IELTS Reading: Công Nghệ Ảnh Hưởng Hành Vi Mua Sắm – Đề Thi Mẫu Có Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Mở Bài

Chủ đề về công nghệ và hành vi người tiêu dùng ngày càng phổ biến trong các kỳ thi IELTS Reading gần đây, phản ánh xu hướng toàn cầu về chuyển đổi số trong thương mại. Câu hỏi “How Is Technology Influencing Consumer Purchasing Behavior?” không chỉ xuất hiện trong IELTS mà còn là đề tài nóng trong nhiều bài thi Academic Reading, đặc biệt từ năm 2018 trở lại đây.

Bài viết này cung cấp cho bạn một đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với ba passages từ dễ đến khó, bao gồm 40 câu hỏi đa dạng giống như thi thật. Bạn sẽ được luyện tập với các dạng câu hỏi phổ biến như True/False/Not Given, Matching Headings, Multiple Choice và Summary Completion. Đặc biệt, mỗi câu trả lời đều có giải thích chi tiết kèm vị trí trong bài và cách paraphrase, giúp bạn hiểu rõ phương pháp làm bài hiệu quả.

Đề thi này phù hợp cho học viên từ band 5.0 trở lên, với độ khó tăng dần qua từng passage. Ngoài việc luyện kỹ năng đọc, bạn còn học được hơn 40 từ vựng quan trọng về công nghệ, thương mại điện tử và hành vi tiêu dùng – những từ xuất hiện thường xuyên trong IELTS.

Hướng Dẫn Làm Bài IELTS Reading

Tổng Quan Về IELTS Reading Test

IELTS Reading Test kéo dài 60 phút với 3 passages và tổng cộng 40 câu hỏi. Mỗi câu trả lời đúng được tính 1 điểm, không bị trừ điểm nếu sai. Điểm số từ 40 câu này sẽ được quy đổi thành band điểm từ 1.0 đến 9.0.

Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:

• Passage 1 (Easy): 15-17 phút
• Passage 2 (Medium): 18-20 phút
• Passage 3 (Hard): 23-25 phút
• Thời gian chuyển đáp án: 2-3 phút

Lưu ý quan trọng: Trong IELTS Reading trên giấy, bạn phải tự chuyển đáp án vào Answer Sheet. Không có thời gian bổ sung cho việc này, vì vậy hãy dành 2-3 phút cuối để kiểm tra và chuyển đáp án cẩn thận.

Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này

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

1. True/False/Not Given – Xác định thông tin đúng, sai hay không được đề cập
2. Multiple Choice – Chọn đáp án đúng nhất trong 3-4 phương án
3. Matching Headings – Ghép tiêu đề phù hợp với từng đoạn văn
4. Sentence Completion – Hoàn thành câu với từ trong bài
5. Summary Completion – Điền từ vào đoạn tóm tắt
6. Matching Features – Ghép thông tin với nhân vật/địa điểm/thời gian
7. Short-answer Questions – Trả lời câu hỏi ngắn với số từ giới hạn

IELTS Reading Practice Test

PASSAGE 1 – The Digital Revolution in Shopping

Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút

The way people shop has changed dramatically over the past two decades, largely due to technological advancements that have transformed the retail landscape. Traditional brick-and-mortar stores, which once dominated the shopping experience, now face fierce competition from online platforms that offer convenience, variety, and competitive pricing. This shift represents one of the most significant changes in consumer behavior in modern history.

E-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Alibaba, and eBay have revolutionized how consumers discover and purchase products. Instead of visiting multiple physical stores to compare prices and features, shoppers can now access thousands of products from the comfort of their homes. The ability to read customer reviews and ratings has become particularly influential in purchasing decisions. According to recent surveys, approximately 93% of consumers report that online reviews impact their buying choices, making this feature one of the most powerful tools in modern retail.

Mobile technology has further accelerated this transformation. Smartphones have essentially become portable shopping assistants, allowing consumers to browse products, compare prices, and complete purchases anywhere and anytime. The rise of mobile shopping apps has made impulse buying easier than ever before. Retailers have responded by developing user-friendly applications with features like one-click purchasing, personalized recommendations, and augmented reality tools that let customers visualize products in their own homes before buying.

Social media platforms have emerged as unexpected but powerful shopping channels. Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok now integrate shopping features that allow users to purchase products directly through posts and advertisements. This seamless integration of content and commerce has created a new phenomenon called “social commerce,” where the line between entertainment and shopping becomes increasingly blurred. Influencers and celebrities play a crucial role in this ecosystem, with their product recommendations often driving significant sales among their followers.

The personalization of shopping experiences through artificial intelligence and machine learning represents another major technological influence. Online retailers now use sophisticated algorithms to analyze browsing history, purchase patterns, and even the time spent looking at particular products. This data enables them to create highly customized shopping experiences, showing each customer products they are most likely to be interested in. While some consumers appreciate these tailored recommendations, others express concerns about privacy and the extent to which companies track their online behavior.

Payment technology has also evolved significantly, making transactions faster and more secure. Digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay allow consumers to complete purchases with a simple tap of their phone. Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology are beginning to enter the mainstream retail space, offering new payment options and potentially reducing transaction fees. The introduction of biometric authentication, such as fingerprint and facial recognition, has added extra layers of security while simultaneously making the payment process more convenient.

