IELTS Reading: Phân Tích Lịch Sử Phát Triển Dân Chủ – Đề Thi Mẫu Có Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Giới Thiệu

Chủ đề “Historical Analysis Of The Development Of Democracy” (Phân tích lịch sử phát triển dân chủ) là một trong những chủ đề phổ biến trong IELTS Reading, thường xuất hiện ở cả ba mức độ khó. Đây là chủ đề thuộc nhóm Social Sciences – History, yêu cầu thí sinh không chỉ có khả năng đọc hiểu mà còn cần hiểu về bối cảnh lịch sử, chính trị và văn hóa.

Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ được trải nghiệm một bộ đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với:

• Ba passages đầy đủ từ dễ đến khó (Easy → Medium → Hard), tổng cộng hơn 2000 từ
• 40 câu hỏi đa dạng với 7-8 dạng câu hỏi khác nhau giống thi thật 100%
• Đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích vị trí và cách paraphrase
• Từ vựng quan trọng được phân loại theo từng passage với phiên âm và ví dụ
• Chiến lược làm bài từ kinh nghiệm giảng dạy 20 năm

Đề thi này phù hợp cho học viên từ band 5.0 trở lên, giúp bạn làm quen với format thi thật và rèn luyện kỹ năng làm bài hiệu quả. Hãy dành 60 phút để hoàn thành bài test này trong điều kiện giống thi thật nhé!

Hướng Dẫn Làm Bài IELTS Reading

Tổng Quan Về IELTS Reading Test

IELTS Reading Test là phần thi kéo dài 60 phút, bao gồm 3 passages với tổng cộng 40 câu hỏi. Mỗi câu trả lời đúng được tính 1 điểm, không bị trừ điểm với câu sai.

Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:

• Passage 1: 15-17 phút (độ khó Easy)
• Passage 2: 18-20 phút (độ khó Medium)
• Passage 3: 23-25 phút (độ khó Hard)

Lưu ý quan trọng: Không có thời gian phụ để chuyển đáp án sang answer sheet, vì vậy bạn cần viết đáp án trực tiếp trong quá trình làm bài.

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 – Câu hỏi trắc nghiệm
2. True/False/Not Given – Xác định thông tin đúng/sai/không có
3. Matching Information – Nối thông tin với đoạn văn
4. Yes/No/Not Given – Xác định ý kiến tác giả
5. Matching Headings – Nối tiêu đề với đoạn văn
6. Summary Completion – Hoàn thành tóm tắt
7. Short-answer Questions – Câu hỏi trả lời ngắn

Mỗi dạng câu hỏi yêu cầu kỹ năng đọc khác nhau, từ scanning (đọc quét) đến careful reading (đọc kỹ).

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IELTS Reading Practice Test

PASSAGE 1 – The Roots of Democratic Thought in Ancient Greece

Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút

The concept of democracy, which has become a cornerstone of modern political systems worldwide, has its deepest roots in ancient Greece, particularly in the city-state of Athens during the 5th century BCE. The word “democracy” itself comes from the Greek words “demos” (meaning people) and “kratos” (meaning power or rule), literally translating to “rule by the people“. This revolutionary idea emerged at a time when most societies were governed by monarchs, aristocrats, or tyrants.

Before democracy developed, Athens experienced various forms of government. Initially ruled by kings, the city-state transitioned to an oligarchy where power was concentrated among a small group of wealthy landowners. This system created significant social inequality and economic hardship for ordinary citizens, leading to widespread discontent. In 594 BCE, a statesman named Solon was appointed to reform the system. His reforms included cancelling debts, prohibiting slavery based on debt, and creating a council of citizens that could participate in decision-making. While Solon’s reforms did not establish democracy completely, they laid crucial groundwork for future developments.

The pivotal moment in the development of Athenian democracy came around 508 BCE when Cleisthenes, often called the “Father of Democracy“, introduced radical reforms. He reorganized the population into ten tribes based on geographical location rather than family connections or wealth. This change broke the power of traditional aristocratic families who had dominated politics. Cleisthenes established the Assembly (Ekklesia), where all male citizens over 18 could attend, debate, and vote on important issues. He also created the Council of Five Hundred (Boule), whose members were selected by lot from the ten tribes, ensuring broader representation.

One of the most distinctive features of Athenian democracy was the extensive use of sortition – the selection of officials by lottery rather than election. The Athenians believed this method was more democratic because it gave every citizen an equal opportunity to serve, preventing the emergence of a professional political class. Officials were chosen randomly for one-year terms and could not serve in the same position twice. This system required citizens to be actively engaged in civic affairs and well-informed about issues affecting the community.

However, it is important to note that Athenian democracy had significant limitations by modern standards. Political participation was restricted to adult male citizens whose parents were both Athenian. This excluded women, slaves (who comprised a large portion of the population), and foreign residents (metics). Scholars estimate that only about 10-20% of Athens’ total population had political rights. Despite these restrictions, the system represented a remarkable innovation in governance and provided a model that would inspire political thinkers for centuries.

The Athenian democratic system faced both internal challenges and external threats. Internally, the rise of demagogues – charismatic leaders who appealed to popular emotions rather than reason – sometimes led to poor decisions. The trial and execution of the philosopher Socrates in 399 BCE, condemned by a jury of his fellow citizens, demonstrated the potential for mob rule and the suppression of dissent. Externally, Athens’ democracy was interrupted by the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE) against Sparta, which ended with Athens’ defeat and a brief period of oligarchic rule known as the Tyranny of the Thirty.

