The IELTS Reading section tests your ability to comprehend complex texts and answer questions accurately. One topic that has been gaining attention in recent years is the impact of fast fashion on the environment. This subject is not only relevant to current global issues but also appears frequently in IELTS exams due to its significance. Based on trends and the increasing awareness of environmental concerns, it’s likely that this theme will continue to be featured in future IELTS tests.
IELTS Reading Practice Test: The Environmental Cost of Fast Fashion
Reading Passage
The fashion industry has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent decades, with the rise of “fast fashion” revolutionizing the way we produce, consume, and discard clothing. Fast fashion refers to inexpensive, trendy clothing that samples ideas from the catwalk or celebrity culture and turns them into garments in high street stores at breakneck speed. While this model has made fashionable clothes more accessible to the masses, it has come at a significant environmental cost.
One of the most pressing issues associated with fast fashion is its contribution to water pollution. The textile industry is responsible for up to 20% of global industrial water pollution, with fabric dyeing and treatment being particularly problematic. Many of the chemicals used in dyeing processes are toxic and can harm both human health and aquatic ecosystems. In countries where environmental regulations are lax, these pollutants often find their way into rivers and oceans, devastating local wildlife and contaminating water sources.
Moreover, the fast fashion model encourages overconsumption and waste. The low prices and constant influx of new styles motivate consumers to buy more clothes than they need and discard them quickly. On average, people are buying 60% more garments compared to 15 years ago, but keeping them for only half as long. This throwaway culture has led to an enormous increase in textile waste. In the United States alone, an estimated 11.3 million tons of textile waste end up in landfills each year, where synthetic fibers can take hundreds of years to decompose.
The carbon footprint of the fashion industry is another significant concern. From the cultivation of raw materials like cotton to the manufacturing and transportation of finished products, each stage of the supply chain contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. The industry is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions, more than international flights and maritime shipping combined. The energy-intensive production of synthetic fibers, which are widely used in fast fashion due to their low cost, is particularly problematic from a climate perspective.
Furthermore, the fast fashion model has implications for resource depletion. The demand for cheap, disposable clothing has led to increased production of synthetic fibers like polyester, which are derived from fossil fuels. At the same time, the cultivation of natural fibers like cotton requires vast amounts of water and pesticides. For instance, it can take up to 2,700 liters of water to produce a single cotton t-shirt – equivalent to what an average person drinks in 2.5 years.
In response to these environmental challenges, there is a growing movement towards more sustainable fashion practices. Some companies are exploring innovative materials and production methods that reduce environmental impact. For example, recycled polyester made from plastic bottles is becoming more common, and some brands are experimenting with plant-based alternatives to leather. Additionally, there’s an increasing emphasis on circular fashion models that prioritize longevity, reuse, and recycling.
Consumers also have a role to play in mitigating the environmental impact of fashion. By choosing quality over quantity, shopping secondhand, and properly caring for and repairing clothes, individuals can reduce their fashion footprint. Some experts also advocate for a “slow fashion” approach, which emphasizes timeless style over fleeting trends and encourages consumers to build wardrobes of well-made, versatile pieces that last for years.
As awareness of these issues grows, there is hope for a shift towards a more sustainable fashion industry. However, addressing the environmental impact of fast fashion will require concerted effort from manufacturers, retailers, consumers, and policymakers alike. The challenge lies in balancing the desire for affordable, fashionable clothing with the urgent need to protect our planet’s resources and ecosystems for future generations.
Questions
True/False/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage? Write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
- Fast fashion has made trendy clothing more affordable for many people.
- The textile industry is responsible for approximately 20% of global industrial water pollution.
- People are buying fewer clothes now compared to 15 years ago.
- The fashion industry contributes more to global carbon emissions than the aviation and shipping industries combined.
- All major fashion brands are now using recycled materials in their production.
Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
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According to the passage, which of the following is a major environmental issue caused by fast fashion?
A) Increased air pollution in cities
B) Rising sea levels
C) Overconsumption and textile waste
D) Deforestation -
The textile waste in U.S. landfills:
A) Decomposes quickly
B) Is estimated at 11.3 million tons annually
C) Is mostly organic material
D) Is decreasing each year -
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a way consumers can reduce their fashion footprint?
A) Buying second-hand clothes
B) Choosing quality over quantity
C) Properly caring for clothes
D) Buying clothes only from eco-friendly brands
Matching Information
Match the following statements (9-13) with the correct information from the passage (A-G).
Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet.
