealthy countries may simply offshore their most polluting industries to developing nations, creating an illusion of environmental improvement while merely relocating the problem.

Investment in natural capital – the world’s stocks of natural resources including geology, soil, air, water, and all living organisms – represents another crucial economic dimension of environmental protection. Conventional GDP accounting treats the depletion of natural resources as income rather than the consumption of capital, leading to distorted assessments of economic progress. Countries that rapidly exploit their natural resources may appear to be growing quickly in the short term while actually diminishing their long-term wealth and productive capacity. Alternative measures such as Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) or Inclusive Wealth Index attempt to provide more comprehensive assessments by incorporating environmental factors. These metrics often paint a very different picture of national economic performance, with some apparently prosperous nations actually experiencing declining wealth when environmental degradation is properly accounted for.

The role of technological innovation in reconciling economic growth with environmental protection cannot be overstated. Historically, technological progress has been the primary driver of economic development, but it has also enabled more intensive exploitation of natural resources. However, the direction of technological change is not predetermined; it responds to incentive structures created by policies, prices, and social preferences. Porter’s hypothesis suggests that stringent environmental regulations can actually stimulate innovation and enhance competitiveness by forcing companies to develop more efficient processes and products. Evidence from various industries, including automotive and chemical sectors, provides support for this view, showing that environmental regulations have spurred innovation that improved both environmental and economic performance. The rapid cost reductions in solar panels and wind turbines, driven partly by supportive policies, exemplify how the right incentive framework can accelerate beneficial technological change.

International trade adds another layer of complexity to the relationship between economic growth and environmental protection. Trade liberalization can have contradictory environmental effects. On one hand, increased trade may lead to greater resource exploitation and transportation-related emissions. On the other, it can facilitate the diffusion of clean technologies and enable countries to specialize in less environmentally damaging activities according to their comparative advantage. The challenge lies in ensuring that trade rules do not undermine environmental standards or create competitive disadvantages for countries with stronger environmental regulations – a concern known as pollution haven effects or carbon leakage. International cooperation mechanisms, such as border carbon adjustments and environmental provisions in trade agreements, are being explored as ways to address these concerns while maintaining the economic benefits of trade.

Ultimately, the economics of environmental policy reveal that the relationship between growth and environmental protection is neither simple nor predetermined. With appropriate policy frameworks, technological innovation, and institutional support, it is possible to achieve what might be termed “decoupling” – maintaining or improving human welfare while reducing environmental impacts. However, this requires moving beyond simplistic assumptions about inevitable trade-offs and engaging with the complex institutional, technological, and behavioral factors that shape both economic and environmental outcomes. The experiences of various countries demonstrate that success is possible but demands sustained commitment, adaptive management, and willingness to learn from both successes and failures in policy implementation.

Questions 14-26

Questions 14-18: Matching Headings

Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-F from the list of headings below.

List of Headings:
i. The limitations of optimistic environmental-economic theories
ii. How tax restructuring can benefit both economy and environment
iii. The fundamental problem of external costs in markets
iv. Lessons from the world’s largest carbon market
v. International commerce and environmental regulation conflicts
vi. Pricing carbon emissions as a policy solution
vii. The importance of technological advancement direction
viii. Measuring true economic progress with environmental factors

14. Paragraph B (starts with “At the heart of…”)
15. Paragraph C (starts with “Carbon pricing…”)
16. Paragraph D (starts with “The European Union’s…”)
17. Paragraph E (starts with “Beyond carbon pricing…”)
18. Paragraph F (starts with “The concept of…”)

Questions 19-23: Yes/No/Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the passage?

Write:

• YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
• NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
• NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

19. Environmental degradation is an example of a negative externality affecting parties beyond the polluter.

20. British Columbia’s carbon tax caused significant economic decline in the province.

21. The EU ETS was perfectly designed from its inception and faced no implementation challenges.

22. All types of pollution follow the Environmental Kuznets Curve pattern.

23. Conventional GDP accounting correctly measures the depletion of natural resources.

Questions 24-26: Summary Completion

Complete the summary below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Porter’s hypothesis suggests that strict environmental regulations can actually encourage (24) __ and improve competitiveness. This happens because companies are forced to develop more efficient processes. Evidence from different industries supports this idea. The rapid decrease in costs for renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels, demonstrates how the right (25) __ can speed up positive (26) __.

