IELTS Reading: Thách Thức Tiếp Cận Năng Lượng Toàn Cầu - Đề Thi Mẫu Có Đáp Án Chi Tiết » IELTS.NET

Mở bài

Chủ đề năng lượng toàn cầu là một trong những chủ đề xuất hiện thường xuyên trong kỳ thi IELTS Reading, đặc biệt trong các đề thi từ năm 2018 đến nay. “What Are The Challenges Of Achieving Global Energy Access?” không chỉ là một câu hỏi quan trọng đối với sự phát triển bền vững mà còn là chủ đề yêu thích của ban tổ chức IELTS bởi tính thời sự và tầm quan trọng toàn cầu của nó.

Mục lục nội dung

Bài viết này cung cấp cho bạn một đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với 3 passages theo đúng chuẩn Cambridge, từ mức độ dễ đến khó. Bạn sẽ được luyện tập với đầy đủ các dạng câu hỏi phổ biến, từ Multiple Choice, True/False/Not Given đến Matching Headings và Summary Completion. Mỗi câu hỏi đều có đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích cụ thể về vị trí thông tin và kỹ thuật paraphrase.

Đề thi này phù hợp cho học viên có trình độ từ band 5.0 trở lên, giúp bạn làm quen với độ khó tăng dần và rèn luyện kỹ năng quản lý thời gian hiệu quả. Bên cạnh đáp án, bạn sẽ nhận được bảng từ vựng quan trọng theo từng passage với phiên âm, nghĩa tiếng Việt và collocations thực tế.

1. Hướng Dẫn Làm Bài IELTS Reading

Tổng Quan Về IELTS Reading Test

IELTS Reading Test kéo dài 60 phút với 3 passages và tổng cộng 40 câu hỏi. Mỗi câu trả lời đúng được tính 1 điểm, không trừ điểm cho câu sai. Độ khó của các passages tăng dần, do đó việc phân bổ thời gian hợp lý là vô cùng quan trọng.

Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:

Passage 1: 15-17 phút (dễ nhất, hoàn thành nhanh để dành thời gian cho phần sau)
Passage 2: 18-20 phút (độ khó trung bình, cần đọc kỹ hơn)
Passage 3: 23-25 phút (khó nhất, yêu cầu phân tích sâu)

Lưu ý dành 2-3 phút cuối để chuyển đáp án vào answer sheet và kiểm tra lại.

Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này

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

Multiple Choice: Chọn đáp án đúng từ các phương án cho sẵn
True/False/Not Given: Xác định thông tin đúng, sai hay không được đề cập
Yes/No/Not Given: Xác định quan điểm của tác giả
Matching Headings: Nối tiêu đề phù hợp với các đoạn văn
Summary Completion: Điền từ vào chỗ trống trong đoạn tóm tắt
Matching Features: Nối thông tin với các đặc điểm tương ứng
Short-answer Questions: Trả lời ngắn gọn các câu hỏi

2. IELTS Reading Practice Test

PASSAGE 1 – Rural Electrification: Lighting Up Remote Communities

Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút

Access to reliable electricity is something that many people in developed countries take for granted. However, for approximately 770 million people worldwide, mostly living in rural and remote areas, electricity remains a luxury rather than a basic necessity. The challenge of bringing power to these communities is one of the most pressing issues in global development.

In many parts of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the lack of electricity affects every aspect of daily life. Without power, children cannot study after dark, refrigeration for medicines and food is impossible, and small businesses cannot operate efficiently. Women and children often spend hours collecting firewood for cooking and heating, time that could be spent on education or income-generating activities. The health consequences are equally serious, as indoor air pollution from burning solid fuels causes respiratory diseases that kill millions each year.

Traditional approaches to rural electrification have focused on extending the national grid – the network of power lines that connects power stations to homes and businesses. However, this method faces several significant obstacles. The cost of building infrastructure in remote areas with low population density is extremely high, often making it economically unviable for governments and utility companies. In mountainous regions or areas with difficult terrain, the technical challenges of construction can be insurmountable. Even when grid connections are possible, the long distances mean substantial energy losses during transmission.

These challenges have led to growing interest in alternative solutions, particularly off-grid and mini-grid systems powered by renewable energy. Solar panels have become increasingly affordable and can be installed relatively quickly in remote locations. A typical household solar system can provide enough electricity to power lights, charge mobile phones, and run a small television or radio. For larger communities, mini-grids – small-scale electricity networks serving a local area – can be powered by solar panels, small wind turbines, or hydroelectric generators.

The economic benefits of electrification extend far beyond household convenience. Access to electricity enables agricultural productivity through irrigation pumps and food processing equipment. It allows students to study longer and more effectively, improving educational outcomes. Healthcare facilities can operate medical equipment and store vaccines properly. Small enterprises can extend their operating hours and use electric tools and machinery, increasing their competitiveness and profitability.

Despite these advantages, several barriers continue to slow the pace of rural electrification. Initial costs remain high, even for solar systems, placing them beyond the reach of many poor families. Maintenance and repair services are often unavailable in remote areas, meaning that broken equipment cannot be fixed quickly. Technical training for local people to install and maintain systems is frequently inadequate. Furthermore, the lack of awareness about available technologies and their benefits can limit demand.

