IELTS Topic
Bài 11: Shopping and consumerism

1. Từ vựng cốt lõi (Core Vocabulary)

Tiếng Anh	Tiếng Việt
Phenomenon	Hiện tượng
Retail therapy	“Liệu pháp mua sắm” (mua sắm để giải tỏa căng thẳng)
See products firsthand	Tận mắt nhìn thấy sản phẩm
Hassle-free	Không rắc rối, tiện lợi
A front for scammers	Vỏ bọc cho những kẻ lừa đảo
Negative connotation	Nghĩa tiêu cực / hàm ý không tốt
For the sake of its newness	Chỉ vì lợi ích của sự mới mẻ (thích đồ mới)
Landfills	Bãi rác / hố chôn rác

2. Phân tích Bài đọc / Bài luận mẫu (Passage Analysis)

Paragraph 1: The Psychology of Shopping

In today’s world, shopping has become a form of leisure. It may seem odd to those who are thrifty, but there are explanations for this phenomenon. One is that shopping gives people control… Another reason is that shopping becomes a reward. When people are down or stressed, buying something new—often called retail therapy—is enough to bring some joy to a person’s day.

Paragraph 2: Physical Stores

Many visit stores where they can see products firsthand and try them out. Large department stores are convenient, while smaller boutiques specialize in particular products. A perfume store, for example, may sell niche brands not found in bigger establishments.

Paragraph 3: Online Shopping and Risks

Online shopping is claimed to be cheaper and hassle-free. However, it can be a guessing game regarding quality. Requesting a replacement can be a hassle, and unfortunately, some sites are just a front for scammers who steal credit card details.

Paragraph 4: Consumerism and Waste

Consumerism originally meant to grow the economy, but now it has a negative connotation. It paints a picture of a society that excessively buys. People desire something new for the sake of its newness, leading to still-useful items being discarded in landfills.

3. Cấu trúc câu ăn điểm (Sentence Structures)

“It may seem odd to [group A] why [action] makes [group B] happy, but there are explanations for this phenomenon.” (Có vẻ kỳ lạ với… tại sao… khiến… hạnh phúc, nhưng có những lời giải thích cho hiện tượng này.)
“Many people claim that [action] is [adjective] and hassle-free since you do not have to [action].” (Nhiều người cho rằng… thì… và tiện lợi vì bạn không phải…)
“In a consumerist society, people may regularly desire something new for the sake of its newness, not because it adds value to their life.” (Trong xã hội tiêu thụ, mọi người có thể thường xuyên khao khát thứ gì đó mới chỉ vì nó mới, chứ không phải vì nó mang lại giá trị cho cuộc sống của họ.)

4. Bài tập thực hành (Practice Exercise)

Chọn từ/cụm từ phù hợp nhất để hoàn thành câu:

The aurora borealis is a natural that attracts thousands of tourists to the Arctic every year.
After a very stressful week at the office, she decided to engage in some by buying a new dress.
Booking flights online is usually compared to visiting a travel agency in person.
The word “cheap” can sometimes have a , suggesting that a product is of poor quality.
Fast fashion has led to a massive increase in the amount of clothing waste ending up in .