Cơ chế kinh tế của chính sách môi trường và các công cụ định giá carbon trong phát triển bền vững toàn cầu

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PASSAGE 3 – Paradigm Shifts in Sustainable Development Theory

Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)

Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút

The dialectical relationship between economic expansion and ecological preservation has undergone substantial conceptual evolution over the past half-century, progressing from rudimentary notions of zero-sum trade-offs to increasingly sophisticated frameworks that acknowledge the multidimensional and contingent nature of this interaction. Contemporary scholarship in ecological economics, institutional theory, and political ecology has fundamentally challenged the ontological assumptions underlying earlier models, revealing that the feasibility of reconciling these ostensibly competing imperatives depends critically on the socio-technical configurations, governance architectures, and power asymmetries that characterize specific development trajectories. This intellectual transformation has profound implications for both theoretical understanding and policy praxis, necessitating a more reflexive and contextually-grounded approach to sustainability challenges.

The genesis of contemporary environmental economics can be traced to the seminal work of Arthur Pigou in the 1920s, who first articulated the concept of externalities and proposed corrective taxation as a mechanism for aligning private costs with social costs. However, the ascendancy of neoclassical economics in the post-war period, with its emphasis on market equilibrium and allocative efficiency, tended to relegate environmental concerns to the status of aberrations requiring marginal adjustments rather than fundamental systemic change. The publication of “The Limits to Growth” in 1972, commissioned by the Club of Rome, marked a watershed moment by employing systems dynamics modeling to demonstrate that continued exponential economic growth on a finite planet would inevitably lead to catastrophic resource depletion and ecological collapse. While the report’s specific quantitative predictions have been subject to extensive debate and revision, its fundamental thesis – that biophysical constraints impose ultimate limits on economic expansion – catalyzed serious academic and policy engagement with environmental issues.

The Brundtland Commission’s 1987 report, “Our Common Future,” crystallized the concept of sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This definition, while achieving remarkable rhetorical and political resonance, has been criticized for its inherent ambiguity and potential to legitimize “business-as-usual” approaches under the guise of sustainability. The tripartite framework of economic, social, and environmental pillars that emerged from this conceptualization has been both influential and contentious. Critics argue that treating these dimensions as co-equal and potentially substitutable obfuscates the fundamental dependence of economic and social systems on ecological life-support functions. Alternative formulations, such as the “nested dependencies” model proposed by ecological economists, position the economy as a subsystem of human society, which is itself embedded within and entirely dependent upon the biosphere, thereby reasserting the primacy of ecological constraints.

The operationalization of sustainable development has spawned diverse analytical frameworks and policy instruments, each embodying distinct theoretical presuppositions and normative commitments. Cost-benefit analysis (CBA), the dominant tool in environmental policy evaluation, attempts to monetize environmental goods and services to enable commensuration with market-valued economic outputs. However, CBA faces formidable methodological and ethical challenges. Valuation techniques such as contingent valuation or hedonic pricing rely on problematic assumptions about consumer sovereignty, perfect information, and the substitutability of natural capital. Furthermore, the practice of discounting future benefits and costs – necessary for comparing values across time – systematically devalues long-term environmental consequences, potentially rationalizing decisions that impose severe burdens on future generations. Philosopher Derek Parfit and others have argued that standard discounting practices applied to environmental issues are ethically indefensible, as they accord lesser moral weight to the well-being of future persons solely based on their temporal distance from the present.

Institutional economics offers crucial insights into why purely market-based solutions often prove insufficient for addressing environmental challenges. Elinor Ostrom’s pioneering research on common-pool resource management, recognized with the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2009, demonstrated that communities can successfully govern shared resources through collectively-crafted rules and monitoring mechanisms, contradicting the “tragedy of the commons” thesis that predicted inevitable overexploitation in the absence of either privatization or state control. Ostrom’s work highlighted the importance of polycentricity – governance systems characterized by multiple overlapping decision-making centers – in fostering adaptive management and innovation while maintaining accountability. This research has profound implications for climate governance, suggesting that effective solutions may require hybrid arrangements combining international agreements, national policies, sub-national initiatives, and community-based management rather than a single centralized regime.