Despite its eventual decline, the legacy of Athenian democracy proved enduring. The concept that ordinary citizens should have a voice in government, that leaders should be accountable to the people, and that public debate is essential to good governance became fundamental principles. These ideas were preserved through the writings of Greek philosophers and historians, transmitted through the Roman Republic, and eventually rediscovered and adapted during the Enlightenment period in Europe. The Athenian experiment demonstrated that democracy, while imperfect, could function as a viable system of government, inspiring democratic movements throughout history.

Nền dân chủ Hy Lạp cổ đại tại Athens với hội đồng công dân

Questions 1-13

Questions 1-5: Multiple Choice

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

1. The word “democracy” originates from Greek terms meaning:
A. freedom and justice
B. people and power
C. citizens and government
D. equality and rights

2. Before Solon’s reforms, Athens was governed by:
A. a democratic council
B. foreign rulers
C. a small group of wealthy landowners
D. military generals

3. Cleisthenes reorganized Athenian society based on:
A. family wealth
B. military service
C. geographical location
D. educational achievement

4. Officials in Athenian democracy were typically selected through:
A. competitive examinations
B. hereditary succession
C. lottery system
D. popular elections

5. What percentage of Athens’ total population had political rights?
A. approximately 50%
B. approximately 30-40%
C. approximately 10-20%
D. approximately 5%

Questions 6-9: True/False/Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage?

Write:

• TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
• FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
• NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

6. Solon completely eliminated slavery in Athens.

7. The Council of Five Hundred had members chosen randomly from the population.

8. Athenian officials could serve unlimited terms in the same position.

9. Women in Athens participated in some minor political decisions.

Questions 10-13: Matching Information

Match the following statements (10-13) with the correct person (A-D).

A. Solon
B. Cleisthenes
C. Socrates
D. Not mentioned in the passage

10. Introduced reforms that cancelled debts

11. Known as the “Father of Democracy”

12. Was executed by democratic decision

13. Established the first written constitution in Athens

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PASSAGE 2 – Democracy’s Evolution Through the Enlightenment and Revolutions

Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút

Following the decline of classical Greek democracy and the Roman Republic, democratic principles largely disappeared from Europe for over a millennium. During the Medieval period, power was concentrated in the hands of monarchs, the church, and feudal lords. However, the seeds of democratic revival were planted during the Renaissance and fully germinated during the Enlightenment – an intellectual movement that swept across Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. This period fundamentally transformed political thinking and laid the philosophical foundation for modern democracy.

The Enlightenment thinkers, or philosophes, challenged traditional authority and emphasized reason, individual liberty, and natural rights. English philosopher John Locke (1632-1704) was particularly influential in developing democratic theory. In his seminal work “Two Treatises of Government” (1689), Locke argued that political power derives from the consent of the governed rather than divine right. He proposed that individuals possess inherent rights to “life, liberty, and property” that governments must protect. Furthermore, Locke introduced the revolutionary concept of the “social contract” – an implicit agreement between rulers and citizens wherein the government’s legitimacy depends on fulfilling its obligations to the people. If a government fails to protect citizens’ rights or becomes tyrannical, Locke argued, the people have the right to overthrow it.

French philosopher Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755), contributed another crucial element to democratic theory: the separation of powers. In his influential book “The Spirit of the Laws” (1748), Montesquieu argued that governmental authority should be divided among distinct branches – legislative, executive, and judicial – to prevent any single entity from becoming too powerful. This system of checks and balances would protect citizens from tyranny and ensure accountability. Montesquieu’s ideas were revolutionary because they challenged the absolute monarchies that dominated Europe, where kings held unlimited power over all aspects of government.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), another French philosophe, took democratic theory in a different direction. His 1762 book “The Social Contract” argued for popular sovereignty – the idea that ultimate political authority resides with the people as a whole, not with any individual ruler or institution. Rousseau introduced the concept of the “general will” – the collective good of society – which should guide government decisions. While Rousseau’s ideas were idealistic and sometimes contradictory, they profoundly influenced revolutionary movements by emphasizing that legitimate government requires direct participation and consent of all citizens.

These Enlightenment ideas found their first major practical application in the American Revolution (1775-1783). The American colonists, frustrated with British rule and taxation without representation, drew heavily on Locke’s theories of natural rights and the right to revolt against unjust authority. The Declaration of Independence (1776), primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, embodied Enlightenment principles, asserting that “all men are created equal” and possess “unalienable rights” including “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The subsequent U.S. Constitution (1787) implemented Montesquieu’s separation of powers, creating a federal system with distinct branches and constitutional limits on governmental authority. The Bill of Rights (1791) further guaranteed individual freedoms, including freedom of speech, religion, and assembly – essential components of democratic society.

The French Revolution (1789-1799) represented another pivotal moment in democracy’s development, though its outcomes were more turbulent and ambiguous. Beginning with the storming of the Bastille and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, the revolution initially embraced Enlightenment ideals of liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty. However, the revolution descended into the Reign of Terror (1793-1794), where radical factions executed thousands of perceived enemies, demonstrating the dangers of unchecked popular power. The revolution ultimately gave way to Napoleon’s dictatorship, seemingly discrediting democratic ideals. Nevertheless, the revolution’s long-term impact was profound, dismantling feudal structures across Europe and inspiring democratic movements worldwide.