- The amount of water needed to produce a single cotton t-shirt
- The percentage of global carbon emissions attributed to the fashion industry
- The increase in clothing purchases compared to 15 years ago
- The estimated amount of textile waste in U.S. landfills annually
- The percentage of global industrial water pollution caused by the textile industry
A) 60%
B) 10%
C) 20%
D) 2,700 liters
E) 11.3 million tons
F) 50%
G) 15%
Answer Key and Explanations
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TRUE
Explanation: The passage states, “While this model has made fashionable clothes more accessible to the masses…” -
TRUE
Explanation: The passage mentions, “The textile industry is responsible for up to 20% of global industrial water pollution…” -
FALSE
Explanation: The passage states, “On average, people are buying 60% more garments compared to 15 years ago…” -
TRUE
Explanation: The passage says, “The industry is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions, more than international flights and maritime shipping combined.” -
NOT GIVEN
Explanation: While the passage mentions some companies using recycled materials, it doesn’t state that all major brands are doing so. -
C
Explanation: The passage discusses overconsumption and waste as major issues, stating, “The low prices and constant influx of new styles motivate consumers to buy more clothes than they need and discard them quickly.” -
B
Explanation: The passage mentions, “In the United States alone, an estimated 11.3 million tons of textile waste end up in landfills each year.” -
D
Explanation: While the passage mentions buying second-hand, choosing quality, and proper care, it doesn’t specifically mention buying only from eco-friendly brands as a strategy. -
D
Explanation: The passage states, “it can take up to 2,700 liters of water to produce a single cotton t-shirt.” -
B
Explanation: The passage mentions, “The industry is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions.” -
A
Explanation: The passage says, “On average, people are buying 60% more garments compared to 15 years ago.” -
E
Explanation: The passage states, “In the United States alone, an estimated 11.3 million tons of textile waste end up in landfills each year.” -
C
Explanation: The passage mentions, “The textile industry is responsible for up to 20% of global industrial water pollution.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Overlooking key phrases: Pay attention to qualifiers like “up to,” “about,” or “estimated.” These can be crucial for determining the accuracy of statements.
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Confusing similar numbers: In this passage, several percentages and figures are mentioned. Be careful not to mix them up.
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Making assumptions: Stick to the information provided in the text. Don’t let your prior knowledge influence your answers if it’s not explicitly stated in the passage.
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Misinterpreting Not Given: Remember, if the information isn’t clearly stated or implied in the passage, the answer is Not Given, even if you think it might be true in real life.
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Rushing through the text: Take your time to read carefully, especially for detailed questions like matching information.
Vocabulary Focus
- Fast fashion: inexpensive, trendy clothing produced and consumed quickly
- Catwalk: a narrow platform along which models walk to display clothes in a fashion show
- Breakneck speed: extremely fast pace
- Textile: relating to fabric and clothing manufacture
- Lax: not sufficiently strict or severe
- Influx: an arrival of large numbers of people or things
- Carbon footprint: the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of activities of a particular individual, organization, or community
- Synthetic fibers: artificially produced fibers made from chemical substances
- Resource depletion: the consumption of a resource faster than it can be replenished
- Circular fashion: a regenerative system where garments are circulated for as long as their maximum value is retained, and then returned safely to the biosphere when no longer of use
Grammar Spotlight
Complex sentences with multiple clauses are common in academic texts like this one. For example:
“While this model has made fashionable clothes more accessible to the masses, it has come at a significant environmental cost.”
This sentence uses a concessive clause (introduced by “while”) to present a contrast between two ideas. Understanding these structures can help you grasp the relationships between different pieces of information in the text.
Tips for IELTS Reading Success
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Practice active reading: Engage with the text by highlighting key information and making brief notes.
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Improve your time management: Allocate your time wisely between reading the passage and answering questions.
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Enhance your vocabulary: Regular reading on various topics can help expand your vocabulary, making it easier to understand complex texts.
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Develop your skimming and scanning skills: These techniques can help you quickly locate specific information in the text.
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Pay attention to transition words and phrases: These can give clues about the relationship between ideas in the text.
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Don’t panic if you encounter unfamiliar words: Try to understand their meaning from the context.
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Read the questions carefully: Make sure you understand exactly what each question is asking before you start looking for the answer.
By focusing on these strategies and regularly practicing with passages on diverse topics like the environmental impact of fast fashion, you can improve your performance in the IELTS Reading section. Remember, success in IELTS Reading is not just about English proficiency, but also about developing effective test-taking skills.
For more practice on environmental topics in IELTS, you might find our articles on the impact of the fashion industry on the environment and how to reduce the environmental impact of fast fashion helpful. These resources can provide additional context and vocabulary related to this important topic.