1 . The Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week held in Ethiopia in November attracted over 5,000 visitors. Though the number is not extremely high, the continent is becoming a new global fashion leader, according to a UNESCO report.
Although most African fashion businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises (企业), the report identified a growing number of high-fashion brands concentrated in key markets on the continent. What makes African fashion unique is its authenticity (真实性), according to Kenyan designer Aulga Nato. “If you check most fashion houses elsewhere in the world, they have done so much that they have less creativity in what they are putting out now. Africa, on the other hand, is rich in cloth. We are huge cotton growers, and we are rich in every single way. That’s our fashion,” she explained.
Africa is a major producer of raw materials (原材料) for the fashion industry, with 37 out of 54 African countries producing cotton and textile exports from the continent averaging $15.5 billion (about 110.2 billion yuan) a year. The continent also has a huge animal population from which it sources animal skins. However, there’s a huge shortage of chemicals to make the materials needed to treat the leather (皮革) from animals used in the clothing industry. And the continent still faces challenges related to the movement of people.
Despite these challenges, African designers are giving their best to their work and leading the world in sustainable fashion and practices. African governments have also taken measures to help designers in achieving their aims. It seems that their efforts have paid off. After checking clothing exhibits at a fashion event, Ghanaian exhibitor Solomon Dodoo noticed that every single cloth is unique and there are no two pieces of cloth that look alike.
1. What makes Africa have an unusual fashion?| A．Its increasing tourism. | B．Its huge cotton production. |
| C．A report from the UNESCO. | D．The authenticity of its fashion. |
| A．A great need for animal skins. |
| B．Lack of chemicals for treating leather. |
| C．The development of cotton production. |
| D．Shortage of creativity among designers. |
| A．They are supported by African governments. |
| B．They abandon unique and sustainable fashion. |
| C．They lead the world in the clothing industry. |
| D．They check clothing exhibits at a fashion event. |
| A．African Fashion is Popular in the World |
| B．African Designers Face Difficulties in Fashion |
| C．African Countries Have Materials for the Fashion Industry |
| D．Africa’s Advantages Promote Its Fashion Industry’s Success |
2 . For Western designers, China and its rich culture have long been an inspiration for Western creative.
“It’s no secret that China has always been a source (来源) of inspiration for designers,” says Amanda Hill, chief creative officer at A+E Networks, a global media company and home to some of the biggest fashion (时尚) shows.
Earlier this year, the China Through A Looking Glass exhibition in New York exhibited 140 pieces of China-inspired fashionable clothing alongside Chinese works of art, with the aim of exploring the influence of Chinese aesthetics (美学) on Western fashion and how China has fueled the fashionable imagination for centuries. The exhibition had record attendance, showing that there is huge interest in Chinese influences.
“China is impossible to overlook,” says Hill. “Chinese models are the faces of beauty and fashion campaigns that sell dreams to women all over the world, which means Chinese women are not just consumers of fashion — they are central to its movement.” Of course, not only are today’s top Western designers being influenced by China—some of the best designers of contemporary fashion are themselves Chinese. “Vera Wang, Alexander Wang, Jason Wu are taking on Galliano, Albaz, Marc Jacobs—and beating them hands down in design and sales,” adds Hill.
For Hill, it is impossible not to talk about China as the leading player when discussing fashion. “The most famous designers are Chinese, so are the models, and so are the consumers,” she says. “China is no longer just another market; in many senses it has become the market. If you talk about fashion today, you are talking about China—its influences, its direction, its breathtaking clothes, and how young designers and models are finally acknowledging that in many ways.”
What do the underlined words “taking on” in paragraph 4 mean?| A．learning from |
| B．looking down on |
| C．working with |
| D．competing against |
3 . For Western designers, China and its rich culture have long been an inspiration for Western creative.
“It’s no secret that China has always been a source (来源) of inspiration for designers,” says Amanda Hill, chief creative officer at A+E Networks, a global media company and home to some of the biggest fashion (时尚) shows.
Earlier this year, the China Through A Looking Glass exhibition in New York exhibited 140 pieces of China-inspired fashionable clothing alongside Chinese works of art, with the aim of exploring the influence of Chinese aesthetics (美学) on Western fashion and how China has fueled the fashionable imagination for centuries. The exhibition had record attendance, showing that there is huge interest in Chinese influences.
“China is impossible to overlook,” says Hill. “Chinese models are the faces of beauty and fashion campaigns that sell dreams to women all over the world, which means Chinese women are not just consumers of fashion — they are central to its movement.” Of course, not only are today’s top Western designers being influenced by China — some of the best designers of contemporary fashion are themselves Chinese. “Vera Wang, Alexander Wang, Jason Wu are taking on Galliano, Albaz, Marc Jacobs — and beating them hands down in design and sales,” adds Hill.