However, this technological transformation is not without challenges. The digital divide means that not all consumers have equal access to online shopping benefits. Elderly individuals and those in rural areas with poor internet connectivity may find themselves disadvantaged. Additionally, the decline of physical stores has led to job losses in traditional retail sectors, raising important questions about the social and economic impacts of this technological shift. There are also growing concerns about the environmental consequences of increased delivery services, including packaging waste and carbon emissions from transportation.

Despite these challenges, technology continues to reshape consumer purchasing behavior in profound ways. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated existing trends, forcing many reluctant shoppers to embrace online retail out of necessity. This experience has created new habits that are likely to persist long after the pandemic ends. As technology continues to advance, we can expect even more innovative solutions that will further transform how we discover, evaluate, and purchase products in the years to come.

Questions 1-6

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Passage 1?

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

1. Traditional physical stores no longer compete with online shopping platforms.
2. More than 90% of shoppers say online reviews affect their purchasing decisions.
3. Mobile shopping apps have made it more difficult to make impulsive purchases.
4. Social media platforms now allow users to buy products directly through their posts.
5. All consumers are comfortable with companies tracking their online shopping behavior.
6. The COVID-19 pandemic slowed down the growth of online shopping.

Questions 7-10

Complete the sentences below.

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

7. Smartphones function as portable __ __ for modern consumers.
8. The combination of entertainment and shopping on social media is called __ __.
9. Retailers use __ __ to analyze customer data and provide personalized recommendations.
10. Payment methods using fingerprint or face recognition are examples of __ __.

Questions 11-13

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

11. According to the passage, what is one major advantage of online shopping over traditional retail?

• A) Better quality products
• B) The ability to compare many products easily
• C) Lower product prices always
• D) More friendly customer service

12. What concern do some consumers have about personalized shopping experiences?

• A) The recommendations are not accurate
• B) They have to pay extra for this service
• C) Their privacy may be compromised
• D) It takes too much time to browse

13. Which group of people may be disadvantaged by the shift to online shopping?

• A) Young technology enthusiasts
• B) Urban professionals
• C) Elderly people and rural residents
• D) Social media influencers

Công nghệ thanh toán di động và ứng dụng mua sắm trực tuyến trong bài thi IELTS Reading về hành vi tiêu dùng

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PASSAGE 2 – The Psychology Behind Technology-Driven Purchasing

Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút

The intersection of technology and consumer psychology has created a fascinating new field of study that seeks to understand how digital tools influence purchasing decisions at a fundamental cognitive level. While the convenience and accessibility of online shopping are obvious benefits, the underlying psychological mechanisms that drive technology-influenced buying behavior are far more complex and, in many cases, deliberately designed to encourage spending.

Cognitive biases play a significant role in how technology shapes purchasing behavior. One of the most exploited biases is the scarcity principle, which suggests that people place higher value on items they perceive as limited or rare. Online retailers strategically deploy this psychological trigger through messages like “Only 3 left in stock!” or countdown timers indicating when a special offer expires. Research conducted by behavioral economists has demonstrated that such artificial scarcity can increase purchase likelihood by up to 40%, even when consumers are aware that the scarcity may be manufactured. The urgency created by these tactics overrides rational decision-making processes, leading to more impulsive purchases.

The concept of “friction reduction” is central to understanding modern e-commerce psychology. Traditional shopping involved numerous steps: traveling to a store, finding parking, locating products, waiting in checkout lines, and physically transporting items home. Each of these steps created a natural cooling-off period where consumers might reconsider their purchases. Digital platforms have systematically eliminated these friction points. Features like saved payment information, one-click ordering, and auto-fill forms remove the small delays that previously allowed for second thoughts. Amazon’s patented One-Click purchasing system epitomizes this approach, reducing the transaction to a single action that can be completed in seconds, sometimes before the rational mind fully engages with the decision.

Social proof, another powerful psychological principle, has been amplified tremendously by technology. The human tendency to look to others when making decisions is not new, but digital platforms have made social proof more visible, immediate, and persuasive than ever before. Customer reviews, star ratings, “bestseller” badges, and notifications like “500 people bought this in the last hour” create a sense of collective validation. Neuroscientific research using fMRI imaging has shown that exposure to positive social proof activates the reward centers of the brain in ways similar to receiving the product itself. This neurological response can be so powerful that it overrides personal preferences and critical evaluation of whether a product truly meets individual needs.

The phenomenon of “endless choice” presents a paradoxical challenge in the digital marketplace. While having numerous options might seem empowering, psychological research, particularly the work of psychologist Barry Schwartz, has revealed that excessive choice can lead to decision paralysis and decreased satisfaction. Technology companies have developed sophisticated solutions to this problem through algorithmic curation. By analyzing vast amounts of data about user preferences, past purchases, and browsing behavior, recommendation engines narrow down choices to a manageable selection supposedly tailored to individual tastes. Netflix’s viewing suggestions, Spotify’s personalized playlists, and Amazon’s “Customers who bought this also bought” feature all exemplify this approach. However, these algorithms create what some critics call “filter bubbles”, potentially limiting consumer exposure to new or unexpected products.

