B2 • Reading Comprehension

The Hidden Cost of Fast Fashion

Read the passage, then answer the questions.

Name: Date:

Fast fashion has made trendy clothing inexpensive and widely available. Retailers can move designs from the drawing board to stores in a matter of weeks, encouraging customers to buy new styles frequently. Yet the low price on a label does not necessarily reflect the full cost of producing a garment.

Clothing production uses raw materials, energy and water. Some fibres require substantial resources to grow or manufacture, while dyeing and finishing fabrics can create polluted wastewater if it is not properly treated. When garments are worn only a few times before being discarded, the environmental cost per use becomes even higher.

There are social concerns as well. Complex international supply chains can make it difficult for consumers to know who made their clothes and under what conditions. Although many companies have introduced supplier standards, monitoring thousands of factories and subcontractors remains challenging.

Consumers do not have to stop enjoying clothes to reduce their impact. Buying fewer items, choosing durable garments, repairing damaged clothing and purchasing second-hand pieces can extend the useful life of textiles. Companies and governments also have a role through better design, transparent supply chains and effective environmental and labour standards.

Questions

1. What has fast fashion made widely available?

2. Why does the author say the label price may not show the full cost?

3. Name two resources used in clothing production.

4. How can dyeing fabric cause environmental harm?

5. Why does wearing a garment only a few times increase its environmental cost per use?

6. What makes social conditions difficult for consumers to assess?

7. What challenge remains even when companies have supplier standards?

8. Give two consumer actions suggested.

9. What does “transparent” mean in relation to supply chains?

10. Does the author place responsibility only on consumers? Explain.

The Hidden Cost of Fast Fashion — Answer Key

1. Inexpensive, trendy clothing.

2. Production can carry environmental and social costs not reflected in the price.

3. Any two: raw materials, energy, water.

4. It can create polluted wastewater if not properly treated.

5. The resources and impacts are spread over very few uses.

6. Complex international supply chains.

7. Monitoring many factories and subcontractors.

8. Any two: buy fewer, choose durable items, repair, buy second-hand.

9. Open/clear enough for people to see how and where goods are produced.

10. No. Companies and governments also have roles in design, transparency and standards.

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