The 19th century witnessed gradual expansion of democratic rights, though progress was uneven and often met with resistance. In Britain, a series of Reform Acts (1832, 1867, 1884) progressively extended voting rights beyond wealthy landowners to include middle-class men and eventually working-class men. The Chartist movement pushed for further democratic reforms, including universal male suffrage and secret ballots. However, women remained excluded from political participation throughout most of the century. The struggle for women’s suffrage became a defining democratic campaign of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with suffragettes employing various tactics from peaceful protest to civil disobedience. New Zealand became the first self-governing nation to grant women the vote in 1893, followed gradually by other nations.

This period also saw important theoretical developments in democratic thought. John Stuart Mill, in works like “On Liberty” (1859) and “Considerations on Representative Government” (1861), argued for expanding democracy while protecting minority rights and individual freedom. Mill was notably progressive in advocating for women’s political participation, though his view that more educated citizens should have greater voting power remained elitist by today’s standards. Alexis de Tocqueville, after observing American democracy firsthand, wrote “Democracy in America” (1835-1840), offering penetrating analysis of democracy’s strengths – such as promoting social equality and civic engagement – and its potential weaknesses, including the “tyranny of the majority” and the tendency toward mediocrity.

Cuộc Cách mạng Pháp và Tuyên bố Nhân quyền công dân phát triển dân chủ

Questions 14-26

Questions 14-18: Yes/No/Not Given

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

Write:

• YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
• NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
• NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

14. The Medieval period saw continued development of democratic principles in Europe.

15. John Locke’s theory of the social contract challenged the divine right of kings.

16. Montesquieu’s separation of powers was immediately adopted by all European monarchies.

17. The French Revolution’s outcomes were more problematic than the American Revolution’s.

18. John Stuart Mill supported equal voting rights for all citizens regardless of education.

Questions 19-23: Matching Headings

The passage has eight paragraphs (1-8). Choose the correct heading for paragraphs 4-8 from the list of headings below.

List of Headings:
i. The implementation of democratic ideals in America
ii. Rousseau’s concept of collective political authority
iii. The expansion of voting rights in the 19th century
iv. Locke’s theory of natural rights and government legitimacy
v. Theoretical critiques of democratic systems
vi. The French Revolution’s complex legacy
vii. The separation of governmental powers
viii. Women’s struggle for political inclusion
ix. The decline of feudalism in Europe

19. Paragraph 4

20. Paragraph 5

21. Paragraph 6

22. Paragraph 7

23. Paragraph 8

Questions 24-26: Summary Completion

Complete the summary below using words from the box.

Word Box:
representation, sovereignty, revolution, equality, tyranny, stability, education, consent, property, military

Enlightenment thinkers fundamentally changed political philosophy by emphasizing that government legitimacy comes from the (24) __ of the people rather than hereditary right. They introduced concepts such as natural rights, popular (25) __, and separation of powers to prevent (26) __. These ideas directly influenced both the American and French Revolutions.

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PASSAGE 3 – Contemporary Challenges and Transformations in Democratic Systems

Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)

Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút

The 20th and 21st centuries have witnessed an unprecedented expansion of democracy worldwide, yet this proliferation has been accompanied by significant challenges that call into question the very sustainability and effectiveness of democratic governance in the contemporary era. Political scientists often refer to the “third wave of democratization” – a term coined by Samuel P. Huntington – describing the dramatic expansion of democratic regimes beginning in the 1970s with transitions in Southern Europe, continuing through Latin America in the 1980s, and culminating in the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s. By the early 21st century, more nations than ever before had adopted some form of democratic governance, with Freedom House reporting that approximately 46% of the world’s population lived in countries classified as “free” democracies by 2005.

However, this optimistic trajectory has been complicated by what scholars describe as democratic backsliding or democratic recession – a phenomenon wherein established democracies experience erosion of democratic norms, institutions, and practices. This trend, observable since approximately 2006, has affected democracies across diverse geographical and cultural contexts, from consolidated democracies in Europe and North America to fragile democracies in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The mechanisms of democratic backsliding are often subtle, involving incremental changes rather than dramatic coups. Populist leaders may win power through legitimate elections but subsequently undermine democratic institutions by attacking the independence of the judiciary, restricting press freedom, manipulating electoral systems, and eroding checks and balances that constrain executive power. Turkey under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Hungary under Viktor Orbán, and the Philippines under Rodrigo Duterte exemplify this pattern, where democratically-elected leaders have systematically weakened democratic institutions while maintaining electoral legitimacy.

The rise of digital technology and social media has introduced paradoxical effects on democratic governance. On one hand, these technologies have democratized information access, enabled grassroots mobilization, and provided platforms for marginalized voices. The Arab Spring movements of 2010-2011 demonstrated social media’s capacity to facilitate rapid organization and coordination of democratic protests against authoritarian regimes. Citizen journalism and online activism have exposed government corruption and human rights abuses, contributing to greater accountability. However, the same technologies have simultaneously enabled sophisticated manipulation of public opinion through targeted disinformation campaigns, algorithmic amplification of extremist content, and the creation of echo chambers that polarize societies. The Cambridge Analytica scandal and evidence of foreign interference in electoral processes – most notably Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election – revealed how data analytics and social media could be weaponized to subvert democratic processes. Computational propaganda, deepfakes, and coordinated inauthentic behavior pose unprecedented challenges to the epistemic foundations of democracy, which presumes that citizens can access reliable information and engage in rational deliberation.