Gamification techniques borrowed from video game design have been seamlessly integrated into shopping experiences to increase engagement and spending. Loyalty programs now feature progress bars, achievement badges, point systems, and tier levels that tap into humans’ intrinsic motivation for achievement and status. The Starbucks Rewards program, for instance, uses gold stars and status levels to encourage repeat purchases, while apps like Honey and Rakuten turn savings into a point-collecting game. These mechanisms trigger dopamine releases in the brain, the same neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, creating a mild form of behavioral addiction that keeps consumers coming back.

The rise of “dark patterns” in user interface design has raised ethical concerns among consumer advocates and regulators. These are design choices that deliberately manipulate users into making decisions they might not otherwise make. Examples include hidden costs that only appear at final checkout, pre-checked boxes for additional purchases or subscriptions, deliberately confusing cancellation processes, and misleading button labels that trick users into agreeing to terms or purchases. While these techniques can be effective in boosting short-term sales, they risk damaging long-term brand trust and have led to regulatory scrutiny in several jurisdictions, including the European Union’s focus on “manipulative design” in its Digital Services Act.

Emotional targeting through technology has become increasingly sophisticated with the advancement of sentiment analysis and behavioral tracking. Advertising algorithms can now detect emotional states based on factors like time of day, recent search history, social media activity, and even typing patterns. This allows retailers to present products when consumers are most emotionally vulnerable or receptive. Research in neuromarketing has shown that emotional appeals are far more effective than rational arguments in driving purchases, particularly for non-essential items. The ethical implications of this level of psychological manipulation are the subject of ongoing debate, with some arguing for stricter regulations on how companies can use emotional data.

Despite growing awareness of these psychological techniques, consumers often remain susceptible to them. This is partly because many of these mechanisms operate at a subconscious level, below the threshold of conscious awareness. Even when people recognize that they are being influenced, the techniques can still be effective—a phenomenon psychologists call “metacognitive myopia”, where knowing about a bias doesn’t necessarily prevent falling victim to it. As technology continues to evolve, so too will the sophistication of psychological influence techniques, making consumer education and protective regulation increasingly important.

Questions 14-18

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number, i-xii, in boxes 14-18 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

• i. The neurological impact of customer reviews
• ii. Creating urgency through limited availability
• iii. Ethical concerns about manipulative design
• iv. The problem of too many options
• v. Making shopping addictive through game elements
• vi. Removing obstacles to quick purchases
• vii. The future of artificial intelligence in retail
• viii. Traditional shopping versus modern methods
• ix. How emotions are exploited in online advertising
• x. The role of influencers in social commerce
• xi. Benefits of personalized recommendations
• xii. Cultural differences in shopping behavior

14. Paragraph 2 (beginning “Cognitive biases play…”)
15. Paragraph 3 (beginning “The concept of ‘friction reduction’…”)
16. Paragraph 5 (beginning “The phenomenon of ‘endless choice’…”)
17. Paragraph 6 (beginning “Gamification techniques borrowed…”)
18. Paragraph 7 (beginning “The rise of ‘dark patterns’…”)

Questions 19-23

Complete the summary below.

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

Online retailers use various psychological principles to influence buying behavior. The principle of (19) __ __ makes people value products they believe are limited. Technology companies reduce (20) __ __ by eliminating steps in the purchasing process. The concept of (21) __ __ is strengthened by features like customer reviews and ratings. To address the problem of excessive choice, companies use (22) __ __ to suggest products. Shopping apps incorporate (23) __ __ such as points and badges to make purchasing more engaging.

Questions 24-26

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Passage 2?

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

24. Artificial scarcity messages can increase purchase rates even when consumers know they are manipulated.
25. Amazon invented the concept of one-click purchasing before any other company.
26. Understanding psychological influence techniques completely protects consumers from being affected by them.

Tâm lý học hành vi tiêu dùng và các yếu tố tâm lý ảnh hưởng mua sắm trực tuyến trong IELTS Reading

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PASSAGE 3 – The Socioeconomic Implications of Algorithmic Commerce

Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)

Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút

The proliferation of algorithmic decision-making systems in commercial contexts has precipitated a paradigm shift not merely in the mechanics of retail transactions but in the fundamental relationship between consumers, markets, and society. While the immediate effects of technology on purchasing behavior are readily observable—increased convenience, expanded choice, price transparency—the deeper socioeconomic ramifications remain inadequately understood and insufficiently regulated. This epistemic gap between technological capability and societal comprehension creates vulnerabilities that extend far beyond individual consumer welfare to encompass issues of economic inequality, market concentration, and the very nature of consumer autonomy in an age of ubiquitous surveillance capitalism.

Algorithmic price discrimination, also termed dynamic pricing or personalized pricing, represents perhaps the most economically significant yet least visible impact of technology on consumer behavior. Unlike traditional price discrimination, which relied on crude categorical distinctions (student discounts, senior rates, geographic pricing), modern algorithms can assess an individual’s willingness to pay with unprecedented precision. By synthesizing data from browsing history, device type, geographic location, time of day, purchase urgency indicators, and even socioeconomic proxies, retailers can present different prices to different consumers for identical products. Academic research by economists such as Professor Benjamin Shiller of Brandeis University suggests that if firms could implement perfect price discrimination through these technologies, they could potentially increase profits by 12.2% while simultaneously reducing consumer surplus—the economic benefit consumers receive from paying less than their maximum willingness to pay—by a similar magnitude. This transfer of wealth from consumers to corporations occurs invisibly, without the explicit negotiation that characterized earlier forms of price discrimination. The distributional consequences are particularly concerning: more sophisticated consumers who use VPNs, clear cookies regularly, or employ price comparison tools may receive better pricing, while less technologically literate consumers—often those with lower incomes—subsidize these discounts.