The concept of “strong versus weak sustainability” encapsulates fundamental divergences in thinking about intergenerational equity and the substitutability of different forms of capital. Weak sustainability, associated with mainstream environmental economics, holds that natural capital can be depleted provided that sufficient manufactured or human capital is accumulated to compensate future generations. This view is predicated on assumptions of continuous technological progress and the fungibility of different capital types. Strong sustainability, advocated by ecological economists, challenges these assumptions, arguing that certain forms of natural capital perform critical functions – such as climate regulation, biogeochemical cycling, and genetic diversity – that have no technological substitutes. From this perspective, maintaining the integrity of essential ecological systems constitutes a non-negotiable constraint on economic activity, requiring the preservation of “critical natural capital” irrespective of potential economic trade-offs. This distinction has direct implications for policy: weak sustainability frameworks support compensatory approaches where environmental damage in one area can be offset by improvements or economic gains elsewhere, while strong sustainability demands precautionary approaches that prevent irreversible degradation of critical ecosystems.

Political ecology perspectives further complicate the picture by examining how power relations, social inequalities, and historical legacies shape both environmental degradation patterns and the distributional consequences of environmental policies. The concept of “environmental justice” highlights how marginalized communities disproportionately bear the costs of both pollution and conservation measures, while often receiving fewer benefits from economic development. Case studies from diverse contexts – from the Niger Delta’s oil extraction to Indonesian rainforest conversion – reveal how global economic structures, colonial histories, and contemporary governance failures interact to produce patterns of environmental destruction that simultaneously concentrate wealth and externalize environmental and social costs onto vulnerable populations. This analysis suggests that effective environmental protection requires addressing underlying structural inequalities and power asymmetries, not merely implementing technocratic policy instruments.

The emergence of “planetary boundaries” framework, articulated by Johan Rockström and colleagues, represents a synthesis of Earth system science with sustainability concerns, identifying nine critical environmental processes – including climate change, biodiversity loss, nitrogen cycling, and ocean acidification – for which quantitative thresholds can be defined. Transgressing these boundaries risks triggering non-linear and potentially irreversible changes that could undermine the stable environmental conditions that enabled human civilization to develop. This framework provides a science-based foundation for defining “safe operating space” for humanity, reframing sustainability as an absolute biophysical imperative rather than a relativistic balance of competing interests. However, the framework has also faced criticism for potential reductionism, inadequate attention to social processes and equity considerations, and the challenge of translating global boundaries into actionable policies at national and local scales where heterogeneous conditions and priorities prevail.

Degrowth theory represents perhaps the most radical challenge to conventional thinking about the growth-environment relationship, arguing that environmental sustainability requires deliberately reducing the scale of economic activity in wealthy nations to levels consistent with ecological limits. Proponents contend that efficiency improvements and technological substitution, while valuable, cannot achieve the magnitude of environmental impact reduction necessary to avert catastrophic climate change and ecosystem collapse while global economic output continues expanding. They advocate for voluntary simplicity, redistribution of wealth, reduced working hours, and focus on non-material sources of well-being. Critics argue that degrowth is politically infeasible, would cause massive unemployment and social disruption, and neglects the poverty-reduction imperative in developing countries. This debate crystallizes fundamental questions about whether affluent societies can maintain current living standards while achieving environmental sustainability, or whether addressing ecological crises requires more fundamental transformations of economic systems and consumption patterns.

The aggregate body of theoretical and empirical work on balancing economic development with environmental protection reveals irreducible complexity and contextual specificity that defies simple prescriptions. Successful navigation of sustainability transitions appears to require multi-level governance that coordinates action across scales, adaptive policy frameworks capable of responding to new information and changing conditions, sustained investment in both technological innovation and institutional capacity, and inclusive processes that ensure equitable distribution of both costs and benefits. Moreover, the urgency of challenges such as climate change means that theoretical debates cannot indefinitely postpone action. While acknowledging uncertainties and contested values, societies must make consequential choices about development pathways. The trajectory of these choices will determine whether human civilization can achieve genuine prosperity within planetary boundaries or whether the pursuit of narrow economic growth metrics will culminate in the degradation of the environmental systems upon which all economic activity ultimately depends.

