Câu hỏi
Ngữ liệu chung
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?)
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?)
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.