The concept of 'sustainable development' has evolved significantly since its introduction in the 1987 Brundtland Report. Initially framed as a balance between economic growth and environmental protection, it has since expanded to encompass social equity and intergenerational justice. Critics argue, however, that the term has become so broad as to be practically meaningless, often co-opted by corporations to justify unsustainable practices under the guise of 'green' initiatives. Proponents counter that its flexibility allows for adaptation across diverse cultural and economic contexts, fostering local solutions to global challenges. Recent scholarship emphasizes the need for measurable indicators to move beyond rhetoric, suggesting that without concrete metrics, sustainable development risks remaining an aspirational ideal rather than a practical framework for policy.
❓ Theo đoạn văn, một chỉ trích lớn đối với thuật ngữ 'phát triển bền vững' là gì?
A. A. Nó tập trung quá nhiều vào tăng trưởng kinh tế mà đánh đổi bằng môi trường.
B. B. Nó đã trở nên mơ hồ đến mức có thể được dùng để biện minh cho các hoạt động có hại.
C. C. Nó chỉ áp dụng trong bối cảnh văn hóa phương Tây.
D. D. Nó thiếu sự ủng hộ từ các học giả hàn lâm.
✅ 正确答案
B. It has become so vague that it can be used to justify harmful activities.
IELTS Reading Tips
Skim the questions first, underline keywords, then locate in the passage
Watch for paraphrasing; correct answers are often reworded
Be wary of absolute statements (all, always, never) — usually wrong
Pay attention to content after transition words (however, but, yet)
Manage time: about 20 minutes per passage; skip difficult questions first