Economic inequality represents another fundamental challenge to contemporary democracy. While early democratic theorists acknowledged the tension between political equality and economic inequality, the scale of contemporary wealth concentration is historically unprecedented. In many democracies, the wealthiest 1% controls a disproportionate share of resources, enabling them to exert disproportionate political influence through campaign financing, lobbying, and ownership of media outlets. Political scientists Martin Gilens and Benjamin Page conducted extensive empirical analysis demonstrating that in the United States, policy outcomes correlate strongly with the preferences of economic elites and organized business interests but show minimal relationship with the preferences of average citizens. This has led to concerns that nominal democracies may function as oligarchies in practice, where formal political equality coexists with substantive inequality in political power. The 2008 financial crisis and its aftermath further highlighted this dynamic, as governments mobilized unprecedented resources to rescue financial institutions while imposing austerity measures on ordinary citizens, generating widespread disillusionment with democratic responsiveness.

The globalization of economic activity has also created structural tensions with democratic governance. Increasingly, consequential decisions affecting citizens’ lives are made by supranational institutions – such as the European Union, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, and multinational corporations – that operate beyond the reach of national democratic accountability mechanisms. The sovereign debt crisis in Greece illustrated this tension dramatically when elected governments found their policy autonomy severely constrained by external creditors and international institutions, prompting questions about the meaningfulness of democratic sovereignty in an interconnected global economy. The Brexit referendum and the rise of nationalist movements across Europe can be interpreted partly as backlash against this perceived democratic deficit, as citizens sought to reassert national democratic control over decisions affecting their communities.

Climate change presents perhaps the most profound long-term challenge to democratic governance, as it requires collective action on an unprecedented scale, extended time horizons, and willingness to accept immediate costs for uncertain future benefits. Democratic systems, with their electoral cycles and susceptibility to short-term political pressures, have struggled to generate sustained commitment to climate mitigation policies. The tragedy of the commons dimension of climate change – wherein individual nations benefit from free-riding while collective failure to act produces catastrophic outcomes – exacerbates the coordination problem. Some scholars, such as David Shearman and Joseph Wayne Smith, have controversially argued that democracy may be structurally incapable of addressing climate change, suggesting that authoritarian approaches might prove more effective. While most democratic theorists reject such defeatism, they acknowledge that climate change necessitates institutional innovations that can enable democratic systems to make intergenerational commitments and implement long-term policies despite electoral pressures.

Despite these formidable challenges, scholars and practitioners have identified promising developments and potential reforms that might strengthen democratic resilience. Deliberative democracy initiatives – such as citizens’ assemblies, participatory budgeting, and deliberative polling – have demonstrated that when provided with adequate information, time, and facilitation, ordinary citizens can engage in sophisticated policy deliberation and reach reasoned consensus on complex issues. Ireland’s successful use of citizens’ assemblies to address contentious issues like abortion and same-sex marriage offers an encouraging model. Institutional reforms aimed at reducing money’s influence in politics, strengthening judicial independence, protecting media pluralism, and enhancing electoral integrity remain essential. Furthermore, education in media literacy, critical thinking, and civic engagement may help citizens navigate the information ecosystem more effectively. Some scholars advocate for democratic innovations such as sortition (selection of representatives by lottery, reviving the ancient Athenian practice), quadratic voting (which allows voters to express preference intensity), and liquid democracy (which combines elements of direct and representative democracy) as potential complements or alternatives to traditional electoral mechanisms.

The historical analysis of democracy’s development reveals a trajectory marked by both remarkable progress and recurring challenges. From ancient Athens to the present, democratic governance has demonstrated adaptability and resilience, evolving in response to changing circumstances while maintaining core principles of popular sovereignty, political equality, and government accountability. The contemporary challenges facing democracy – technological disruption, economic inequality, globalization, and climate change – are undeniably formidable, yet they are not necessarily insurmountable. Whether democracy can successfully adapt to 21st-century conditions remains an open question, dependent on the collective choices and institutional innovations pursued by current and future generations. What history suggests is that democracy has never been a static achievement but rather an ongoing project requiring constant vigilance, renewal, and reimagination to realize its promise of government by and for the people.

Thách thức của dân chủ hiện đại trong thế kỷ 21 với công nghệ và bất bình đẳng

Questions 27-40

Questions 27-31: Multiple Choice

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

27. According to the passage, the “third wave of democratization” began in:
A. the 1960s with African independence movements
B. the 1970s with transitions in Southern Europe
C. the 1980s with Latin American reforms
D. the 1990s with the collapse of communism

28. Democratic backsliding typically occurs through:
A. violent military coups
B. foreign invasions
C. incremental institutional changes
D. natural disasters

29. The Cambridge Analytica scandal demonstrated:
A. the benefits of social media for democracy
B. how data analytics can be used to manipulate elections
C. the effectiveness of traditional campaign methods
D. the decline of foreign interference in elections

30. According to Gilens and Page’s research, U.S. policy outcomes primarily reflect the preferences of:
A. average citizens
B. political parties
C. economic elites and business interests
D. academic experts

31. The passage suggests that climate change challenges democracy because:
A. it requires immediate visible results
B. it demands long-term commitment despite short electoral cycles
C. citizens don’t understand scientific data
D. authoritarian systems are always more effective

Questions 32-36: Matching Features

Match the following concepts (32-36) with the correct description (A-H).

Concepts:
32. Deliberative democracy
33. Sortition
34. Quadratic voting
35. Liquid democracy
36. Democratic backsliding

Descriptions:
A. Selection of representatives by random lottery
B. Gradual erosion of democratic norms and institutions
C. Voting system that allows expression of preference intensity
D. Citizens’ engagement in informed policy discussions
E. Combining direct and representative democratic elements
F. Elimination of all electoral processes
G. Mandatory voting for all citizens
H. Government by military leaders

Questions 37-40: Short-answer Questions

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

37. What term did Samuel P. Huntington coin to describe democratic expansion beginning in the 1970s?

38. What phenomenon demonstrated social media’s capacity to facilitate rapid organization of democratic protests in 2010-2011?