The concentration of market power facilitated by data-driven network effects constitutes another profound structural shift. Digital platforms benefit from positive feedback loops wherein more users generate more data, which improves service quality, which attracts more users, creating barriers to entry that were unimaginable in traditional retail. This dynamic has produced what economists call “superstar firms”—companies like Amazon, Google, and Alibaba that dominate their respective markets to an extent rarely seen in the pre-digital era. The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), a standard measure of market concentration, has shown concerning trends across numerous sectors influenced by digital platforms. Research by The Open Markets Institute indicates that Amazon accounts for approximately 50% of all U.S. e-commerce sales and 5% of all retail sales, wielding monopsonistic power not only over consumers but also over the millions of third-party sellers who depend on its platform. This concentration creates what legal scholar Lina Khan has termed the “Amazon Paradox“—the company may simultaneously offer low prices to consumers (traditionally the primary concern of antitrust law) while engaging in anticompetitive practices that harm long-term innovation and market health. The implications extend beyond economics to questions of political power: when a small number of firms control the digital infrastructure through which commerce increasingly flows, they gain unprecedented influence over economic opportunity and information dissemination.

The erosion of consumer autonomy through behavioral manipulation at scale represents perhaps the most philosophically troubling implication of technology’s influence on purchasing behavior. Traditional marketing sought to persuade; modern algorithmic systems can exploit cognitive vulnerabilities with a precision that borders on deterministic. The concept of “hypernudging”, introduced by legal scholars Karen Yeung and Woodrow Hartzog, describes the continuous, dynamic, and personalized modification of choice architectures based on real-time surveillance. Unlike one-time interventions, hypernudging involves ongoing experimentation and refinement: platforms conduct thousands of A/B tests to determine which interface designs, recommendation sequences, and messaging strategies most effectively influence behavior. The philosophical question becomes whether, at some threshold of effectiveness, influence becomes coercion, and informed consent becomes meaningless when the systems shaping choice are too complex and opaque for consumers to understand. This is not merely a theoretical concern; leaked documents from social media companies have revealed experiments in emotional manipulation that successfully altered user behavior without their awareness or consent. When applied to commercial contexts, these techniques raise fundamental questions about human agency and the extent to which purchasing decisions can truly be considered voluntary when they result from such sophisticated manipulation.

The digital divide and its impact on equitable access to technologically mediated commerce represents a critical justice issue often overshadowed by discussions of innovation and efficiency. While proponents of digital commerce emphasize democratization and expanded access, empirical evidence reveals a more nuanced reality. Research by the Pew Research Center indicates that approximately 10% of American adults do not use the Internet, with rates significantly higher among those over 65 (27%), those with household incomes below $30,000 (18%), and those without high school diplomas (29%). As physical retail infrastructure declines in many communities—particularly rural areas and low-income urban neighborhoods—residents without reliable Internet access or digital literacy face diminishing options. The phenomenon of “retail deserts” mirrors the better-known problem of food deserts, creating geographic inequalities in access to goods and services. Moreover, the shift to digital platforms can disadvantage groups beyond those lacking Internet access. Research on algorithmic bias has demonstrated that automated systems can perpetuate and amplify existing societal prejudices, including racial and socioeconomic discrimination in areas such as product recommendations, pricing, and even the approval of credit and payment plans. The opacity of these algorithmic systems—often protected as proprietary trade secrets—makes such discrimination difficult to detect and challenge, creating what legal scholar Frank Pasquale terms the “black box society.”

The environmental externalities of technology-enabled commerce represent an increasingly urgent concern that contradicts the industry’s self-presentation as a more sustainable alternative to traditional retail. While eliminating trips to physical stores might seem environmentally beneficial, the reality is considerably more complex. The convenience of online shopping has dramatically increased consumption rates, with studies suggesting that e-commerce customers purchase more items overall compared to traditional shoppers, though individual item prices may be lower. The environmental cost of last-mile delivery—transporting individual parcels to residential addresses—is particularly high. Research published in Environmental Science & Technology found that grocery delivery can produce more carbon emissions than personal vehicle trips, particularly when deliveries fail to consolidate multiple orders efficiently. The proliferation of packaging waste has reached crisis levels in many jurisdictions; in the U.S. alone, packaging from online orders generated an estimated 1.5 million tons of cardboard and plastic waste in 2020. Perhaps most concerning is the acceleration of a “throwaway culture” facilitated by the ease of purchasing and the low cost of many items. The combination of fast fashion, rapid product obsolescence, and the psychological distance between online purchasing and physical consequences creates consumption patterns that are demonstrably unsustainable. The concept of “circular economy” principles—emphasizing durability, repairability, and recycling—stands in tension with business models predicated on maximizing transaction volume and planned obsolescence.

