Yêu cầu chung
Question 20 - 29.
Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 20 to 29.
Digital media have dramatically changed how we consume information, largely due to the effects of social media. These digital sites provide users with highly personalized news feeds, carefully curated to align with their past interactions such as what they have liked, followed, commented on, etc. This algorithmic tailoring often leads to the formation of "echo chambers", situations where individuals are mainly exposed to information that reinforces their existing beliefs. Such selective exposure not only limits intellectual growth but also cultivates a fragmented understanding of complex issues, where diverse perspectives are systematically sidelined. Because of this lack of variety, a shared reality can become elusive, replaced by separate, one-sided versions. [I] The root cause of these echo chambers lies in confirmation bias, a human cognitive tendency. It drives individuals to seek out, interpret, and favor information that supports their pre-existing beliefs, while simultaneously downplaying or rejecting information that contradicts those views. Every social media platform, in pursuit of maximizing user engagement and, consequently, advertising revenue, unintentionally amplifies this natural tendency. By prioritizing content that resonates with a user's current belief system, its algorithms create a feedback loop, making it less likely for individuals to encounter challenging or differing viewpoints. This continuous validation, while psychologically comforting, significantly impedes the development of critical thinking skills and open-mindedness. [II] The impact of echo chambers on society is also concerning. Social media sites that restrict users' access to opposing viewpoints and reinforce their existing viewpoints could potentially exacerbate societal division. For instance, on the issue of climate change, one user might only see posts downplaying environmental risks, while another is exposed exclusively to catastrophic warnings. Since each group relies on completely disparate bodies of fact, there is little basis for them to share any kind of mutual understanding. [III] Breaking free from these echo chambers requires a conscious effort. Doing so involves cultivating digital literacy, actively seeking out diverse and credible sources of information, and critically evaluating content rather than passively consuming what algorithms present to us. Only through such proactive measures can individuals cultivate a more comprehensive understanding of the world, thereby fostering a more inclusive exchange of ideas across the increasingly fractured digital landscape. [IV] (Adapted from https://www.wired.com)
According to paragraph 1, what is a primary characteristic of news feeds on social media platforms?
They are carefully tailored to individuals based on their previous online behavior.
They are carefully curated to systematically sideline the user's past interactions.
They aim to create a shared reality by reinforcing existing beliefs through diverse perspectives.
They are designed to challenge users' existing beliefs and broaden their perspectives.
Giải thích chi tiết
Ứng dụng 😎 Linearthinking để giải quyết câu hỏi:
Step 1: Read the question ❓According to paragraph 1, what is a primary characteristic of news feeds on social media platforms? → Câu hỏi yêu cầu: tìm đặc điểm chính của news feeds trong đoạn 1.
Step 2: Read the text
✏️ Read structure:
S - các nền tảng số này These digital sites V - cung cấp bảng tin rất cá nhân hoá provide users with highly personalized news feeds RC - Được chọn lọc theo tương tác trước đó carefully curated to align with their past interactions Liệt kê - những gì họ đã thích, theo dõi và bình luậnsuch as what they have liked, followed, commented on, etc
📌 Main idea: news feeds trên mạng xã hội = được cá nhân hoá cao --> được điều chỉnh theo hành vi/tương tác trước đó của từng người dùng
Step 3: Compare options ✅ A. They are carefully tailored to individuals based on their previous online behavior. Khớp trực tiếp với “highly personalized” và “align with their past interactions”.
❌ B. They are carefully curated to systematically sideline the user's past interactions. → Sai vì đoạn văn nói news feeds được xây dựng dựa trên tương tác trước đó, không phải gạt bỏ chúng, sideline ≠ align.
❌ C. They aim to create a shared reality by reinforcing existing beliefs through diverse perspectives. → Sai vì đoạn văn nói điều ngược lại: chúng tạo echo chambers, thiếu đa dạng (limited variety) ≠ “diverse perspectives”
❌ D. They are designed to challenge users' existing beliefs and broaden their perspectives. → Sai vì đoạn văn nói news feeds thường củng cố niềm tin sẵn có, không phải thách thức hay mở rộng góc nhìn.
