Read the passage carefully before attempting Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill in the blanks dropdown) below.
Walk into almost any high street clothing store today, and you will find a T-shirt for less than the price of a coffee and a sandwich. This is the world of fast fashion — an industry built on producing vast quantities of cheap, trend-driven clothing at extraordinary speed. Over the past two decades, the average person in wealthy countries has been buying roughly 60% more clothing than they did in the year 2000, yet keeping each garment for half as long. The consequences of this shift, both environmental and human, have become increasingly difficult to ignore.
The environmental damage caused by the fashion industry is staggering. It is estimated that the sector is responsible for around 10% of global carbon emissions annually — more than international aviation and shipping combined. Producing a single pair of jeans requires approximately 7,500 litres of water, which is roughly the amount an average person drinks over seven years. Textile dyeing, moreover, is considered one of the largest contributors to water pollution worldwide, with toxic chemicals frequently being discharged into rivers in countries where environmental regulations are poorly enforced. Despite these well-documented facts, consumption has continued to rise rather than decline.
Defenders of the fast fashion model argue that it has democratised style, allowing people on lower incomes to participate in trends that were previously available only to the wealthy. There is some truth in this. Affordable clothing has given millions of people access to a wider wardrobe than any previous generation. Nevertheless, critics point out that this apparent benefit comes at a serious cost to the workers who manufacture these garments. In countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Ethiopia, factory workers — the majority of whom are women — often work in unsafe conditions for wages that are barely enough to survive on. If consumers could see the full supply chain behind a £5 blouse, many argue, they would be far less willing to buy it.
A growing movement is pushing back against this throwaway culture. Second-hand clothing platforms have expanded dramatically, with apps like Vinted and Depop attracting millions of users who prefer to swap or resell garments rather than discard them. Some designers are experimenting with circular fashion models, in which old clothes are collected, broken down, and turned into new fibres. Governments, too, are beginning to act. The European Union has proposed legislation that would require clothing companies to make their products more durable and easier to recycle.
Whether these efforts will be enough to transform an industry worth over three trillion dollars remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the real price of a cheap T-shirt is far higher than the label suggests — and that somebody, somewhere, is always paying it.
Exercise 1
Read the passage about the problem of fast fashion carefully, then answer each question by choosing the single correct option based on the information in the text.
Example: According to the text, why is fast fashion considered a problem for the environment?
Answer: Because it produces large amounts of waste and pollution through the rapid manufacture and disposal of cheap clothing.
The Problem of Fast Fashion: Cheap Clothes at a High Cost
Before you read: Think about these questions to help you focus on the topic. How many items of clothing do you buy each year, and what happens to the ones you no longer wear? Do you think it is possible for the fashion industry to become more environmentally friendly, or is that simply unrealistic?
Reading Passage: The Hidden Price Tag
Walk into almost any high street clothing store today, and you will find a T-shirt for less than the price of a coffee and a sandwich. This is the world of fast fashion — an industry built on producing vast quantities of cheap, trend-driven clothing at extraordinary speed. Over the past two decades, the average person in wealthy countries has been buying roughly 60% more clothing than they did in the year 2000, yet keeping each garment for half as long. The consequences of this shift, both environmental and human, have become increasingly difficult to ignore.
The environmental damage caused by the fashion industry is staggering. It is estimated that the sector is responsible for around 10% of global carbon emissions annually — more than international aviation and shipping combined. Producing a single pair of jeans requires approximately 7,500 litres of water, which is roughly the amount an average person drinks over seven years. Textile dyeing, moreover, is considered one of the largest contributors to water pollution worldwide, with toxic chemicals frequently being discharged into rivers in countries where environmental regulations are poorly enforced. Despite these well-documented facts, consumption has continued to rise rather than decline.
Defenders of the fast fashion model argue that it has democratised style, allowing people on lower incomes to participate in trends that were previously available only to the wealthy. There is some truth in this. Affordable clothing has given millions of people access to a wider wardrobe than any previous generation. Nevertheless, critics point out that this apparent benefit comes at a serious cost to the workers who manufacture these garments. In countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Ethiopia, factory workers — the majority of whom are women — often work in unsafe conditions for wages that are barely enough to survive on. If consumers could see the full supply chain behind a £5 blouse, many argue, they would be far less willing to buy it.
