3 . The impact of fast fashion on the environment is significant. Recently Zara, one of the largest fast-fashion retailers (零售商) in the world, put forth a concept that only sustainable fabrics are used in clothing production. But how can Zara ever be sustainable? They produce around 450 million garments (衣服) a year and release 500 new designs a week, about 20,000 a year. Zara’s fast-fashion model has been so successful it has inspired an entire industry to follow them.

Clothing production doubled from 2012 to 2022. The average consumer bought 60 percent more clothing in 2022 than in 2012, but kept each garment half as long. And less than one percent of all clothing produced globally is recycled.

I spend a lot of time reading the corporate social responsibility reports of large brands and interviewing micro-to-small sized enterprises to see how they approach sustainability. The largest significant difference between them is culture.

Small brands focus on creating a culture of sustainability by using strategies like producing made-to-order, so they are not making more than what is sold. Most small brands are opting to work under, an “anti-fashion calendar”. They choose not to follow the intense seasonal calendar that fashion functions under. They do this because waste is one of their biggest concerns. They also design clothing to be of the highest quality, ensuring durability and longevity, so you may keep it longer.

Fast fashion is a “grow or die” business, and the fast-fashion growth model used by all large companies is predicated on limitless growth. Large global corporate retailers are not seeking to change their fundamental business model or create cultures of sustainability. That would require re-working their entire business structure and ultimately hurt their bottom line.

I would start to believe Zara and other large fashion brands had good intentions to fight climate change if they started to look at how to move away from their continuous offerings of weekly new products. They need to introduce alternative sustainable business model practices. One small step could be to offer repair or tailoring services. Tailoring creates clothes that fit perfectly, subsequently increasing their emotional value, so that we love them and keep them longer.

1. What does the author intend to show with the numbers about Zara in paragraph 1?

A．Zara is not eco-friendly.	B．Zara is popular with consumers.
C．Zara is a large fast-fashion retailer.	D．Zara is a success in fashion industry.

2. Which of the following shows a cultural feature of small brands?

A．Designing clothing as needed.	B．Designing clothing seasonably.
C．Producing clothing as needed.	D．Producing clothing seasonably.

3. What does the underlined part “bottom line” in paragraph 5 relate to?

A．The fast-fashion retailers.	B．The profits from fast fashion.
C．The culture of sustainability.	D．The relationship with consumers.

4. What does the last paragraph focus on?

A．How to make consumers love their clothes.

B．How to make consumers buy less clothing.

C．How large fashion brands offer weekly new products.

D．How large fashion brands improve their services.

4 . 阅读下面短文, 在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Enthusiasts of Chinese culture in Malta can now learn all about hanfu, the traditional style of clothing     1     (wear) by the Han people, thanks to a new cultural platform called the “Hanfu Costume Society” which     2     (launch) at the island’s China Cultural Center on Friday.

“The initiative is expected       3     (enhance) cultural exchange between China and Malta and show the     4     (rich) of traditional culture,” Yuan Yuan, director of the China Cultural Center, said at the launch event.

Hanfu is known for its unique design, exquisite (精致的) craftsmanship and cultural significance, with more and more young Chinese choosing to wear it. Yu Cheng,     5     has lived in Malta for nearly five years, decides to share her exquisite collection of hanfu whenever the China Cultural Center hosts hanfu-themed activities, allowing     6     (participant) to travel through time by     7     (try) on some of her 40-plus traditional clothing.

“This is my opportunity to participate in     8     spread of Chinese culture, and to allow more people to understand and fall in love     9     it through the charm of traditional Chinese clothing,” says Yu, who is responsible for managing the hanfu society. “    10     (gradual), more and more people realize that traditional Chinese clothing is rich and beautiful. Many people are attracted to it, and I feel very proud.”

7 . Can you imagine what you wear can reveal a story about you?

Recent research shows that you can tell a lot about someone’s personality, politics, status, age and income just from looking at a photo of their shoes or clothes. Did you ever notice that when former US president Barack Obama addressed a crowd of working class Americans, he would speak with no jacket and his sleeves rolled up? That silently and instantly communicated to the audience that he too was a hard worker.

When you’re dressing or grooming, consider what it says about you and whether it’s in line with the message you want to communicate. There’s no right or wrong. It’s all about context (情景). A tie can make you look reliable and rooted in tradition. This might be important at an investment firm, where clients want to know that you’re serious about managing their capital, a formal party like meeting the elders or even a wedding ceremony. But it can also come off as stuffy (刻板的) and resistant to change, which may be inappropriate for a newly-built tech company.

Of course, dressing smart is also important for your confidence and sense of self-empowerment. But your style does more than just send messages, to your mind or to others. New research shows it actually impacts how you think. Professional dress, one study found, increases abstract thinking and gives people a broader perspective. So that tie might actually be switching on your creativity button. “The formality (正式) of clothing might not only influence the way others perceive a person, and how people perceive themselves, but also could influence decision making in important ways through its influence on processing style,” the study says. Professional clothes create social distance. When we are more socially distant, we tend to think in more distant, abstract terms.

Taking intentional command of how you dress and present is a good step in empowering yourself, accomplishing your goals, and living a more lucid life at the helm of your decisions. So pay attention!

1. What may we know by looking at a photo of a person’s clothes?

A．Whether he has been married.	B．Whether he is outgoing or shy.
C．Whether he likes playing volleyball.	D．Whether he is working at an international company.

2. What does the underlined word “addressed” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．delivered a speech

B．wrote a letter to

C．dealt with

D．conveyed support to

3. You’d better not wear a tie when you ______.

A．want to take part in a wedding party

B．want to look dependable to your clients

C．want to apply for a job in a new technology company

D．want to meet your fiancée’s (未婚妻的) parents for the first time

4. What is Paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．Smart dress can build up your confidence.

B．Your dressing style will affect how you think.

C．What you wear will send messages to you and others.

D．Professional dress will make people more socially distant.