Questions 27-40

Questions 27-31: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

27. According to paragraph 1, the relationship between economic growth and environmental protection:

• A) Has always been understood as complex
• B) Has evolved from simple trade-off concepts to sophisticated frameworks
• C) Remains unchanged since the 1950s
• D) Can only be understood through economic theory

28. The publication “The Limits to Growth” in 1972 was significant because it:

• A) Proved that economic growth could continue indefinitely
• B) Used systems modeling to show growth limits on a finite planet
• C) Rejected all previous economic theories
• D) Focused only on renewable resources

29. What is the main criticism of the Brundtland Commission’s definition of sustainable development?

• A) It is too specific and rigid
• B) It completely ignores economic factors
• C) It is ambiguous and could justify business-as-usual approaches
• D) It focuses only on future generations

30. Elinor Ostrom’s research on common-pool resources demonstrated that:

• A) Private ownership is always the best solution
• B) Communities can successfully govern shared resources through collective rules
• C) Government control is the only effective management approach
• D) The tragedy of the commons is unavoidable

31. The planetary boundaries framework aims to:

• A) Maximize economic growth regardless of environmental impact
• B) Define quantitative thresholds for critical environmental processes
• C) Eliminate all human impact on the environment
• D) Focus only on climate change issues

Questions 32-36: Matching Features

Match each theoretical perspective (A-F) with its corresponding characteristic (Questions 32-36).

Theoretical Perspectives:

• A) Weak sustainability
• B) Strong sustainability
• C) Political ecology
• D) Degrowth theory
• E) Cost-benefit analysis
• F) Planetary boundaries

32. Examines how power relations and social inequalities shape environmental degradation patterns

33. Argues that natural capital can be depleted if compensated by manufactured or human capital

34. Advocates for deliberately reducing economic activity in wealthy nations

35. Identifies nine critical environmental processes with quantitative thresholds

36. Maintains that certain natural capital performs critical functions with no technological substitutes

Questions 37-40: Short-answer Questions

Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

37. What term describes the model that positions the economy as a subsystem of human society embedded within the biosphere?

38. What practice in cost-benefit analysis systematically devalues long-term environmental consequences?

39. What type of governance systems did Ostrom highlight as important, characterized by multiple overlapping decision-making centers?

40. According to degrowth proponents, what should wealthy societies focus on instead of material consumption?

Lý thuyết phát triển bền vững và sự biến đổi mô hình kinh tế môi trường từ đơn giản đến phức tạp

Answer Keys – Đáp Án

PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13

1. B
2. C
3. C
4. B
5. A
6. FALSE
7. TRUE
8. FALSE
9. FALSE
10. biodiversity
11. initial investment
12. job losses
13. consumer demand

PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26

14. iii
15. vi
16. iv
17. ii
18. i
19. YES
20. NO
21. NO
22. NO
23. NO
24. innovation
25. incentive framework
26. technological change

PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40

27. B
28. B
29. C
30. B
31. B
32. C
33. A
34. D
35. F
36. B
37. nested dependencies
38. discounting
39. polycentricity / polycentric systems
40. non-material sources

Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Passage 1 – Giải Thích

Câu 1: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: main purpose, green economy
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, câu 2
• Giải thích: Bài văn nói rõ “This approach seeks to create a sustainable model of development that does not compromise the health of our planet for future generations.” Đây là paraphrase của đáp án B “create sustainable development without harming the planet”. Các đáp án khác không được đề cập hoặc quá cực đoan.

Câu 2: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice – Detail
• Từ khóa: Denmark, percentage, electricity, wind power, 2020
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, câu 3
• Giải thích: Thông tin xuất hiện rõ ràng: “By 2020, wind power accounted for nearly 50% of the country’s electricity consumption.” Đáp án C là chính xác với “nearly 50%”.

Câu 6: FALSE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Traditional economic models, environmental costs, planning
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, câu 2
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói rõ “Traditional economic models have historically prioritized rapid industrialization and resource extraction without fully considering environmental costs.” Từ “without fully considering” mâu thuẫn trực tiếp với “always considered” trong câu hỏi, nên đáp án là FALSE.

Câu 7: TRUE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Denmark, carbon-neutral, 2050
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, câu 4
• Giải thích: Câu trong bài: “The Danish government has set ambitious targets to become completely carbon-neutral by 2050.” Thông tin khớp hoàn toàn với câu hỏi.