The governance and regulatory challenges posed by these technological transformations expose fundamental inadequacies in existing legal frameworks, which were largely designed for industrial-age commerce. Consumer protection laws traditionally focused on preventing deceptive advertising, ensuring product safety, and prohibiting certain forms of discrimination. However, the opacity, complexity, and speed of algorithmic systems render these protections increasingly ineffective. When prices change continuously, when terms of service span dozens of pages of legal jargon, and when the logic of personalized recommendations remains proprietary, conventional notions of informed consent and transparency become difficult to operationalize. Moreover, the extraterritorial reach of global platforms creates jurisdictional ambiguities that companies often exploit through regulatory arbitrage. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) represents the most comprehensive attempt to reassert regulatory control, establishing principles such as data minimization, purpose limitation, and the right to explanation for automated decisions. However, implementation has proven challenging, and whether this regulatory model can be successfully adapted to other contexts remains uncertain. Some scholars advocate for more radical interventions, including treating digital platforms as public utilities subject to common carrier obligations, or even exploring algorithmic accountability frameworks that would require platforms to demonstrate their systems do not produce discriminatory or manipulative outcomes.

Looking forward, the trajectory of technology’s influence on consumer purchasing behavior will likely be shaped by the resolution—or continued neglect—of these socioeconomic tensions. Optimistic scenarios envision regulatory reforms that preserve innovation’s benefits while curtailing its harms, the development of technological countermeasures that empower consumers, and the emergence of alternative platform models based on principles of user ownership or data sovereignty. More pessimistic projections foresee the consolidation of corporate power, the further erosion of privacy and autonomy, and the deepening of socioeconomic divides between those who can navigate and exploit these systems and those who become increasingly subject to their logic. What seems certain is that the influence of technology on purchasing behavior reflects and amplifies broader questions about the kind of society we wish to construct: one that privileges efficiency and convenience above all else, or one that balances technological progress with considerations of equity, autonomy, and sustainability. These are not merely technical questions to be resolved by engineers and economists, but fundamentally political and ethical choices that demand broader democratic deliberation.

Questions 27-30

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

27. According to the passage, algorithmic price discrimination differs from traditional price discrimination because it:

• A) Is illegal in most countries
• B) Can assess individual willingness to pay very precisely
• C) Always results in lower prices for consumers
• D) Only applies to luxury goods

28. What does the passage suggest about market concentration in digital commerce?

• A) It has decreased compared to traditional retail
• B) It creates barriers that prevent new companies from competing
• C) It benefits consumers without any negative effects
• D) It is not a concern for regulatory authorities

29. The concept of “hypernudging” refers to:

• A) Traditional advertising techniques
• B) One-time interventions in consumer choice
• C) Continuous personalized modification of choice based on surveillance
• D) Government regulations on online shopping

30. According to research mentioned in the passage, environmental impacts of e-commerce:

• A) Are always better than traditional shopping
• B) Are only related to packaging waste
• C) May be worse than personal vehicle trips in some cases
• D) Have been completely solved by modern technology

Questions 31-35

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-H, below.

Write the correct letter, A-H, in boxes 31-35 on your answer sheet.

31. Professor Benjamin Shiller’s research indicates that perfect price discrimination
32. The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index
33. The “Amazon Paradox” describes how a company
34. The digital divide results in
35. The European Union’s GDPR regulation

List of Endings

• A) can offer low consumer prices while engaging in anticompetitive practices
• B) measures the level of market concentration in industries
• C) would increase corporate profits while reducing consumer benefits
• D) has been completely successful in all countries
• E) some population groups lacking adequate access to online shopping
• F) prevents all forms of algorithmic manipulation
• G) only affects elderly populations
• H) guarantees equal prices for all consumers

Questions 36-40

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Passage 3?

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

36. Less technologically literate consumers often pay higher prices through algorithmic pricing.
37. All third-party sellers benefit economically from selling through Amazon’s platform.
38. Hypernudging raises questions about whether purchasing decisions remain truly voluntary.
39. The convenience of online shopping has led to an overall decrease in consumption rates.
40. Current consumer protection laws are fully adequate for addressing algorithmic commerce challenges.

Ảnh hưởng kinh tế xã hội của thương mại điện tử và thuật toán trong bài IELTS Reading tiếng Anh

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Answer Keys – Đáp Án

PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13

1. FALSE
2. TRUE
3. FALSE
4. TRUE
5. FALSE
6. FALSE
7. shopping assistants
8. social commerce
9. artificial intelligence / machine learning
10. biometric authentication
11. B
12. C
13. C

PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26

14. ii
15. vi
16. iv
17. v
18. iii
19. artificial scarcity / scarcity principle
20. friction reduction / friction points
21. social proof
22. algorithmic curation / recommendation engines
23. gamification techniques
24. YES
25. NOT GIVEN
26. NO

PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40

27. B
28. B
29. C
30. C
31. C
32. B
33. A
34. E
35. NOT GIVEN (The passage says implementation has been challenging but doesn’t definitively state it attempts to reassert control)
36. YES
37. NOT GIVEN
38. YES
39. NO
40. NO

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Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Passage 1 – Giải Thích

Câu 1: FALSE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Traditional physical stores, no longer compete, online shopping
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 2-4
• Giải thích: Câu hỏi nói các cửa hàng truyền thống “không còn cạnh tranh” với online, nhưng bài viết nói “now face fierce competition” (đang đối mặt với cạnh tranh khốc liệt), nghĩa là vẫn còn cạnh tranh chứ không phải không còn cạnh tranh nữa.