A growing movement is pushing back against this throwaway culture. Second-hand clothing platforms have expanded dramatically, with apps like Vinted and Depop attracting millions of users who prefer to swap or resell garments rather than discard them. Some designers are experimenting with circular fashion models, in which old clothes are collected, broken down, and turned into new fibres. Governments, too, are beginning to act. The European Union has proposed legislation that would require clothing companies to make their products more durable and easier to recycle.
Whether these efforts will be enough to transform an industry worth over three trillion dollars remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the real price of a cheap T-shirt is far higher than the label suggests — and that somebody, somewhere, is always paying it.
Key Vocabulary in Context
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| staggering | adjective | Extremely surprising or shocking, usually because of a large size or amount | The staggering amount of food wasted every year is a serious global problem. |
| garment | noun | A single item of clothing | Each garment sold in the store had been handmade by local artisans. |
| discharged | verb (past participle) | Released or sent out into the environment, often referring to waste or liquid | Industrial waste was being discharged directly into the nearby river. |
| democratised | verb (past participle) | Made something available to all people, not just a privileged few | The internet has democratised access to information in remarkable ways. |
| supply chain | noun phrase | The whole system of people, organisations, and processes involved in making and delivering a product | The scandal exposed serious problems throughout the company's supply chain. |
| circular fashion | noun phrase | A model of clothing production designed to reduce waste by reusing and recycling materials continuously | Several leading brands have invested heavily in circular fashion to reduce their environmental footprint. |
| durable | adjective | Strong and able to last for a long time without breaking or wearing out | Consumers are increasingly choosing durable products over cheap, disposable ones. |
| throwaway culture | noun phrase | A way of living in which people regularly discard things instead of repairing or reusing them | The rise of throwaway culture has led to an enormous increase in landfill waste. |
Reading Strategies & Comprehension Tips
Skimming for the Main Idea
Read the first sentence of each paragraph quickly to get a general map of the text. You will notice the passage moves from defining the problem, to environmental impact, to contrasting perspectives, and finally to possible solutions. Recognising this structure before reading in detail will help you locate answers more efficiently.
Scanning for Specific Data
This passage contains several statistics (percentages, quantities, and time references). When a question asks for a specific figure — for example, how much water is needed to produce jeans, or the percentage of global emissions — scan only for numbers rather than re-reading the whole text.
Identifying the Writer's Attitude
Pay close attention to evaluative language. Phrases such as "increasingly difficult to ignore" and "there is some truth in this" signal the writer's measured, critical stance. The writer is not simply reporting facts — they are guiding the reader towards a conclusion. Noticing these signals will help you answer attitude and opinion questions more accurately.
Understanding Implied Meaning
The final sentence — "somebody, somewhere, is always paying it" — does not state its meaning directly. Ask yourself: who is "paying" and in what sense? This kind of implied meaning is common in B2-level texts and requires you to think beyond the literal words on the page.
Common Reading Pitfalls & Traps
Trap 1: Confusing the Writer's View with Reported Views
In the third paragraph, the writer presents arguments made by defenders of fast fashion before introducing the opposing view. Be careful not to assume that any statement in this paragraph represents the writer's own opinion. The phrase "defenders of the fast fashion model argue" is a clear signal that what follows is a reported position, not the writer's personal view.
Trap 2: Misreading Concession Language
The sentence "There is some truth in this" might lead you to think the writer agrees with the defenders of fast fashion. However, the word "nevertheless" immediately signals a contrast. At B2 level, recognising concession structures (admitting a partial point before opposing it) is essential for correct comprehension.
Trap 3: Overgeneralising Statistics
The passage states that the fashion industry produces roughly 10% of global carbon emissions. Some readers incorrectly link this figure to a specific country or company mentioned in the text. Always check which subject a statistic refers to before using it in an answer.
Trap 4: Missing Hedging Language
Phrases like "it is estimated" and "remains to be seen" indicate uncertainty or approximation. Questions may test whether you can distinguish between what is presented as fact and what is presented as an estimate or possibility.
Quick Summary
This passage is a balanced magazine-style article exploring the fast fashion industry from multiple angles. It examines the environmental cost of cheap clothing, the human impact on factory workers in developing countries, and the counterargument that affordable fashion has made style more accessible. It also outlines emerging solutions, including second-hand platforms, circular design models, and new legislation. The tone is informed and critical, moving from problem to nuance to cautious optimism.
Now read the passage carefully and complete Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill-in-the-gap dropdown) below.
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