Câu 10: biodiversity

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: accumulation, greenhouse gases, loss of
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, câu 3
• Giải thích: Câu gốc: “the accumulation of greenhouse gases, loss of biodiversity, and depletion of natural resources have forced policymakers to reconsider”. Từ cần điền là “biodiversity”.

Passage 2 – Giải Thích

Câu 14: iii (The fundamental problem of external costs in markets)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
• Vị trí: Paragraph B
• Giải thích: Đoạn văn tập trung vào “externalities” và cách thị trường truyền thống thất bại trong việc tính toán chi phí môi trường. Câu chủ đề “At the heart of the environmental economics debate lies the concept of externalities” phù hợp với heading iii.

Câu 15: vi (Pricing carbon emissions as a policy solution)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
• Vị trí: Paragraph C
• Giải thích: Toàn bộ đoạn văn thảo luận về “carbon pricing” như một cơ chế chính sách, bao gồm carbon tax và cap-and-trade system, với ví dụ từ British Columbia.

Câu 19: YES

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Environmental degradation, negative externality
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, câu 2-3
• Giải thích: Bài văn nói rõ “Environmental degradation represents a classic negative externality: when a factory pollutes a river, the costs are borne not by the factory owner but by downstream communities”. Tác giả khẳng định quan điểm này.

Câu 20: NO

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: British Columbia, carbon tax, economic decline
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, câu cuối
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói “the province reduced its per capita fuel consumption by approximately 15% compared to the rest of Canada, while maintaining comparable economic growth rates.” “Maintaining comparable economic growth” mâu thuẫn với “significant economic decline”, nên đáp án là NO.

Câu 24: innovation

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Từ khóa: Porter’s hypothesis, environmental regulations, encourage
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, câu 5
• Giải thích: Câu gốc: “Porter’s hypothesis suggests that stringent environmental regulations can actually stimulate innovation and enhance competitiveness”. Từ cần điền là “innovation”.

Passage 3 – Giải Thích

Câu 27: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: relationship, economic growth, environmental protection, paragraph 1
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, câu 1
• Giải thích: Câu đầu tiên nói “The dialectical relationship… has undergone substantial conceptual evolution over the past half-century, progressing from rudimentary notions of zero-sum trade-offs to increasingly sophisticated frameworks”. Đây là paraphrase của đáp án B.

Câu 30: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Elinor Ostrom, common-pool resources, demonstrated
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, câu 2
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói “demonstrated that communities can successfully govern shared resources through collectively-crafted rules and monitoring mechanisms”. Đáp án B khớp chính xác với thông tin này.

Câu 32: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
• Từ khóa: power relations, social inequalities, environmental degradation
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, câu 1
• Giải thích: “Political ecology perspectives… examining how power relations, social inequalities, and historical legacies shape both environmental degradation patterns”. Đặc điểm này thuộc về Political ecology (C).

Câu 37: nested dependencies

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions (3 words maximum)
• Từ khóa: model, economy, subsystem, human society, biosphere
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, câu cuối
• Giải thích: Câu trong bài: “Alternative formulations, such as the ‘nested dependencies’ model proposed by ecological economists, position the economy as a subsystem of human society, which is itself embedded within… the biosphere”.

Câu 39: polycentricity / polycentric systems

• Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
• Từ khóa: Ostrom, governance systems, multiple, overlapping, decision-making centers
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, câu 3
• Giải thích: “Ostrom’s work highlighted the importance of polycentricity – governance systems characterized by multiple overlapping decision-making centers”. Có thể trả lời “polycentricity” (1 từ) hoặc “polycentric systems” (2 từ).

Chiến lược làm bài IELTS Reading đạt band cao với kỹ thuật skimming scanning và quản lý thời gian hiệu quả

