Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following que...

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

The fashion industry is one of the largest polluters in the world, contributing significantly to environmental degradation. Fast fashion, characterised by cheap, rapidly produced clothing, encourages excessive consumption and waste. Millions of garments end up in landfills each year, where synthetic fabrics like polyester take centuries to decompose. Additionally, textile production consumes vast amounts of water—cotton farming alone requires enough water to meet the global population’s yearly needs. Toxic dyes and chemicals used in manufacturing further contaminate rivers, harming aquatic life and nearby communities. The industry’s carbon footprint is equally alarming, accounting for nearly 10% of global emissions—more than international flights and maritime shipping combined.

Beyond production, the environmental impact extends to transportation and consumer habits. [I] Clothes often travel thousands of miles before reaching stores, increasing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Consumers, influenced by ever-changing trends, discard clothing after only a few years, perpetuating a cycle of waste. [II] Many are unaware that washing synthetic fabrics releases microplastics into waterways, which eventually enter the food chain. While some brands promote recycling programmes, less than 1% of discarded clothing is actually repurposed into new garments. The lack of sustainable alternatives and transparency in supply chains makes it difficult for shoppers to make eco-friendly choices.

However, change is possible. A growing movement towards slow fashion encourages buying fewer, practices, such as using organic cotton, recycled fabrics, and water-saving techniques. [III] Governments and organisations must enforce stricter regulations on pollution and waste while supporting innovation in sustainable textiles. The future of fashion depends on balancing style with environmental responsibility - because looking good should never come at the cost of the planet. [IV]

Question 31: Fast fashion is mentioned in paragraph 1 as ____________.

A. a business model that relies on synthetic fabrics

B. a solution to meet increasing consumer demand for variety

C. a way to make fashion more affordable for everyone

D. a key factor in driving overconsumption and waste

Question 32: According to paragraph 1, what puts both aquatic species and local populations at risk?

A. The greenhouse gases emitted by the fashion industry

B. The high amount of water used in cotton farming

C. The release of toxic substances during textile production

D. The global rise in demand for synthetic clothing

Question 33: Which of the following best summarises paragraph 1?

A. Fast fashion causes vast pollution, consuming water and energy, though it produces little waste.

B. Fashion’s environmental impact is massive, involving pollution, high resource use, and waste.

C. The fashion industry pollutes regionally, from textile production’s water use to landfill waste.

D. Cheap, rapidly produced clothing leads to significant economic instability while putting marine life at risk.

Question 34: The word “perpetuating” in paragraph 2 mostly means ____________.

A. enforcing                B. imposing                        C. reviving                        D. fuelling

Question 35: The word “which” in paragraph 2 refers to ____________.

A. waterways                B. consumers                        C. synthetic fabrics                D. microplastics

Question 36: According to the passage, the fashion industry as a whole can be seen as ____________.

A. a feedback loop                                        B. a vicious cycle

C. an emerging lucrative industry                        D. the biggest polluter

Question 37: Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 2?

A. Shoppers face challenges in making environmentally responsible decisions due to limited environmentally friendly choices and opaque supply chains.

B. So limited are sustainable options and so unclear are supply chains that even the most eco- conscious consumers struggle to make informed choices.

C. Not until transparency improves and greener products are offered can consumers make responsible decisions without any issue.

D. Were eco-conscious options more affordable and sourcing clearer, shoppers would face fewer barriers in making environmentally sound purchases.

Question 38: Where in the passage does the following sentence best fit?

"Consumers can also reduce their impact by repairing, upcycling, or donating old clothes."

A. [III]                        B. [IV]                                C. [I]                                D. [II]

Question 39: Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. Unsustainable manufacturing practices in the fashion industry are mainly to blame for the environmental degradation.

B. With a view to preventing further damage caused by fast fashion, consumers have to sacrifice fashion for sustainability.

C. Raising consumers' awareness about the negative environmental impact of the fashion industry should be prioritised.

D. The current efforts are not yet enough to fully counteract the fashion industry's environmental harm.

Question 40: Which of the following best summarises the passage?

A. Due to fast fashion, landfills grow and microplastics spread, though shoppers can help by recycling and choosing better fabrics, while governments should enact stricter measures.

B. The fashion industry causes pollution through fast fashion and water use, but recycling and brand efforts offer promising solutions.

C. Fast fashion harms the environment through waste, water use, and carbon emissions, but awareness campaigns and stricter laws have successfully improved the situation.

D. The fashion industry damages the planet through production, transport, and waste, though slow fashion and stronger regulations may offer a more sustainable future.