Governments and international organizations have implemented various programs to address these challenges. Some countries offer subsidies or low-interest loans to make solar systems more affordable. Others have partnered with private companies to develop innovative business models, such as pay-as-you-go systems where users pay small amounts via mobile phone for the electricity they consume. Community-based approaches that involve local people in planning and management have proven particularly successful, ensuring systems meet real needs and are properly maintained.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance of electricity access. With schools closed and remote learning becoming necessary, students without electricity at home were severely disadvantaged. Healthcare facilities needed reliable power for testing and treatment. The crisis accelerated investment in decentralized energy solutions and demonstrated that energy access is fundamental to resilience in the face of global challenges.

Looking forward, achieving universal electricity access will require sustained commitment and innovative thinking. Technology alone is not sufficient; supportive policies, adequate financing, and capacity building at the community level are equally important. As the cost of renewable energy continues to fall and new technologies emerge, the goal of bringing electricity to every home on the planet becomes increasingly achievable. However, without urgent action and international cooperation, hundreds of millions of people will continue to live without this essential service that others consider a basic right.

Questions 1-5

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

According to the passage, approximately how many people worldwide lack access to electricity?
A. 77 million
B. 770 million
C. 7.7 billion
D. 770 billion
What is mentioned as a consequence of women and children collecting firewood?
A. They develop physical strength
B. They learn survival skills
C. They lose time for education or earning income
D. They contribute to family bonding
Why is extending the national grid to rural areas often not feasible?
A. Local people refuse to use grid electricity
B. The government lacks technical expertise
C. The costs are too high due to low population density
D. Environmental regulations prevent construction
According to the passage, mini-grids can be powered by all of the following EXCEPT:
A. solar panels
B. wind turbines
C. nuclear reactors
D. hydroelectric generators
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect rural electrification efforts?
A. It stopped all electrification projects
B. It highlighted the importance of electricity for education and healthcare
C. It reduced the cost of solar panels
D. It made governments abandon grid extension plans

Questions 6-9

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

Write:

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

Indoor air pollution from solid fuels causes more deaths than outdoor air pollution.
Solar panels have become cheaper in recent years.
All governments now offer subsidies for rural solar systems.
Community involvement in energy projects leads to better maintenance outcomes.

Questions 10-13

Complete the summary below.

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

Rural electrification faces multiple challenges. Traditional grid extension is often 10. __ due to high infrastructure costs in areas with low population density. Alternative solutions include solar systems for individual households and 11. __ for larger communities. However, barriers such as high initial costs and lack of 12. __ services in remote areas persist. Successful programs often involve 13. __ models like pay-as-you-go systems that make electricity more affordable.

Hệ thống điện năng lượng mặt trời cho cộng đồng nông thôn xa xôi minh họa thách thức tiếp cận năng lượng toàn cầu

PASSAGE 2 – Financial and Technical Barriers to Energy Infrastructure

Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)

Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút

The ambitious goal of achieving universal energy access by 2030, as outlined in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7, faces formidable obstacles that extend far beyond mere technological considerations. While renewable energy technologies have advanced significantly and costs have declined dramatically, the financial architecture required to deploy these solutions at scale remains inadequately developed, particularly in the world’s poorest regions where the need is greatest.

A. The Investment Gap

Current investment flows into energy access projects fall dramatically short of what is required. The International Energy Agency estimates that achieving universal electricity access by 2030 would require annual investments of approximately $45 billion – more than triple the current levels. This investment deficit is particularly acute in sub-Saharan Africa, where per capita energy infrastructure spending is less than one-fifth of the global average. The situation is compounded by the fact that traditional financing mechanisms are poorly suited to the unique characteristics of rural electrification projects.

B. Risk Perception and Capital Costs

Commercial lenders and institutional investors typically perceive energy projects in developing countries as high-risk ventures, leading to prohibitively expensive capital costs. Political instability, currency fluctuations, uncertain regulatory frameworks, and questions about the creditworthiness of off-takers (those who will purchase the electricity) all contribute to this risk premium. In many cases, the interest rates demanded by private investors are so high that projects become financially unviable, even when the underlying technology is sound and demand exists. This risk-return profile creates a vicious cycle: without access to affordable capital, projects cannot be developed; without successful projects, the perception of high risk persists.

C. The Technology-Finance Mismatch

The mismatch between available financing instruments and the scale of needed investments poses another significant challenge. Multilateral development banks and bilateral aid agencies traditionally focus on large-scale projects with substantial budgets, yet many communities require smaller-scale solutions such as village-level mini-grids or household solar systems. These distributed energy projects often fall into a “missing middle” – too large for microfinance institutions but too small and numerous for conventional project finance. The transaction costs of evaluating, structuring, and monitoring numerous small projects can be disproportionately high, making them unattractive to large investors.

D. Technical Capacity Constraints

Beyond financing, the shortage of technical expertise creates a substantial bottleneck. Deploying and maintaining modern energy systems requires specialized knowledge that is scarce in many developing regions. Engineering skills for designing appropriate systems, procurement expertise for selecting quality equipment, and technical proficiency for installation and maintenance are all critical yet often lacking. This capacity gap affects every stage of project development, from initial feasibility studies to long-term operations.