Từ Vựng Quan Trọng Theo Passage

Passage 1 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
momentum	n	/məʊˈmentəm/	động lực, đà phát triển	gained significant momentum	gain/gather momentum
dual challenge	n phrase	/ˈdjuːəl ˈtʃælɪndʒ/	thách thức kép	grapple with the dual challenge	face/meet a dual challenge
compromise	v	/ˈkɒmprəmaɪz/	làm tổn hại, thỏa hiệp	does not compromise the health	compromise quality/safety
transition	n	/trænˈzɪʃən/	sự chuyển đổi	The transition to a green economy	energy transition, smooth transition
accumulation	n	/əˌkjuːmjəˈleɪʃən/	sự tích tụ	accumulation of greenhouse gases	accumulation of wealth/data
depletion	n	/dɪˈpliːʃən/	sự cạn kiệt	depletion of natural resources	resource/ozone depletion
renewable resources	n phrase	/rɪˈnjuːəbəl rɪˈsɔːsɪz/	tài nguyên tái tạo	promote the use of renewable resources	renewable energy sources
pioneers	n	/ˌpaɪəˈnɪəz/	người tiên phong	emerged as pioneers	industry pioneers
carbon-neutral	adj	/ˈkɑːbən ˈnjuːtrəl/	trung hòa carbon	become completely carbon-neutral	achieve carbon neutrality
mutually reinforcing	adj phrase	/ˈmjuːtʃuəli ˌriːɪnˈfɔːsɪŋ/	tăng cường lẫn nhau	can be mutually reinforcing	mutually beneficial/exclusive
fossil fuels	n phrase	/ˈfɒsəl ˈfjuːəlz/	nhiên liệu hóa thạch	based on fossil fuels	dependence on fossil fuels
substantial investments	n phrase	/səbˈstænʃəl ɪnˈvestmənts/	khoản đầu tư đáng kể	includes substantial investments	make substantial investments

Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
trade-off	n	/ˈtreɪd ɒf/	sự đánh đổi	characterized as a fundamental trade-off	make/accept a trade-off
nuanced	adj	/ˈnjuːɑːnst/	tinh tế, nhiều sắc thái	relationship is far more nuanced	nuanced approach/understanding
synergies	n	/ˈsɪnədʒiz/	sự phối hợp hiệu quả	synergies between these objectives	create/achieve synergies
paramount	adj	/ˈpærəmaʊnt/	tối quan trọng	has become paramount	of paramount importance
externalities	n	/ˌekstɜːˈnælɪtiz/	yếu tố bên ngoài (kinh tế)	concept of externalities	negative/positive externalities
internalize	v	/ɪnˈtɜːnəlaɪz/	nội luật hóa	can internalize the environmental costs	internalize costs/values
cap-and-trade	n	/kæp ənd treɪd/	hệ thống hạn mức và trao đổi	either through a carbon tax or cap-and-trade	cap-and-trade system/scheme
empirical evidence	n phrase	/ɪmˈpɪrɪkəl ˈevɪdəns/	bằng chứng thực nghiệm	provides empirical evidence	based on empirical evidence
stringent	adj	/ˈstrɪndʒənt/	nghiêm ngặt	stringent environmental regulations	stringent measures/controls
revenue-neutral	adj	/ˈrevənjuː ˈnjuːtrəl/	trung lập về doanh thu	revenue-neutral nature of reforms	revenue-neutral policy
inverted U-shaped	adj phrase	/ɪnˈvɜːtɪd juː ʃeɪpt/	hình chữ U ngược	creating an inverted U-shaped relationship	inverted U-shaped curve
offshore	v	/ˌɒfˈʃɔː/	chuyển ra nước ngoài	may simply offshore their polluting industries	offshore operations/production
comprehensive	adj	/ˌkɒmprɪˈhensɪv/	toàn diện	provide more comprehensive assessments	comprehensive review/analysis
reconciling	v	/ˈrekənsaɪlɪŋ/	hòa giải, dung hòa	The role in reconciling economic growth	reconcile differences/conflicts
diffusion	n	/dɪˈfjuːʒən/	sự phổ biến, lan tỏa	facilitate the diffusion of clean technologies	technology/knowledge diffusion

Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
dialectical	adj	/ˌdaɪəˈlektɪkəl/	biện chứng	The dialectical relationship	dialectical approach/materialism
contingent	adj	/kənˈtɪndʒənt/	phụ thuộc vào	multidimensional and contingent nature	contingent on/upon
ontological	adj	/ˌɒntəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/	thuộc bản thể luận	ontological assumptions	ontological perspectives
genesis	n	/ˈdʒenəsɪs/	nguồn gốc, khởi nguồn	The genesis of contemporary economics	the genesis of an idea
ascendancy	n	/əˈsendənsi/	sự chiếm ưu thế	the ascendancy of neoclassical economics	gain/achieve ascendancy
watershed moment	n phrase	/ˈwɔːtəʃed ˈməʊmənt/	thời điểm quan trọng	marked a watershed moment	represent a watershed moment
crystallized	v	/ˈkrɪstəlaɪzd/	kết tinh, cụ thể hóa	crystallized the concept	crystallize thoughts/ideas
obfuscates	v	/ˈɒbfʌskeɪts/	làm mờ, che đậy	treating dimensions as co-equal obfuscates	obfuscate the issue/truth
subsystem	n	/ˈsʌbsɪstəm/	hệ thống con	economy as a subsystem	integrated subsystem
commensuration	n	/kəˌmenʃəˈreɪʃən/	sự so sánh đồng nhất	enable commensuration with market-valued outputs	allow commensuration
indefensible	adj	/ˌɪndɪˈfensəbəl/	không thể bào chữa	ethically indefensible	morally/intellectually indefensible
polycentricity	n	/ˌpɒlisenˈtrɪsəti/	tính đa trung tâm	importance of polycentricity	governance polycentricity
fungibility	n	/ˌfʌndʒəˈbɪləti/	tính có thể thay thế	assumptions of continuous technological progress and fungibility	asset fungibility
irreversible	adj	/ˌɪrɪˈvɜːsəbəl/	không thể đảo ngược	prevent irreversible degradation	irreversible damage/change
disproportionately	adv	/ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃənətli/	không cân xứng	disproportionately bear the costs	disproportionately affected/represented
transgressing	v	/trænzˈɡresɪŋ/	vi phạm, vượt qua	Transgressing these boundaries	transgress boundaries/limits
reductionism	n	/rɪˈdʌkʃənɪzəm/	chủ nghĩa rút gọn	criticism for potential reductionism	scientific/biological reductionism
affluent	adj	/ˈæfluənt/	giàu có, sung túc	whether affluent societies can maintain	affluent society/lifestyle
culminate	v	/ˈkʌlmɪneɪt/	đạt đỉnh điểm	will culminate in the degradation	culminate in success/disaster

Kết bài

Chủ đề “Challenges of balancing economic growth and environmental protection” không chỉ là một đề tài phổ biến trong IELTS Reading mà còn phản ánh một trong những vấn đề cấp thiết nhất của thế kỷ 21. Qua ba passages với độ khó tăng dần, bạn đã được trải nghiệm một bài thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với đầy đủ 40 câu hỏi theo đúng format thi thật. Passage 1 giới thiệu các khái niệm cơ bản về nền kinh tế xanh và những ví dụ thực tế từ các quốc gia tiên phong. Passage 2 đi sâu vào các cơ chế kinh tế của chính sách môi trường, từ định giá carbon đến cải cách thuế xanh. Passage 3 thách thức bạn với những lý thuyết phức tạp về phát triển bền vững, từ khái niệm externalities đến các tranh luận về degrowth theory.

Hệ thống đáp án chi tiết đã cung cấp không chỉ câu trả lời đúng mà còn giải thích rõ ràng về vị trí thông tin trong bài, cách paraphrase được sử dụng và lý do tại sao các đáp án khác không chính xác. Điều này giúp bạn hiểu sâu hơn về logic của từng dạng câu hỏi và phát triển kỹ năng phân tích cần thiết cho kỳ thi thật. Đặc biệt, với hơn 40 từ vựng quan trọng được tổng hợp kèm phiên âm, nghĩa và collocation, bạn đã bổ sung một lượng từ vựng học thuật đáng kể vào vốn từ của mình.

Để đạt kết quả tốt nhất, hãy làm lại đề thi này ít nhất 2-3 lần, mỗi lần tập trung vào một khía cạnh khác nhau: lần đầu làm trong điều kiện thi thật với giới hạn thời gian, lần thứ hai phân tích kỹ các câu trả lời sai, và lần thứ ba học thuộc từ vựng và cấu trúc câu quan trọng. Hãy nhớ rằng IELTS Reading không chỉ kiểm tra khả năng đọc hiểu mà còn đánh giá kỹ năng quản lý thời gian và chiến lược làm bài. Chúc bạn ôn tập hiệu quả và đạt được band điểm mong muốn trong kỳ thi IELTS sắp tới!