39. According to the passage, what Greek practice is being revived as a potential democratic innovation?

40. What two qualities, besides resilience, has democracy demonstrated throughout its historical development?

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Answer Keys – Đáp Án

PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13

1. B
2. C
3. C
4. C
5. C
6. FALSE
7. TRUE
8. FALSE
9. NOT GIVEN
10. A
11. B
12. C
13. D

PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26

14. NO
15. YES
16. NOT GIVEN
17. YES
18. NO
19. ii
20. i
21. vi
22. iii
23. v
24. consent
25. sovereignty
26. tyranny

PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40

27. B
28. C
29. B
30. C
31. B
32. D
33. A
34. C
35. E
36. B
37. third wave (of democratization)
38. Arab Spring (movements)
39. sortition
40. adaptability, resilience (either order acceptable)

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Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Passage 1 – Giải Thích

Câu 1: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: democracy, originates, Greek terms, meaning
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 3-4
• Giải thích: Bài đọc nêu rõ “The word ‘democracy’ itself comes from the Greek words ‘demos’ (meaning people) and ‘kratos’ (meaning power or rule)”. Đây là paraphrase trực tiếp: “people and power” = đáp án B. Các đáp án khác không được đề cập trong phần giải thích từ nguyên.

Câu 2: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Before Solon’s reforms, Athens, governed by
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 2-3
• Giải thích: Bài viết cho biết “the city-state transitioned to an oligarchy where power was concentrated among a small group of wealthy landowners”. “Small group of wealthy landowners” = đáp án C. Đây là thời kỳ trước cải cách của Solon.

Câu 3: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Cleisthenes, reorganized, based on
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 2-3
• Giải thích: “He reorganized the population into ten tribes based on geographical location rather than family connections or wealth”. Từ khóa “geographical location” xuất hiện rõ ràng = đáp án C.

Câu 4: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Officials, selected through
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 1-2
• Giải thích: “One of the most distinctive features of Athenian democracy was the extensive use of sortition – the selection of officials by lottery”. “Lottery” = “lottery system” = đáp án C.

Câu 5: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: percentage, population, political rights
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng 4-5
• Giải thích: “Scholars estimate that only about 10-20% of Athens’ total population had political rights”. Con số này được nêu rõ ràng = đáp án C.

Câu 6: FALSE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Solon, completely eliminated, slavery
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói “His reforms included cancelling debts, prohibiting slavery based on debt”. Solon chỉ cấm nô lệ dựa trên nợ (debt slavery), không phải loại bỏ hoàn toàn chế độ nô lệ. “Completely eliminated” mâu thuẫn với “prohibiting slavery based on debt” → FALSE.

Câu 7: TRUE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Council of Five Hundred, members, chosen randomly
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 6-7
• Giải thích: “He also created the Council of Five Hundred (Boule), whose members were selected by lot from the ten tribes”. “Selected by lot” = “chosen randomly” → TRUE.

Câu 8: FALSE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Officials, serve unlimited terms, same position
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 4-5
• Giải thích: “Officials were chosen randomly for one-year terms and could not serve in the same position twice”. Họ chỉ có thể phục vụ một nhiệm kỳ một năm và không thể giữ cùng một chức vụ hai lần → FALSE.

Câu 9: NOT GIVEN

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Women, participated, minor political decisions
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5
• Giải thích: Bài viết chỉ nói “Political participation was restricted to adult male citizens” và phụ nữ bị loại trừ, nhưng không đề cập đến việc họ có tham gia các quyết định chính trị nhỏ hay không → NOT GIVEN.

Câu 10: A (Solon)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 5
• Giải thích: “His reforms included cancelling debts” – “His” ở đây chỉ Solon.

Câu 11: B (Cleisthenes)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 2
• Giải thích: “Cleisthenes, often called the ‘Father of Democracy'” – được gọi rõ ràng với danh hiệu này.

Câu 12: C (Socrates)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 2-3
• Giải thích: “The trial and execution of the philosopher Socrates in 399 BCE, condemned by a jury of his fellow citizens” – Socrates bị xử tử bởi quyết định dân chủ.

Câu 13: D (Not mentioned)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information
• Giải thích: Không có thông tin nào trong bài về việc ai đã thiết lập hiến pháp thành văn đầu tiên ở Athens.

Passage 2 – Giải Thích

Câu 14: NO

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Medieval period, continued development, democratic principles
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 1-2
• Giải thích: “Following the decline of classical Greek democracy and the Roman Republic, democratic principles largely disappeared from Europe for over a millennium. During the Medieval period, power was concentrated in the hands of monarchs, the church, and feudal lords”. Điều này mâu thuẫn hoàn toàn với việc “continued development” → NO.

Câu 15: YES

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: John Locke, social contract, challenged, divine right
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 3-4
• Giải thích: “Locke argued that political power derives from the consent of the governed rather than divine right”. Rõ ràng thuyết hợp đồng xã hội thách thức quyền thiêng liêng → YES.

Câu 16: NOT GIVEN

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Montesquieu, separation of powers, immediately adopted, all European monarchies
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói ý tưởng của Montesquieu “were revolutionary because they challenged the absolute monarchies” nhưng không đề cập việc các chế độ quân chủ có áp dụng ngay lập tức hay không → NOT GIVEN.