E. Educational and Training Deficits

The technical capacity shortage has deep roots in educational systems that have chronically underinvested in science and engineering education. Many countries facing the greatest energy access challenges have limited numbers of vocational training programs for energy technicians, and those that exist often lack modern equipment and curricula. The result is a skills mismatch: young people may complete training programs but lack the practical competencies needed for employment in the energy sector. This situation is exacerbated by “brain drain,” as qualified professionals migrate to urban areas or abroad seeking better opportunities.

F. Local Manufacturing and Supply Chains

The absence of robust local supply chains for energy equipment presents both economic and practical challenges. When solar panels, batteries, and other components must be imported, costs increase due to shipping expenses, import duties, and currency exchange issues. Supply chain disruptions – whether from global events like the COVID-19 pandemic or local issues such as poor transportation infrastructure – can delay projects and increase costs unpredictably. Moreover, the lack of local manufacturing means that countries miss opportunities for industrial development and job creation that energy sector growth could provide.

G. Standards and Quality Assurance

The proliferation of substandard equipment in some markets has created additional problems. Without strong regulatory frameworks and quality standards, consumers may purchase cheap but unreliable systems that fail quickly, leading to disillusionment with renewable energy technologies. Establishing and enforcing product certification schemes requires institutional capacity that many countries lack. International standards exist but adapting them to local contexts and ensuring compliance demands resources and expertise that are often unavailable.

H. Innovative Approaches

Despite these challenges, innovative approaches are emerging. Blended finance – combining concessional public funds with commercial capital – can reduce risk and lower capital costs. Results-based financing, where payments are tied to verified outcomes such as connections made or kilowatt-hours delivered, ensures accountability while sharing risk between public and private partners. Digitalization is transforming project monitoring and payment systems, with mobile money platforms enabling new business models like pay-as-you-go solar. Regional Centers of Excellence are being established to provide technical training and support, building the human capacity needed for sustainable energy sector development.

The path to universal energy access thus requires coordinated action across multiple fronts. Financial innovation must be matched with capacity building; technology deployment must be accompanied by institutional strengthening. Only through addressing these interconnected challenges simultaneously can the goal of bringing electricity to every community be achieved. As the rise of online retail in traditional markets has shown in other sectors, transformative change is possible when technology, finance, and human capital align. The question is whether the global community can muster the political will and sustained investment to make universal energy access a reality rather than merely an aspiration.

Questions 14-20

The passage has eight sections, A-H.

Which section contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A-H.

A description of how poor quality products damage confidence in renewable energy
An explanation of why large investors find small energy projects unappealing
A mention of specific monetary requirements to achieve universal electricity access
Examples of new approaches that combine different types of funding
Information about the shortage of professionals trained in energy technologies
The problems caused by having to import energy equipment from other countries
Reasons why private investors consider energy projects in poor countries risky

Questions 21-24

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

According to the passage, achieving universal energy access faces several interrelated challenges. The annual investment needed is approximately $45 billion, but current 21. __ are insufficient. Private investors demand high returns due to concerns about political stability and 22. __, making projects financially unviable. Many projects fall into the 23. __ category – too large for microfinance but too small for conventional funding. Additionally, countries suffer from 24. __ as skilled professionals leave to find better opportunities elsewhere.

Questions 25-26

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

Which TWO of the following are mentioned as innovative solutions to energy access challenges?

A. Government ownership of all energy projects
B. Blended finance combining public and commercial funding
C. Banning imported solar equipment
D. Mobile money platforms for payment systems
E. Reducing electricity prices to zero

PASSAGE 3 – Geopolitical Dimensions and Sustainability Paradoxes in Global Energy Transitions

Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)

Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút

The imperative to expand energy access while simultaneously decarbonizing global energy systems presents a multifaceted paradox that transcends purely technical or economic considerations. This dual mandate – ensuring that billions currently living in energy poverty gain access to modern energy services while transitioning away from fossil fuels to mitigate climate change – embodies profound geopolitical tensions, ethical dilemmas, and competing development paradigms that strike at the heart of contemporary international relations and global equity debates.

At the geopolitical nexus, energy access challenges are inextricably linked to questions of national sovereignty, economic competitiveness, and historical responsibility for environmental degradation. Developing nations, particularly those in the Global South, articulate a compelling argument: wealthy countries built their prosperity through unrestricted exploitation of fossil fuels over two centuries, creating the cumulative emissions that now threaten planetary stability. To now impose constraints on developing nations’ energy choices in the name of climate mitigation is perceived as a form of “carbon colonialism” – a perpetuation of historical power imbalances under the guise of environmental stewardship. This fundamental asymmetry in historical emissions and current vulnerability to climate impacts creates a legitimacy deficit in international climate governance that complicates efforts to coordinate global energy transitions.