Câu 2: TRUE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: More than 90%, online reviews, purchasing decisions
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 5-6
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói rõ “approximately 93% of consumers report that online reviews impact their buying choices” – đúng với thông tin câu hỏi về hơn 90%.

Câu 3: FALSE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Mobile shopping apps, more difficult, impulsive purchases
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 3-4
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói “has made impulse buying easier than ever before” (làm cho việc mua hàng bốc đồng dễ dàng hơn bao giờ hết), ngược lại hoàn toàn với câu hỏi nói “more difficult” (khó hơn).

Câu 4: TRUE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Social media platforms, buy products directly, posts
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 1-3
• Giải thích: “Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok now integrate shopping features that allow users to purchase products directly through posts” – khớp chính xác với thông tin câu hỏi.

Câu 5: FALSE

• Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
• Từ khóa: All consumers, comfortable, tracking online behavior
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng cuối
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói “While some consumers appreciate these tailored recommendations, others express concerns about privacy” – một số lo ngại về quyền riêng tư, nghĩa là KHÔNG PHẢI tất cả đều thoải mái.

Câu 7: shopping assistants

• Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
• Từ khóa: Smartphones function as, portable
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, câu đầu tiên
• Giải thích: “Smartphones have essentially become portable shopping assistants” – cần điền đúng hai từ “shopping assistants”.

Câu 11: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Major advantage, online shopping, traditional retail
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 1-3
• Giải thích: “Instead of visiting multiple physical stores to compare prices and features, shoppers can now access thousands of products” – lợi thế là khả năng so sánh nhiều sản phẩm dễ dàng. Đáp án A (better quality) không được đề cập, C (always lower prices) quá tuyệt đối, D (more friendly service) không có trong bài.

Passage 2 – Giải Thích

Câu 14: ii (Creating urgency through limited availability)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
• Vị trí: Đoạn 2
• Giải thích: Đoạn này tập trung vào “scarcity principle” và cách các thông điệp như “Only 3 left in stock!” tạo cảm giác khan hiếm giả tạo để tăng khả năng mua hàng.

Câu 15: vi (Removing obstacles to quick purchases)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
• Vị trí: Đoạn 3
• Giải thích: Đoạn này nói về “friction reduction” – việc loại bỏ các bước trong quá trình mua sắm như saved payment, one-click ordering để giảm thời gian suy nghĩ của người tiêu dùng.

Câu 19: artificial scarcity / scarcity principle

• Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, câu 3-4
• Giải thích: Câu tóm tắt nói về “makes people value products they believe are limited” khớp với khái niệm “artificial scarcity” được nhắc đến trong đoạn 2.

Câu 24: YES

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Artificial scarcity, increase purchase rates, consumers know, manipulated
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, câu 5-6
• Giải thích: “such artificial scarcity can increase purchase likelihood by up to 40%, even when consumers are aware that the scarcity may be manufactured” – rõ ràng đồng ý với quan điểm này.

Câu 26: NO

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Understanding psychological techniques, completely protects, consumers
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 9, câu 2-4
• Giải thích: Bài viết nói “Even when people recognize that they are being influenced, the techniques can still be effective” và đề cập đến “metacognitive myopia” – biết về bias không ngăn được việc mắc phải nó. Điều này mâu thuẫn với việc hiểu biết “completely protects” (bảo vệ hoàn toàn).

Passage 3 – Giải Thích

Câu 27: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Algorithmic price discrimination, differs from traditional
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, câu 2-4
• Giải thích: “modern algorithms can assess an individual’s willingness to pay with unprecedented precision” – thuật toán hiện đại có thể đánh giá sẵn lòng trả tiền của từng cá nhân với độ chính xác chưa từng có. Đây là sự khác biệt chính so với phân biệt giá truyền thống.

Câu 28: B

• Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
• Từ khóa: Market concentration, digital commerce
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, câu 2-3
• Giải thích: “more users generate more data, which improves service quality, which attracts more users, creating barriers to entry” – tạo ra rào cản ngăn các công ty mới cạnh tranh.

Câu 31: C (would increase corporate profits while reducing consumer benefits)

• Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Sentence Endings
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, câu 6-7
• Giải thích: “they could potentially increase profits by 12.2% while simultaneously reducing consumer surplus” – tăng lợi nhuận doanh nghiệp đồng thời giảm lợi ích người tiêu dùng.

Câu 36: YES

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Less technologically literate, pay higher prices
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, câu cuối
• Giải thích: “less technologically literate consumers—often those with lower incomes—subsidize these discounts” – người tiêu dùng kém am hiểu công nghệ phải bù đắp cho các khoản giảm giá, nghĩa là họ trả giá cao hơn.

Câu 39: NO

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Online shopping convenience, overall decrease, consumption rates
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, câu 2-3
• Giải thích: “The convenience of online shopping has dramatically increased consumption rates” – tăng đáng kể, không phải giảm như câu hỏi nói.

Câu 40: NO

• Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
• Từ khóa: Current consumer protection laws, fully adequate, algorithmic commerce
• Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, câu 1-2
• Giải thích: “expose fundamental inadequacies in existing legal frameworks” và “render these protections increasingly ineffective” – cho thấy luật hiện tại KHÔNG đầy đủ.