Câu 17: YES

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: French Revolution, outcomes, more problematic, American Revolution
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 1
• Giải thích: “The French Revolution (1789-1799) represented another pivotal moment in democracy’s development, though its outcomes were more turbulent and ambiguous”. “Turbulent and ambiguous” cho thấy kết quả phức tạp hơn Cách mạng Mỹ → YES.

Câu 18: NO

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: John Stuart Mill, equal voting rights, regardless of education
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, dòng 4-5
• Giải thích: “His view that more educated citizens should have greater voting power remained elitist by today’s standards”. Điều này mâu thuẫn với “equal voting rights” → NO.

Câu 19: ii (Rousseau’s concept of collective political authority)

• Vị trí: Đoạn 4 nói về Rousseau và các khái niệm “popular sovereignty”, “general will”, “collective good” – đều liên quan đến quyền lực chính trị tập thể.

Câu 20: i (The implementation of democratic ideals in America)

• Vị trí: Đoạn 5 tập trung vào Cách mạng Mỹ, Tuyên ngôn Độc lập, Hiến pháp Mỹ – việc thực thi các lý tưởng dân chủ ở Mỹ.

Câu 21: vi (The French Revolution’s complex legacy)

• Vị trí: Đoạn 6 bàn về Cách mạng Pháp với kết quả “turbulent”, “ambiguous”, “long-term impact” – di sản phức tạp.

Câu 22: iii (The expansion of voting rights in the 19th century)

• Vị trí: Đoạn 7 nói về Reform Acts ở Anh, phong trào Chartist, quyền bầu cử cho phụ nữ – mở rộng quyền bầu cử.

Câu 23: v (Theoretical critiques of democratic systems)

• Vị trí: Đoạn 8 đề cập John Stuart Mill và Tocqueville phân tích điểm mạnh và yếu của dân chủ – phê bình lý thuyết.

Câu 24: consent

• Vị trí: Đoạn 2, “political power derives from the consent of the governed”
• Giải thích: Legitimacy của chính quyền đến từ sự đồng ý (consent) của người dân.

Câu 25: sovereignty

• Vị trí: Đoạn 4, “popular sovereignty – the idea that ultimate political authority resides with the people”
• Giải thích: Khái niệm chủ quyền nhân dân (popular sovereignty) là ý tưởng then chốt.

Câu 26: tyranny

• Vị trí: Đoạn 3, “prevent any single entity from becoming too powerful… protect citizens from tyranny”
• Giải thích: Tam quyền phân lập nhằm ngăn chặn chế độ độc tài (tyranny).

Passage 3 – Giải Thích

Câu 27: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: third wave of democratization, began
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 2-3
• Giải thích: “The ‘third wave of democratization’… describing the dramatic expansion of democratic regimes beginning in the 1970s with transitions in Southern Europe”. Rõ ràng bắt đầu từ thập niên 1970 → B.

Câu 28: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Democratic backsliding, typically occurs
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 3-4
• Giải thích: “The mechanisms of democratic backsliding are often subtle, involving incremental changes rather than dramatic coups”. “Incremental changes” = “incremental institutional changes” → C.

Câu 29: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Cambridge Analytica scandal, demonstrated
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 8-10
• Giải thích: “The Cambridge Analytica scandal and evidence of foreign interference in electoral processes… revealed how data analytics and social media could be weaponized to subvert democratic processes”. Rõ ràng về việc thao túng bầu cử → B.

Câu 30: C

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Gilens and Page, research, policy outcomes, reflect preferences
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 5-7
• Giải thích: “Policy outcomes correlate strongly with the preferences of economic elites and organized business interests but show minimal relationship with the preferences of average citizens”. Rõ ràng → C.

Câu 31: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Climate change, challenges democracy, because
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 1-4
• Giải thích: “It requires collective action on an unprecedented scale, extended time horizons, and willingness to accept immediate costs for uncertain future benefits. Democratic systems, with their electoral cycles and susceptibility to short-term political pressures, have struggled”. Điều này khớp với đáp án B về cam kết dài hạn bất chấp chu kỳ bầu cử ngắn.

Câu 32: D (Deliberative democracy)

• Vị trí: Đoạn 7, “when provided with adequate information, time, and facilitation, ordinary citizens can engage in sophisticated policy deliberation”
• Giải thích: Deliberative democracy = citizens’ engagement in informed policy discussions.

Câu 33: A (Sortition)

• Vị trí: Đoạn 7, “sortition (selection of representatives by lottery, reviving the ancient Athenian practice)”
• Giải thích: Định nghĩa trực tiếp trong bài.

Câu 34: C (Quadratic voting)

• Vị trí: Đoạn 7, “quadratic voting (which allows voters to express preference intensity)”
• Giải thích: Cho phép thể hiện cường độ ưu tiên.

Câu 35: E (Liquid democracy)

• Vị trí: Đoạn 7, “liquid democracy (which combines elements of direct and representative democracy)”
• Giải thích: Kết hợp dân chủ trực tiếp và đại diện.

Câu 36: B (Democratic backsliding)

• Vị trí: Đoạn 2, “democratic backsliding or democratic recession – a phenomenon wherein established democracies experience erosion of democratic norms, institutions, and practices”
• Giải thích: Xói mòn dần các chuẩn mực và thể chế.

Câu 37: third wave (of democratization)

• Vị trí: Đoạn 1, dòng 2
• Giải thích: “Political scientists often refer to the ‘third wave of democratization’ – a term coined by Samuel P. Huntington”.

Câu 38: Arab Spring (movements)

• Vị trí: Đoạn 3, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: “The Arab Spring movements of 2010-2011 demonstrated social media’s capacity to facilitate rapid organization and coordination of democratic protests”.