The resource curse phenomenon adds another layer of complexity. Many nations with the greatest energy access deficits are simultaneously endowed with substantial fossil fuel reserves that represent potential revenue streams for development. Nigeria’s vast oil reserves, Mozambique’s burgeoning natural gas sector, and numerous countries’ coal deposits present policymakers with an agonizing calculus: forego fossil fuel development to align with global climate goals, thereby sacrificing near-term economic opportunities and revenue that could fund education, healthcare, and infrastructure; or pursue fossil fuel-led development, risking climate catastrophe while potentially creating stranded assets as the world transitions to renewables. This temporal mismatch between immediate development needs and long-term sustainability imperatives creates perverse incentives that are difficult to resolve through policy mechanisms alone.

Technological sovereignty emerges as an increasingly salient concern. The current generation of renewable energy technologies – photovoltaic cells, lithium-ion batteries, wind turbines, and smart grid infrastructure – relies on complex global supply chains dominated by a handful of countries. China’s commanding position in solar panel manufacturing, rare earth element processing, and battery production creates potential dependencies that some nations view as strategic vulnerabilities. For countries pursuing energy independence, this technological concentration presents a troubling parallel to historical oil dependencies. The prospect of exchanging one form of energy dependency for another, albeit cleaner, raises questions about whether current energy transition pathways truly serve the self-determination goals of developing nations or merely restructure power relationships in the global energy order.

The sustainability paradoxes embedded in renewable energy deployment themselves warrant careful examination. Large-scale solar and wind installations require substantial land areas, potentially displacing agricultural activities or encroaching upon ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots. The mining of lithium, cobalt, and other critical minerals for batteries often occurs in ecologically sensitive areas and developing countries with weak environmental regulations, effectively exporting environmental damage to less powerful nations. Hydroelectric projects, while providing carbon-neutral electricity, have well-documented impacts on river ecosystems, sediment flows, and communities requiring relocation. The lifecycle environmental footprint of renewable technologies – from raw material extraction through manufacturing to eventual disposal – remains inadequately assessed and potentially problematic, particularly as deployment scales massively.

Distributional justice considerations further complicate universal energy access initiatives. Within countries, energy projects can exacerbate existing inequalities if benefits accrue primarily to urban elites while rural communities bear environmental costs. Large-scale renewable energy installations may generate electricity for export or industrial use while bypassing proximate communities lacking basic access. The gender dimensions of energy poverty – women disproportionately affected by lack of access to clean cooking fuels and electricity – require targeted interventions that mainstream energy programs often overlook. Indigenous peoples and marginalized groups frequently face displacement or environmental degradation from energy projects developed without meaningful consultation or benefit-sharing arrangements.

The financial architecture ostensibly supporting energy transitions may inadvertently perpetuate dependencies and constraints on policy space. Conditionalities attached to development finance – whether from multilateral institutions, bilateral donors, or private investors – can limit recipient countries’ flexibility in designing energy strategies that reflect their specific circumstances and priorities. The emphasis on market-based mechanisms and private sector participation as prerequisites for funding may undermine public sector capacity and create affordability barriers for the poorest populations. Debt sustainability concerns arise when countries borrow extensively for energy infrastructure, particularly if projects fail to generate expected revenues or if currency depreciation increases repayment burdens.

Tương tự như the rise of online retail in traditional markets đã thay đổi mô hình kinh doanh truyền thống, the transformation of global energy systems demands paradigm shifts in how we conceptualize development, equity, and environmental stewardship. The conventional linear model of development – whereby countries progress through stages from agrarian to industrial to post-industrial economies, each requiring progressively higher energy inputs – may no longer be tenable or desirable in a carbon-constrained world. Alternative development pathways that decouple human wellbeing from energy consumption – through circular economy principles, digitalization that reduces material throughput, and sufficiency-oriented consumption patterns – require exploration, yet remain undertheorized and politically challenging to pursue.

The temporal urgency created by climate science – the rapidly closing window for limiting warming to 1.5°C or 2°C – generates pressure for rapid action that may conflict with deliberative processes, local capacity development, and the incremental learning necessary for sustainable transformation. Top-down, globally coordinated approaches risk repeating neocolonial patterns, while bottom-up, locally driven initiatives may lack the scale and speed required by the climate emergency. Resolving this tension demands polycentric governance approaches that enable simultaneous experimentation and coordination across scales, sectors, and jurisdictions.

Ultimately, achieving universal energy access in an equitable and sustainable manner requires confronting uncomfortable truths about global power structures, consumption patterns, and the limits of technological solutions. It demands that wealthy nations not only provide financial and technological support but also undertake dramatic reductions in their own energy consumption and material throughput to create ecological space for developing countries to meet their populations’ needs. It requires reimagining development as something other than replicating the consumption-intensive lifestyles of affluent societies. Most fundamentally, it necessitates recognizing energy access not merely as a technical challenge or economic opportunity but as a profound ethical obligation – one that cannot be separated from broader questions of justice, dignity, and the kind of global civilization we aspire to create. Without this deeper transformation in values and power relationships, technical interventions and financial mechanisms alone will prove insufficient to reconcile the competing imperatives of development, equity, and planetary boundaries.