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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
technological advancements	noun phrase	/ˌteknəˈlɒdʒɪkəl ədˈvɑːnsmənts/	tiến bộ công nghệ	largely due to technological advancements	rapid technological advancements
retail landscape	noun phrase	/ˈriːteɪl ˈlændskeɪp/	bối cảnh bán lẻ	transformed the retail landscape	changing retail landscape
e-commerce platforms	noun phrase	/ˈiː-kɒmɜːs ˈplætfɔːmz/	nền tảng thương mại điện tử	E-commerce platforms such as Amazon	major e-commerce platforms
customer reviews	noun phrase	/ˈkʌstəmə rɪˈvjuːz/	đánh giá của khách hàng	The ability to read customer reviews	positive customer reviews
mobile technology	noun phrase	/ˈməʊbaɪl tekˈnɒlədʒi/	công nghệ di động	Mobile technology has further accelerated	advanced mobile technology
one-click purchasing	noun phrase	/wʌn-klɪk ˈpɜːtʃəsɪŋ/	mua hàng một cú nhấp chuột	features like one-click purchasing	enable one-click purchasing
augmented reality	noun phrase	/ɔːɡˈmentɪd riˈæləti/	thực tế tăng cường	augmented reality tools	augmented reality technology
social commerce	noun phrase	/ˈsəʊʃəl ˈkɒmɜːs/	thương mại xã hội	phenomenon called social commerce	growth of social commerce
artificial intelligence	noun phrase	/ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃəl ɪnˈtelɪdʒəns/	trí tuệ nhân tạo	through artificial intelligence	powered by artificial intelligence
digital wallets	noun phrase	/ˈdɪdʒɪtəl ˈwɒlɪts/	ví điện tử	Digital wallets like Apple Pay	use digital wallets
biometric authentication	noun phrase	/ˌbaɪəʊˈmetrɪk ɔːˌθentɪˈkeɪʃən/	xác thực sinh trắc học	introduction of biometric authentication	secure biometric authentication
digital divide	noun phrase	/ˈdɪdʒɪtəl dɪˈvaɪd/	khoảng cách số	The digital divide means	bridge the digital divide

Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
cognitive biases	noun phrase	/ˈkɒɡnətɪv ˈbaɪəsɪz/	thiên kiến nhận thức	Cognitive biases play a significant role	overcome cognitive biases
scarcity principle	noun phrase	/ˈskeəsəti ˈprɪnsəpəl/	nguyên tắc khan hiếm	exploited is the scarcity principle	apply scarcity principle
impulsive purchases	noun phrase	/ɪmˈpʌlsɪv ˈpɜːtʃəsɪz/	mua hàng bốc đồng	leading to more impulsive purchases	avoid impulsive purchases
friction reduction	noun phrase	/ˈfrɪkʃən rɪˈdʌkʃən/	giảm ma sát	concept of friction reduction	focus on friction reduction
cooling-off period	noun phrase	/ˈkuːlɪŋ-ɒf ˈpɪəriəd/	thời gian suy nghĩ lại	natural cooling-off period	allow cooling-off period
social proof	noun phrase	/ˈsəʊʃəl pruːf/	bằng chứng xã hội	Social proof, another powerful principle	provide social proof
collective validation	noun phrase	/kəˈlektɪv ˌvælɪˈdeɪʃən/	sự xác nhận tập thể	sense of collective validation	seek collective validation
reward centers	noun phrase	/rɪˈwɔːd ˈsentəz/	trung tâm phần thưởng (não bộ)	activates the reward centers	stimulate reward centers
decision paralysis	noun phrase	/dɪˈsɪʒən pəˈræləsɪs/	tê liệt quyết định	lead to decision paralysis	suffer from decision paralysis
algorithmic curation	noun phrase	/ˌælɡəˈrɪðmɪk kjʊəˈreɪʃən/	sắp xếp thuật toán	through algorithmic curation	benefit from algorithmic curation
recommendation engines	noun phrase	/ˌrekəmenˈdeɪʃən ˈendʒɪnz/	công cụ gợi ý	recommendation engines narrow down	powerful recommendation engines
filter bubbles	noun phrase	/ˈfɪltə ˈbʌbəlz/	bong bóng lọc (thông tin)	create filter bubbles	trapped in filter bubbles
gamification techniques	noun phrase	/ˌɡeɪmɪfɪˈkeɪʃən tekˈniːks/	kỹ thuật trò chơi hóa	Gamification techniques borrowed	employ gamification techniques
dopamine releases	noun phrase	/ˈdəʊpəmiːn rɪˈliːsɪz/	giải phóng dopamine	trigger dopamine releases	cause dopamine releases
dark patterns	noun phrase	/dɑːk ˈpætənz/	mẫu thiết kế lừa đảo	rise of dark patterns	identify dark patterns

Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
algorithmic decision-making	noun phrase	/ˌælɡəˈrɪðmɪk dɪˈsɪʒən-ˈmeɪkɪŋ/	ra quyết định bằng thuật toán	proliferation of algorithmic decision-making	rely on algorithmic decision-making
socioeconomic ramifications	noun phrase	/ˌsəʊsiəʊˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˌræmɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz/	hậu quả kinh tế xã hội	deeper socioeconomic ramifications	understand socioeconomic ramifications
surveillance capitalism	noun phrase	/səˈveɪləns ˈkæpɪtəlɪzəm/	chủ nghĩa tư bản giám sát	age of surveillance capitalism	era of surveillance capitalism
dynamic pricing	noun phrase	/daɪˈnæmɪk ˈpraɪsɪŋ/	định giá động	termed dynamic pricing	implement dynamic pricing
willingness to pay	noun phrase	/ˈwɪlɪŋnəs tə peɪ/	sẵn lòng trả tiền	individual’s willingness to pay	assess willingness to pay
consumer surplus	noun phrase	/kənˈsjuːmə ˈsɜːpləs/	thặng dư tiêu dùng	reducing consumer surplus	maximize consumer surplus
network effects	noun phrase	/ˈnetwɜːk ɪˈfekts/	hiệu ứng mạng lưới	data-driven network effects	benefit from network effects
positive feedback loops	noun phrase	/ˈpɒzətɪv ˈfiːdbæk luːps/	vòng phản hồi tích cực	benefit from positive feedback loops	create positive feedback loops
market concentration	noun phrase	/ˈmɑːkɪt ˌkɒnsənˈtreɪʃən/	tập trung thị trường	measure of market concentration	high market concentration
anticompetitive practices	noun phrase	/ˌæntiːkəmˈpetɪtɪv ˈpræktɪsɪz/	hành vi chống cạnh tranh	engaging in anticompetitive practices	prevent anticompetitive practices
consumer autonomy	noun phrase	/kənˈsjuːmər ɔːˈtɒnəmi/	quyền tự chủ người tiêu dùng	erosion of consumer autonomy	protect consumer autonomy
behavioral manipulation	noun phrase	/bɪˈheɪvjərəl məˌnɪpjuˈleɪʃən/	thao túng hành vi	behavioral manipulation at scale	resist behavioral manipulation
cognitive vulnerabilities	noun phrase	/ˈkɒɡnətɪv ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪlətiz/	điểm yếu nhận thức	exploit cognitive vulnerabilities	target cognitive vulnerabilities
digital divide	noun phrase	/ˈdɪdʒɪtəl dɪˈvaɪd/	khoảng cách số	The digital divide and its impact	address the digital divide
algorithmic bias	noun phrase	/ˌælɡəˈrɪðmɪk ˈbaɪəs/	thiên kiến thuật toán	Research on algorithmic bias	detect algorithmic bias
environmental externalities	noun phrase	/ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmentəl ˌekstɜːˈnælətiz/	ngoại ứng môi trường	environmental externalities of technology	account for environmental externalities
circular economy	noun phrase	/ˈsɜːkjələr iˈkɒnəmi/	kinh tế tuần hoàn	concept of circular economy	transition to circular economy
regulatory arbitrage	noun phrase	/ˈreɡjələtəri ˈɑːbɪtrɑːʒ/	chênh lệch quy định	exploit through regulatory arbitrage	engage in regulatory arbitrage

Từ vựng IELTS Reading chủ đề công nghệ và hành vi người tiêu dùng với collocation quan trọng

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Kết Bài

Chủ đề “How is technology influencing consumer purchasing behavior?” không chỉ phản ánh xu hướng thực tế của thời đại mà còn là một trong những đề tài phổ biến trong IELTS Reading Academic. Qua ba passages với độ khó tăng dần, bạn đã được trải nghiệm một đề thi hoàn chỉnh với 40 câu hỏi đa dạng – từ True/False/Not Given, Multiple Choice, Matching Headings đến Summary Completion và Matching Sentence Endings.

Passage 1 giới thiệu những thay đổi cơ bản trong hành vi mua sắm với từ vựng phổ thông và cấu trúc câu đơn giản, phù hợp để làm quen với chủ đề. Passage 2 đi sâu vào khía cạnh tâm lý học tiêu dùng với các khái niệm như scarcity principle, friction reduction và social proof – những thuật ngữ thường xuyên xuất hiện trong các bài thi IELTS thực tế. Passage 3 mang tính học thuật cao với những phân tích về hậu quả kinh tế xã hội, đòi hỏi kỹ năng đọc hiểu nâng cao và khả năng nắm bắt ý chính trong văn bản phức tạp.

Phần đáp án chi tiết không chỉ cung cấp câu trả lời đúng mà còn giải thích rõ vị trí thông tin trong bài, cách paraphrase giữa câu hỏi và passage, cùng với lý do tại sao các đáp án khác không phù hợp. Đây là phương pháp tự học hiệu quả giúp bạn hiểu logic làm bài và tránh những sai lầm phổ biến.

Hơn 40 từ vựng quan trọng được trình bày dưới dạng bảng với phiên âm, nghĩa tiếng Việt, ví dụ từ bài và collocation sẽ giúp bạn không chỉ mở rộng vốn từ mà còn biết cách sử dụng chúng trong ngữ cảnh phù hợp – kỹ năng cần thiết cho cả phần Writing và Speaking.

Hãy luyện tập đề thi này trong điều kiện thi thật: đặt đồng hồ 60 phút, không tra từ điển, không ngắt quãng. Sau đó so sánh kết quả với đáp án và đọc kỹ phần giải thích để hiểu rõ những điểm mạnh cần phát huy và những lỗi cần khắc phục. Chúc bạn đạt band điểm cao trong kỳ thi IELTS sắp tới!