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. While...

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.

        While the meaning of “fast fashion” is fairly straightforward–the description is in the name, after all - understanding why it has become so ubiquitous requires a deeper look at the clothing industry as a whole. On the most basic level, fast fashion is quickly produced trends sold at low price points. (I) But producing and consuming clothing at the current rate we are is taking a massive toll on both the planet and the people who work to make it.

        The impact of fast fashion on the environment is a layered issue. A March 2023 report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said that fashion was responsible for up to 10% of annual global carbon emissions. (II) On the production side, overusing oil-based textiles like polyester means that brands rely on fossil fuels to create new products. In order to produce lots of goods, brands want to use the cheapest materials. What is not sustainable, then, is the system of buying for short-term use and then tossing. And, when it’s of poor quality, it starts peeling off microfibers. Polyester doesn’t biodegrade and sits in landfills and water systems, shedding microfibers over time. These microfibers end up in the water systems. (III)

        Fast fashion is not affordable simply because the materials are cheap. Historically, workers around the globe (80% of whom are women) are paid through a piece rate system, resulting in wages that are extremely low. Within this system, workers make a very small amount per item, totaling wages as little as $200 a week for full-time work. Pay isn’t the only problem, though. The fashion supply chain is complex, with systems that include subcontracting to work factories around the globe. This often leads to a lack of oversight on safety for workers, many of whom have reported gender-based violence, harassment, and building safety issues. In 2013, a Bangladesh garment factory, Rana Plaza, collapsed, killing 1,134 people. As a result, the Bangladesh Accord was created to prevent this from happening again in the future.

        (IV) But, this is not about stopping everything at once and becoming this "perfect consumer". It is about understanding the mechanism at play and trying to be more mindful next time we engage with fashion.

(Adapted from Vogue – What is fast fashion?)

Question 12. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to paragraph 1?

        A. The rate at which we change and produce clothes negatively affects the environment

        B. Fast fashion clothing is sold at a high cost.

        C. The time to produce fast fashion products is longer than that of other clothing.

        D. The reason why it is called fast fashion is still unclear.

Question 13. The word 'ubiquitous' in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ____________.

        A. scarce                B. controversial                C. specialized                        D. widespread

Question 14. The word 'it' in paragraph 1 refers to ____________.

        A. rate                        B. fast fashion                        C. planet                        D. clothing

Question 15. Which of the following best summarises paragraph 2?

A. The environmental problems of fast fashion are largely caused by consumers frequently buying and discarding low-quality clothing.

B. The environmental toll of fast fashion comes from fossil fuel reliance and non-biodegradable materials like polyester.

C. The environmental impact of fast fashion is mainly reflected in the high level of carbon emissions generated by the global fashion industry.

D. The environmental effects of fast fashion are closely related to the large volume of clothing produced and the widespread use of expensive materials.

Question 16. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a problem associated with the fashion supply chain?

        A. Lack of oversight on worker safety.                B. Excessive working hours.

        C. Building safety issues.                                D. Gender-based violence.

Question 17. What can be inferred from the passage about the payment of workers in the fast fashion industry?

        A. It is calculated based on the quality of clothing instead of quantity.

        B. Workers are paid for how many pieces of clothing they make.

        C. Workers received low but relatively stable income.

        D. The piece rate system contributes to the high payments of workers.

Question 18. The mention of 'Rana Plaza' in paragraph 3 serves primarily to ____________.

        A. provide a specific example of worker bravery.

        B. provide an example of a fast fashion company in this country.

        C. exemplify the severe consequences of a lack of oversight in the fashion supply chain.

        D. argue for the practicality Bangladesh Accord about garment factory operations.

Question 19. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 3?

A. The Bangladesh Accord aimed to predict future factory collapses rather than prevent them.

B. The Bangladesh Accord was established as a consequence of the Rana Plaza collapse to ensure similar disasters would not occur.

C. Future prevention of factory collapses relied solely on the principles outlined in the Bangladesh Accord.

D. The creation of the Bangladesh Accord was a follow-up to the Rana Plaza tragedy to mitigate its impact.

Question 20. Where in the passage would the following sentence best fit?

"These dual effects on environment and human rights highlight the responsibility of consumers."

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

Question 21. Which of the following best summarises the main idea of the passage?

A. Fast fashion, known for its inexpensive and rapidly changing styles, has become widespread due to consumer demand and the fashion industry's ability to produce clothing quickly and efficiently.

B. Fast fashion, supported by complex global supply chains, enables brands to produce large quantities of clothing quickly without making any impact on the environment and human rights.

C. Fast fashion, characterized by cheap, rapid production, inflicts significant environmental damage and perpetuates severe human rights abuses, necessitating a more mindful consumer approach.

D. Fast fashion, driven by the demand for trendy and affordable clothing, has diversified the global fashion industry, which requires consumers to consider carefully before choosing suitable clothes.