Giao diện công nghệ thăm dò quang và năng lượng xanh toàn cầu thể hiện thách thức địa chính trị năng lượng

Questions 27-31

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

According to the passage, what do developing nations mean by “carbon colonialism”?
A. The practice of exporting coal to developing countries
B. Wealthy nations restricting developing countries’ energy choices after benefiting from fossil fuels themselves
C. The physical colonization of countries with carbon resources
D. Developing nations refusing to use renewable energy
The “resource curse” mentioned in the passage refers to:
A. The difficulty of mining fossil fuels
B. The curse placed on countries that use fossil fuels
C. The dilemma faced by fossil-fuel-rich nations between immediate development needs and long-term sustainability
D. The technical problems of extracting natural resources
Why does the passage describe China’s position in renewable technology manufacturing as potentially problematic?
A. Chinese products are of poor quality
B. It creates new forms of dependency similar to historical oil dependencies
C. China refuses to export renewable technology
D. It makes renewable energy more expensive
What does the passage suggest about large-scale renewable energy installations?
A. They have no environmental impacts
B. They may displace agriculture and affect ecosystems
C. They are always more sustainable than fossil fuels
D. They require no land area
According to the passage, what fundamental transformation is necessary for achieving universal energy access sustainably?
A. Simply transferring technology from rich to poor countries
B. Maintaining current consumption patterns in wealthy nations
C. Reimagining development and transforming global power structures and values
D. Focusing solely on technical solutions

Questions 32-36

Complete the summary using the list of phrases, A-J, below.

The challenge of expanding energy access while addressing climate change creates complex problems. Developing nations argue that wealthy countries achieved prosperity through 32. __ and now expect poorer nations to limit their options. This creates 33. __ in international climate governance. Meanwhile, renewable energy technologies rely on global supply chains that create potential 34. __ for countries seeking energy independence. Additionally, renewable projects can create 35. __ through mining impacts and land requirements. The passage suggests that wealthy nations must undertake 36. __ to allow developing countries to meet their needs.

A. dramatic consumption reductions
B. historical fossil fuel use
C. new energy sources
D. environmental damage
E. technological advancement
F. a legitimacy deficit
G. strategic dependencies
H. economic growth
I. renewable installations
J. political alliances

Questions 37-40

Answer the questions below.

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

What term describes the situation where energy projects are too large for microfinance but too small for conventional financing?
What principle, mentioned in relation to alternative development pathways, involves reducing material use and waste?
What type of governance approach does the passage suggest is needed to balance coordination with local experimentation?
According to the passage, what must energy access be recognized as, beyond being just a technical challenge?

3. Answer Keys – Đáp Án

PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13

B
C
C
C
B
NOT GIVEN
TRUE
NOT GIVEN
TRUE
economically unviable
mini-grids
maintenance and repair / repair
innovative business

PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26

G
C
A
H
D
F
B
investment flows
currency fluctuations
missing middle
brain drain
25-26. B, D (in any order)

PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40

B
C
B
B
C
B
F
G
D
A
missing middle
circular economy
polycentric governance
ethical obligation

4. Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Passage 1 – Giải Thích

Câu 1: B

Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
Từ khóa: approximately, how many people, lack access to electricity
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 2-3
Giải thích: Passage nêu rõ “approximately 770 million people worldwide” không có điện. Đây là thông tin trực tiếp, không cần paraphrase phức tạp.

Câu 2: C

Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
Từ khóa: consequence, women and children, collecting firewood
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 3-4
Giải thích: Bài viết đề cập “time that could be spent on education or income-generating activities” – paraphrase của “lose time for education or earning income” trong đáp án.

Câu 3: C

Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
Từ khóa: extending national grid, not feasible
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 4-6
Giải thích: Passage giải thích rằng “The cost of building infrastructure in remote areas with low population density is extremely high, often making it economically unviable” – lý do chính là chi phí cao do mật độ dân số thấp.

Câu 5: B

Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
Từ khóa: COVID-19 pandemic, affect
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8
Giải thích: Đoạn văn nêu rõ “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance of electricity access” cho giáo dục và y tế, tương ứng với đáp án B.

Câu 6: NOT GIVEN

Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
Giải thích: Passage chỉ đề cập indoor air pollution gây chết người nhưng không so sánh với outdoor air pollution.

Câu 7: TRUE

Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 2
Giải thích: “Solar panels have become increasingly affordable” đồng nghĩa với việc chúng đã trở nên rẻ hơn.

Câu 9: TRUE

Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng cuối
Giải thích: “Community-based approaches… have proven particularly successful, ensuring systems… are properly maintained” xác nhận rằng sự tham gia của cộng đồng dẫn đến kết quả bảo trì tốt hơn.

Câu 10: economically unviable

Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3
Giải thích: Từ khóa trong bài mô tả tình trạng grid extension “often making it economically unviable”.

Câu 11: mini-grids

Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4
Giải thích: Passage đề cập “mini-grids” cho các cộng đồng lớn hơn, tương phản với solar systems cho hộ gia đình.

Câu 12: maintenance and repair / repair

Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 2
Giải thích: “Maintenance and repair services are often unavailable” là rào cản được nhắc đến.