Câu 39: sortition

• Vị trí: Đoạn 7, cuối đoạn
• Giải thích: “Sortition (selection of representatives by lottery, reviving the ancient Athenian practice)”.

Câu 40: adaptability, resilience

• Vị trí: Đoạn 8, dòng 2-3
• Giải thích: “Democratic governance has demonstrated adaptability and resilience, evolving in response to changing circumstances”. (Câu hỏi yêu cầu hai phẩm chất ngoài resilience, nhưng trong câu này chỉ có adaptability. Có thể đáp án thay thế là “adaptability” và một từ khác như “flexibility” nếu xuất hiện trong bài, nhưng theo văn bản thì đáp án chính xác nhất là adaptability).

Lưu ý: Câu 40 có thể cần xem xét lại vì câu hỏi yêu cầu hai phẩm chất “besides resilience” nhưng trong passage chỉ liệt kê rõ ràng “adaptability and resilience” cùng nhau. Đáp án tốt nhất trong trường hợp này là “adaptability” (1 từ) hoặc nếu cho phép 2 đặc điểm thì “adaptability, flexibility” hoặc các từ đồng nghĩa xuất hiện trong ngữ cảnh.

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Từ Vựng Quan Trọng Theo Passage

Passage 1 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
democracy	n	/dɪˈmɒkrəsi/	dân chủ	The concept of democracy has its roots in ancient Greece	representative democracy, liberal democracy
cornerstone	n	/ˈkɔːnəstəʊn/	nền tảng, trụ cột	Democracy has become a cornerstone of modern political systems	cornerstone of society
oligarchy	n	/ˈɒlɪɡɑːki/	chế độ độc quyền	Athens transitioned to an oligarchy	military oligarchy
discontent	n	/ˌdɪskənˈtent/	sự bất mãn	This system created widespread discontent	social discontent, growing discontent
pivotal	adj	/ˈpɪvətl/	then chốt, trọng yếu	The pivotal moment came around 508 BCE	pivotal role, pivotal figure
radical	adj	/ˈrædɪkl/	cấp tiến, triệt để	Cleisthenes introduced radical reforms	radical change, radical approach
sortition	n	/sɔːˈtɪʃn/	bốc thăm chọn quan chức	The extensive use of sortition was distinctive	selection by sortition
civic	adj	/ˈsɪvɪk/	thuộc công dân	Citizens had to be engaged in civic affairs	civic duty, civic engagement
comprise	v	/kəmˈpraɪz/	bao gồm, chiếm	Slaves comprised a large portion of the population	be comprised of
innovation	n	/ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn/	sự đổi mới	The system represented a remarkable innovation	technological innovation
demagogue	n	/ˈdeməɡɒɡ/	kẻ mị dân	The rise of demagogues led to poor decisions	populist demagogue
legacy	n	/ˈleɡəsi/	di sản	The legacy of Athenian democracy proved enduring	lasting legacy, cultural legacy

Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
germinate	v	/ˈdʒɜːmɪneɪt/	nảy mầm, phát triển	The seeds fully germinated during the Enlightenment	idea germinate
seminal	adj	/ˈsemɪnl/	có tầm ảnh hưởng lớn	Locke’s seminal work “Two Treatises of Government”	seminal work, seminal figure
consent	n	/kənˈsent/	sự đồng ý	Political power derives from the consent of the governed	informed consent, mutual consent
legitimacy	n	/lɪˈdʒɪtɪməsi/	tính hợp pháp	The government’s legitimacy depends on fulfilling obligations	political legitimacy, lack legitimacy
tyrannical	adj	/tɪˈrænɪkl/	chuyên quyền, độc tài	If a government becomes tyrannical	tyrannical rule, tyrannical leader
checks and balances	phrase	/tʃeks ənd ˈbælənsɪz/	kiểm soát và cân bằng quyền lực	This system of checks and balances would protect citizens	system of checks and balances
sovereignty	n	/ˈsɒvrənti/	chủ quyền	Rousseau argued for popular sovereignty	national sovereignty, popular sovereignty
unalienable	adj	/ʌnˈeɪliənəbl/	không thể tước đoạt	All men possess unalienable rights	unalienable rights
turbulent	adj	/ˈtɜːbjələnt/	hỗn loạn, biến động	The revolution’s outcomes were turbulent	turbulent period, turbulent times
dismantle	v	/dɪsˈmæntl/	phá bỏ, dỡ bỏ	The revolution dismantled feudal structures	dismantle system
suffrage	n	/ˈsʌfrɪdʒ/	quyền bầu cử	The struggle for women’s suffrage	universal suffrage, voting suffrage
civil disobedience	phrase	/ˈsɪvl ˌdɪsəˈbiːdiəns/	bất tuân dân sự	Suffragettes employed civil disobedience	act of civil disobedience
elitist	adj	/eɪˈliːtɪst/	ưu tú chủ nghĩa	His view remained elitist by today’s standards	elitist attitude, elitist approach
penetrating	adj	/ˈpenɪtreɪtɪŋ/	sâu sắc, thấu đáo	Tocqueville offered penetrating analysis	penetrating insight, penetrating analysis
tyranny of the majority	phrase	/ˈtɪrəni əv ðə məˈdʒɒrəti/	chuyên chính của đa số	The potential weakness of tyranny of the majority	fear of tyranny of the majority

Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
proliferation	n	/prəˌlɪfəˈreɪʃn/	sự gia tăng nhanh	This proliferation has been accompanied by challenges	nuclear proliferation, proliferation of weapons
sustainability	n	/səˌsteɪnəˈbɪləti/	tính bền vững	Questions about the sustainability of democratic governance	environmental sustainability, long-term sustainability
backsliding	n	/ˈbækˌslaɪdɪŋ/	sự thoái bộ, lui bước	Democratic backsliding is a concerning phenomenon	democratic backsliding, backsliding on reforms
consolidate	v	/kənˈsɒlɪdeɪt/	củng cố, hợp nhất	Consolidated democracies in Europe	consolidate power, consolidate position
incremental	adj	/ˌɪŋkrəˈmentl/	từng bước, dần dần	Backsliding involves incremental changes	incremental progress, incremental approach
undermine	v	/ˌʌndəˈmaɪn/	phá hoại, làm suy yếu	Leaders may undermine democratic institutions	undermine authority, undermine confidence
paradoxical	adj	/ˌpærəˈdɒksɪkl/	nghịch lý	Digital technology has paradoxical effects	paradoxical situation, paradoxical effect
grassroots	adj	/ˈɡrɑːsruːts/	cơ sở, quần chúng	Technologies enabled grassroots mobilization	grassroots movement, grassroots level
disinformation	n	/ˌdɪsɪnfəˈmeɪʃn/	thông tin sai lệch	Manipulation through disinformation campaigns	spread disinformation, disinformation campaign
algorithmic	adj	/ˌælɡəˈrɪðmɪk/	thuật toán	Algorithmic amplification of extremist content	algorithmic bias, algorithmic processing
polarize	v	/ˈpəʊləraɪz/	phân cực	Echo chambers that polarize societies	politically polarized, deeply polarized
epistemic	adj	/ˌepɪˈstemɪk/	nhận thức luận	Challenges to the epistemic foundations	epistemic foundation, epistemic uncertainty
unprecedented	adj	/ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd/	chưa từng có	The scale of wealth concentration is unprecedented	unprecedented scale, unprecedented crisis
oligarchy	n	/ˈɒlɪɡɑːki/	chế độ độc quyền	Nominal democracies may function as oligarchies	financial oligarchy, political oligarchy
coexist	v	/ˌkəʊɪɡˈzɪst/	cùng tồn tại	Political equality coexists with inequality	peacefully coexist, coexist with
supranational	adj	/ˌsuːprəˈnæʃnəl/	siêu quốc gia	Decisions made by supranational institutions	supranational organization, supranational authority
exacerbate	v	/ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪt/	làm trầm trọng thêm	Climate change exacerbates the coordination problem	exacerbate problem, exacerbate tension
defeatism	n	/dɪˈfiːtɪzəm/	chủ nghĩa bi quan	Most theorists reject such defeatism	attitude of defeatism
deliberative	adj	/dɪˈlɪbərətɪv/	thảo luận, cân nhắc	Deliberative democracy initiatives	deliberative process, deliberative approach
resilience	n	/rɪˈzɪliəns/	sự kiên cường, phục hồi	Democracy has demonstrated resilience	build resilience, economic resilience
trajectory	n	/trəˈdʒektəri/	quỹ đạo, xu hướng	The trajectory of democracy’s development	upward trajectory, development trajectory
insurmountable	adj	/ˌɪnsəˈmaʊntəbl/	không thể vượt qua	Challenges are not necessarily insurmountable	insurmountable obstacle, insurmountable problem
vigilance	n	/ˈvɪdʒɪləns/	sự cảnh giác	Democracy requires constant vigilance	maintain vigilance, eternal vigilance

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Kết Luận

Chủ đề “Historical analysis of the development of democracy” là một trong những chủ đề phổ biến và quan trọng trong IELTS Reading. Qua bộ đề thi mẫu này, bạn đã được trải nghiệm đầy đủ ba passages với độ khó tăng dần từ Easy đến Hard, tổng cộng 40 câu hỏi đa dạng theo đúng format thi thật.

Passage 1 giới thiệu nền tảng dân chủ từ Hy Lạp cổ đại với từ vựng và cấu trúc câu dễ hiểu, phù hợp cho band 5.0-6.5. Passage 2 đi sâu vào thời kỳ Khai sáng và các cuộc cách mạng với độ phức tạp trung bình, phù hợp cho band 6.0-7.5. Passage 3 phân tích các thách thức đương đại của dân chủ với từ vựng học thuật cao cấp và cấu trúc câu phức tạp, phù hợp cho band 7.0-9.0.

Các đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích vị trí và cách paraphrase sẽ giúp bạn hiểu rõ cách làm bài và tự đánh giá trình độ của mình. Bảng từ vựng được phân loại theo từng passage với phiên âm, nghĩa tiếng Việt, ví dụ và collocations sẽ giúp bạn mở rộng vốn từ vựng học thuật – một yếu tố then chốt để đạt band điểm cao.

Hãy nhớ rằng IELTS Reading không chỉ kiểm tra khả năng đọc hiểu mà còn đánh giá kỹ năng quản lý thời gian, xác định thông tin quan trọng, và paraphrase. Luyện tập thường xuyên với các đề thi mẫu chất lượng như thế này sẽ giúp bạn cải thiện đáng kể khả năng làm bài và đạt band điểm mong muốn.

Chúc bạn ôn thi hiệu quả và đạt kết quả cao trong kỳ thi IELTS sắp tới! Hãy tiếp tục theo dõi VN.IELTS.NET để cập nhật thêm nhiều bài luyện tập và chiến lược làm bài hữu ích khác.