Name: Mark:
UNIT 3 Test Level 1
WRITTEN COMPREHENSION
1 Read the news article. Five sentences have been removed from it. From sentences A-F, choose the
one that fits each gap. There is one extra sentence. (5 x 2 = 10 points)
A As people often only wear their clothes once, many of these items are practically new.
B Environmental experts are indeed very concerned about fast fashion.
C Think of computer manufacturers, for instance, who collect used computers.
D They all contain very valuable materials.
E In addition to the environmental cost, fast fashion also has a human cost.
F Teenagers in particular can make a big difference in doing this.
The True Cost of Fast Fashion
I The holiday season is approaching and you are looking for a special outfit, which you know you might not
wear again. So why buy something you’ll only wear once? Thanks to online shopping and discount chain
stores, it’s not so difficult to find a bargain. And because of that, many people don’t feel guilty wearing their
clothes only once.
II There is a name for this: ‘fast fashion’. Fast fashion is an industry where people buy single-use clothes
cheaply. Other single-use products, such as plastic cups, are frowned upon in today’s culture of
environmental awareness, so why do people think it’s acceptable to discard clothes in the same way?
. 1 Unknown to many consumers, fast fashion has a serious environmental impact. Clothing
production worldwide has seen an enormous boom in recent years. However, the vast majority of clothing
is thrown away within a year. Unfortunately, many of these items are not recycled but end up in landfills.
III 2 The top you bought for only £5 still had to be made by someone in a factory. When you consider
all the shipping costs, in addition to the shop’s profits, how much of that £5 goes to the factory worker?
IV Fortunately, there are ways of dealing with fast fashion. For example, big fashion brands could take more
responsibility by recycling the clothes that they produce. Customers could be persuaded to return their
unwanted clothing. This frequently happens in other industries. 3
V Unfortunately, recycling of clothing won’t prevent the increase in clothes production. For that, the
behaviour of the consumer needs to change. Shopping at second-hand shops is one way to fight fast
fashion. 4 You won’t find the shabby coats and damaged trousers which used to be the norm there.
VI Perhaps you don’t fancy wearing someone else’s old clothes. In that case, there is another way to cut
down on the amount of clothes you buy. By buying and wearing clothes that never go out of style, like
jeans and a black T-shirt, there’s no need to update your clothes so often. 5 By making simple
changes, perhaps we can all combat fast fashion.
2 Choose the correct answer. (3 x 2 = 6 points)
1 ‘Fast fashion’ refers to buying … . 3 The writer suggests … .
a clothes quickly a wearing clothes that are always in style
b lots of clothes at once b borrowing clothes from other people
c one item of clothing at a time c only wearing jeans and T-shirts
d clothes that won’t be worn more than once d wearing less fashionable clothes
2 According to the writer, second-hand shops sell
clothes that are … .
a new
b not fashionable
c in good condition
d dirty
1
Name: Mark:
3 Find words or expressions in the text that mean: (7 x 2 = 14 points)
1 something that is a great price (paragraph I) ..............................
2 thought to be bad or inappropriate (paragraph II) ..............................
3 throw away (paragraph II) ..............................
4 a sudden and significant increase (paragraph II) ..............................
5 encouraged (paragraph IV) ..............................
6 want to have or do (paragraph VI) ..............................
7 to make something more modern or relevant (paragraph VI) ..............................