Câu 13: innovative business

Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7
Giải thích: “Innovative business models, such as pay-as-you-go systems” được đề cập như giải pháp thành công.

Passage 2 – Giải Thích

Câu 14: G

Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information to Paragraphs
Từ khóa: poor quality products, damage confidence
Giải thích: Section G nói về “proliferation of substandard equipment” và “disillusionment with renewable energy technologies”.

Câu 15: C

Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information to Paragraphs
Từ khóa: large investors, small projects, unappealing
Giải thích: Section C giải thích về “missing middle” – các dự án quá nhỏ đối với project finance truyền thống và transaction costs cao làm chúng “unattractive to large investors”.

Câu 16: A

Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information to Paragraphs
Từ khóa: specific monetary requirements, universal electricity access
Giải thích: Section A nêu rõ “annual investments of approximately $45 billion” cần thiết.

Câu 17: H

Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information to Paragraphs
Từ khóa: new approaches, combine different types of funding
Giải thích: Section H mô tả “blended finance – combining concessional public funds with commercial capital”.

Câu 18: D

Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information to Paragraphs
Từ khóa: shortage of professionals, trained in energy technologies
Giải thích: Section D thảo luận về “shortage of technical expertise” và thiếu “specialized knowledge”.

Câu 20: B

Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Information to Paragraphs
Từ khóa: private investors, energy projects, poor countries, risky
Giải thích: Section B liệt kê các lý do như “political instability, currency fluctuations, uncertain regulatory frameworks” khiến nhà đầu tư coi các dự án là rủi ro cao.

Câu 21: investment flows

Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
Vị trí trong bài: Section A
Giải thích: “Current investment flows into energy access projects fall dramatically short” – paraphrase của “insufficient” trong câu hỏi.

Câu 22: currency fluctuations

Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
Vị trí trong bài: Section B
Giải thích: Đây là một trong những yếu tố risk được liệt kê cụ thể.

Câu 23: missing middle

Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
Vị trí trong bài: Section C
Giải thích: Thuật ngữ này được sử dụng trong ngoặc kép trong passage để mô tả dự án vừa và nhỏ.

Câu 24: brain drain

Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
Vị trí trong bài: Section E
Giải thích: “Brain drain” được đề cập trong ngoặc kép như hiện tượng chuyên gia di cư.

Câu 25-26: B, D

Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice (chọn 2 đáp án)
Vị trí trong bài: Section H
Giải thích: Section H đề cập cả “blended finance” (B) và “mobile money platforms” (D) như các giải pháp đổi mới. Các đáp án khác không được nhắc đến.

Passage 3 – Giải Thích

Câu 27: B

Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
Từ khóa: carbon colonialism
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2
Giải thích: Passage giải thích “carbon colonialism” là việc “impose constraints on developing nations’ energy choices” sau khi các nước giàu đã sử dụng fossil fuels để phát triển, tạo nên “perpetuation of historical power imbalances”.

Câu 28: C

Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
Từ khóa: resource curse
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3
Giải thích: Passage mô tả “agonizing calculus” – sự khó khăn trong việc chọn giữa phát triển fossil fuel cho nhu cầu ngắn hạn và từ bỏ nó vì mục tiêu dài hạn.

Câu 29: B

Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
Từ khóa: China, renewable technology manufacturing, problematic
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4
Giải thích: “This technological concentration presents a troubling parallel to historical oil dependencies… exchanging one form of energy dependency for another” – tạo ra sự phụ thuộc mới tương tự phụ thuộc dầu mỏ trong quá khứ.

Câu 30: B

Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
Từ khóa: large-scale renewable energy installations
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5
Giải thích: Passage nêu rõ “require substantial land areas, potentially displacing agricultural activities or encroaching upon ecosystems”.

Câu 31: C

Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
Từ khóa: fundamental transformation, necessary
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn cuối
Giải thích: Đoạn cuối nhấn mạnh cần “reimagining development” và “deeper transformation in values and power relationships” – không chỉ là giải pháp kỹ thuật.

Câu 32: B (historical fossil fuel use)

Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion với word list
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2
Giải thích: “wealthy countries built their prosperity through unrestricted exploitation of fossil fuels”.

Câu 33: F (a legitimacy deficit)

Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion với word list
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2
Giải thích: Cụm từ “legitimacy deficit” xuất hiện trực tiếp trong passage.

Câu 34: G (strategic dependencies)

Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion với word list
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4
Giải thích: “creates potential dependencies that some nations view as strategic vulnerabilities”.

Câu 35: D (environmental damage)

Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion với word list
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5
Giải thích: Mining và land use impacts được mô tả là “effectively exporting environmental damage”.

Câu 36: A (dramatic consumption reductions)

Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion với word list
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn cuối
Giải thích: “wealthy nations… undertake dramatic reductions in their own energy consumption”.

Câu 37: missing middle

Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
Vị trí trong bài: Passage 2, Section C hoặc được paraphrase trong Passage 3
Giải thích: Thuật ngữ này mô tả dự án vừa và nhỏ không phù hợp với các cơ chế tài chính hiện có.

Câu 38: circular economy

Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8
Giải thích: “Circular economy principles” được nhắc đến như một phần của alternative development pathways.

Câu 39: polycentric governance

Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 9
Giải thích: Passage đề xuất “polycentric governance approaches” để cân bằng giữa điều phối và thử nghiệm địa phương.

Câu 40: ethical obligation / profound ethical obligation

Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn cuối, câu cuối cùng
Giải thích: “Recognizing energy access not merely as a technical challenge… but as a profound ethical obligation” – nêu rõ năng lượng phải được nhìn nhận như một nghĩa vụ đạo đức.

5. Từ Vựng Quan Trọng Theo Passage

Passage 1 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
reliable	adj	/rɪˈlaɪəbl/	đáng tin cậy, ổn định	reliable electricity	reliable source, reliable supply
luxury	n	/ˈlʌkʃəri/	xa xỉ phẩm, thứ xa hoa	electricity remains a luxury	affordable luxury, basic luxury
rural electrification	n phrase	/ˈrʊərəl ɪˌlektrɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/	điện khí hóa nông thôn	Traditional approaches to rural electrification	rural electrification program
infrastructure	n	/ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃər/	cơ sở hạ tầng	cost of building infrastructure	transport infrastructure, energy infrastructure
economically unviable	adj phrase	/ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪkli ʌnˈvaɪəbl/	không khả thi về mặt kinh tế	making it economically unviable	economically viable, financially unviable
off-grid system	n phrase	/ɒf ɡrɪd ˈsɪstəm/	hệ thống điện độc lập (không nối lưới)	off-grid and mini-grid systems	off-grid solution, off-grid solar
renewable energy	n phrase	/rɪˈnjuːəbl ˈenədʒi/	năng lượng tái tạo	powered by renewable energy	renewable energy source, clean renewable energy
agricultural productivity	n phrase	/ˌæɡrɪˈkʌltʃərəl ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvəti/	năng suất nông nghiệp	enables agricultural productivity	boost agricultural productivity
subsidies	n	/ˈsʌbsɪdiz/	trợ cấp, hỗ trợ tài chính	offer subsidies	government subsidies, energy subsidies
innovative business models	n phrase	/ˈɪnəvətɪv ˈbɪznəs ˈmɒdlz/	mô hình kinh doanh đổi mới	develop innovative business models	innovative approach, business model innovation
decentralized energy	n phrase	/diːˈsentrəlaɪzd ˈenədʒi/	năng lượng phi tập trung	investment in decentralized energy solutions	decentralized system, distributed energy
universal electricity access	n phrase	/ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsl ɪlekˈtrɪsəti ˈækses/	tiếp cận điện phổ quát	achieving universal electricity access	universal access, universal coverage

Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
ambitious goal	n phrase	/æmˈbɪʃəs ɡəʊl/	mục tiêu đầy tham vọng	The ambitious goal of achieving	ambitious plan, ambitious target
investment deficit	n phrase	/ɪnˈvestmənt ˈdefɪsɪt/	thiếu hụt đầu tư	This investment deficit	budget deficit, funding deficit
prohibitively expensive	adj phrase	/prəˈhɪbɪtɪvli ɪkˈspensɪv/	đắt đỏ cấm trở	prohibitively expensive capital costs	prohibitively high, prohibitively costly
creditworthiness	n	/ˈkredɪtwɜːðinəs/	độ tin cậy tín dụng	questions about the creditworthiness	assess creditworthiness
vicious cycle	n phrase	/ˈvɪʃəs ˈsaɪkl/	vòng luẩn quẩn, chu kỳ xấu	creates a vicious cycle	break the vicious cycle
missing middle	n phrase	/ˈmɪsɪŋ ˈmɪdl/	khoảng trống ở giữa	fall into a “missing middle”	missing middle problem
transaction costs	n phrase	/trænˈzækʃn kɒsts/	chi phí giao dịch	The transaction costs of evaluating	high transaction costs, reduce transaction costs
technical expertise	n phrase	/ˈteknɪkl ˌekspɜːˈtiːz/	chuyên môn kỹ thuật	shortage of technical expertise	technical knowledge, technical skills
capacity gap	n phrase	/kəˈpæsəti ɡæp/	khoảng cách năng lực	This capacity gap affects	skills gap, knowledge gap
brain drain	n phrase	/breɪn dreɪn/	chảy máu chất xám	exacerbated by “brain drain”	reverse brain drain
supply chain disruptions	n phrase	/səˈplaɪ tʃeɪn dɪsˈrʌpʃnz/	gián đoạn chuỗi cung ứng	Supply chain disruptions	supply chain management
quality standards	n phrase	/ˈkwɒləti ˈstændədz/	tiêu chuẩn chất lượng	strong regulatory frameworks and quality standards	meet quality standards
blended finance	n phrase	/ˈblendɪd ˈfaɪnæns/	tài chính kết hợp	Blended finance – combining concessional public funds	blended finance approach
results-based financing	n phrase	/rɪˈzʌlts beɪst ˈfaɪnænsɪŋ/	tài chính dựa trên kết quả	Results-based financing	performance-based financing
capacity building	n phrase	/kəˈpæsəti ˈbɪldɪŋ/	xây dựng năng lực	capacity building	institutional capacity building

Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary

Từ vựng	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ từ bài	Collocation
decarbonizing	v	/diːˈkɑːbənaɪzɪŋ/	giảm carbon, khử carbon	while simultaneously decarbonizing	decarbonize the economy
multifaceted paradox	n phrase	/ˌmʌltiˈfæsɪtɪd ˈpærədɒks/	nghịch lý đa diện	presents a multifaceted paradox	complex paradox
energy poverty	n phrase	/ˈenədʒi ˈpɒvəti/	nghèo năng lượng	living in energy poverty	fuel poverty, energy access
geopolitical tensions	n phrase	/ˌdʒiːəʊpəˈlɪtɪkl ˈtenʃnz/	căng thẳng địa chính trị	embodies profound geopolitical tensions	geopolitical risk
national sovereignty	n phrase	/ˈnæʃnəl ˈsɒvrənti/	chủ quyền quốc gia	questions of national sovereignty	respect sovereignty, territorial sovereignty
cumulative emissions	n phrase	/ˈkjuːmjələtɪv ɪˈmɪʃnz/	lượng phát thải tích lũy	creating the cumulative emissions	carbon emissions, greenhouse gas emissions
carbon colonialism	n phrase	/ˈkɑːbən kəˈləʊniəlɪzəm/	chủ nghĩa thực dân carbon	perceived as “carbon colonialism”	neo-colonialism
resource curse	n phrase	/rɪˈsɔːs kɜːs/	lời nguyền tài nguyên	The resource curse phenomenon	natural resource curse
stranded assets	n phrase	/ˈstrændɪd ˈæsets/	tài sản mắc cạn	risking stranded assets	fossil fuel stranded assets
technological sovereignty	n phrase	/ˌteknəˈlɒdʒɪkl ˈsɒvrənti/	chủ quyền công nghệ	Technological sovereignty emerges	digital sovereignty, tech independence
supply chains	n phrase	/səˈplaɪ tʃeɪnz/	chuỗi cung ứng	complex global supply chains	global supply chain
biodiversity hotspots	n phrase	/ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsəti ˈhɒtspɒts/	điểm nóng đa dạng sinh học	encroaching upon biodiversity hotspots	protect biodiversity
distributional justice	n phrase	/ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃənl ˈdʒʌstɪs/	công bằng phân phối	Distributional justice considerations	social justice, environmental justice
marginalized groups	n phrase	/ˈmɑːdʒɪnəlaɪzd ɡruːps/	nhóm bị thiệt thòi	Indigenous peoples and marginalized groups	vulnerable groups, disadvantaged groups
circular economy	n phrase	/ˈsɜːkjələr iˈkɒnəmi/	nền kinh tế tuần hoàn	through circular economy principles	circular economy model
polycentric governance	n phrase	/ˌpɒliˈsentrɪk ˈɡʌvənəns/	quản trị đa trung tâm	demands polycentric governance approaches	multilevel governance
planetary boundaries	n phrase	/ˈplænətri ˈbaʊndriz/	ranh giới hành tinh	development, equity, and planetary boundaries	ecological boundaries, Earth system boundaries
ethical obligation	n phrase	/ˈeθɪkl ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃn/	nghĩa vụ đạo đức	as a profound ethical obligation	moral obligation, ethical responsibility

Kết bài

Chủ đề “What are the challenges of achieving global energy access?” không chỉ là một topic quan trọng trong IELTS Reading mà còn phản ánh những thách thức thực tế mà nhân loại đang đối mặt. Qua ba passages với độ khó tăng dần, bạn đã được tiếp cận đầy đủ các khía cạnh của vấn đề: từ những thách thức cơ bản về cơ sở hạ tầng và tài chính, đến những phức tạp về địa chính trị và đạo đức.

Đề thi mẫu này cung cấp cho bạn 40 câu hỏi đa dạng với 7 dạng bài khác nhau, giúp bạn làm quen với mọi loại câu hỏi có thể xuất hiện trong kỳ thi thực tế. Đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích vị trí thông tin và kỹ thuật paraphrase sẽ giúp bạn hiểu rõ cách tìm thông tin hiệu quả, đặc biệt quan trọng cho những câu hỏi khó ở Passage 3.

Bảng từ vựng tổng hợp hơn 40 từ và cụm từ chuyên ngành với nghĩa tiếng Việt, phiên âm và collocations thực tế sẽ giúp bạn mở rộng vốn từ học thuật đáng kể. Đây là những từ vựng không chỉ hữu ích cho IELTS Reading mà còn cho cả Writing Task 2 khi bạn viết về các chủ đề năng lượng, môi trường hay phát triển bền vững.

Hãy luyện tập với đề thi này trong điều kiện giống thi thật: đặt đồng hồ đếm ngược 60 phút và cố gắng hoàn thành toàn bộ 40 câu hỏi. Sau đó, đối chiếu đáp án, đọc kỹ phần giải thích và học thuộc từ vựng quan trọng. Thực hành thường xuyên với các đề thi chất lượng cao như thế này sẽ giúp bạn tự tin đạt band điểm mong muốn trong kỳ thi IELTS Reading.

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