For Hill, it is impossible not to talk about China as the leading player when discussing fashion. “The most famous designers are Chinese, so are the models, and so are the consumers,” she says. “China is no longer just another market; in many senses it has become the market. If you talk about fashion today, you are talking about China — its influences, its direction, its breathtaking clothes, and how young designers and models are finally acknowledging that in many ways.”
1. What can we learn about the exhibition in New York?| A．It promoted the sales of artworks. |
| B．It attracted a large number of visitors. |
| C．It showed ancient Chinese clothes. |
| D．It aimed to introduce Chinese models. |
| A．They are setting the fashion. |
| B．They start many fashion campaigns. |
| C．They admire super models. |
| D．They do business all over the world. |
1. What does the man praise?
| A．The woman’s dress. | B．The woman’s bag. | C．The woman’s shoes. |
| A．By watching fashion shows. |
| B．By following the fashion trend. |
| C．By getting help from a designer. |
| A．At the supermarket. | B．At the tailor’s. | C．On the Internet. |
Recently, you may have noticed some new trends in the fashion industry, from “dopamine (多巴胺) dressing” to “tomato girl”. Now, it is the perfect time
The term “Maillard” originally refers to the Maillard
The style has also become
6 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is usually the first requirement for being a model?| A．Being thin. | B．Being lovely. | C．Being unique. |
| A．Hire plus-size models. |
| B．Lower their standards. |
| C．Dismiss skinny models. |
| A．They destroy girls’ ideal life. |
| B．They create body shame in girls. |
| C．They increase boys’ individuality. |
| A．To act in films and TV shows. |
| B．To sell products as saleswomen. |
| C．To appear in many magazines. |
7 . When it’s time for a wardrobe makeover (形象改造), who’s the best person to give you some advice? You’ll probably turn to your friend for some feedback and fashion tips — they know you best and can offer an honest opinion about which colours don’t match and which outfit makes you look pretty.
However for someone like me, who’s not a follower of fashion and has a more practical dress sense, I don’t need help-it’s just jeans or... jeans! But for people who care about their appearance, they can now get some trustworthy advice with the aid of technology.
Of course, using social media is a good way when you are at a loss about fashion, but this—sometimes brings in too much conflicting advice and opinions that are sometimes straightforward! That’s why one woman has developed an app to help women crowdsource advice from stylists in a safe, non-violent communication environment.
Sophia Matveeva’s Style Counsel app allows users to post a photo and receive “yes” or “no” answers from other users, or more detailed advice from fashion stylists and bloggers very quickly. According to Mathew Wall, BBC Technology of Business editor, this is a growing business; with several new apps such as AskAnna, Mallzee and StyleDotMe all offering young women tips on suitable and fashionable clothes to wear.
There’s also a website called EyeFitU which finds clothes to fit your figure. Its chief executive, Isabelle Ohnemus, says there are no international standards in clothes sizes but she explains, “We can set up your size profile in a few seconds with 80% accuracy just knowing your gender, height, weight and age”. This information is used to find clothes that suit your actual shape. And the internet giant, Amazon, has also developed a camera that links to a “style check” function that compares photos and gives its opinion of which outfit is better, based on fit, colour, style and current fashion trends.
But does technology make fashion advice a bit impersonal? Sophia Matveeva admits that women in particular are social creatures and that “AI will never stop us talking to each other. . . girls will always want the approval of the cool girl at school.” But as for me: an app with someone I don’t know could be the place to start with some careful-in-speech fashion tips!
1. What is the problem of asking for fashion advice on social media?| A．No feedback. | B．Dishonest opinions. |
| C．Too many choices. | D．Contradictory advice. |
| A．Cool boys at school. | B．Young women fashion-goers. |
| C．Fashion stylists and bloggers. | D．People with a practical dress sense. |
| A．By developing a super camera. | B．By assessing current fashion trends. |
| C．By analyzing users’ basic information. | D．By setting agreed standards for clothes sizes. |
| A．Fashion Anxiety | B．New Fashion Trends |
| C．Wardrobe Decoration. | D．Tech-driven Fashion Advice |
8 . When it’s time for a wardrobe makeover (形象改造), who’s the best person to give you some advice? You’ll probably turn to your friend for some feedback and fashion tips — they know you best and can offer an honest opinion about which colours don’t match and which outfit makes you look pretty.
However for someone like me, who’s not a follower of fashion and has a more practical dress sense, I don’t need help-it’s just jeans or... jeans! But for people who care about their appearance, they can now get some trustworthy advice with the aid of technology.
Of course, using social media is a good way when you are at a loss about fashion, but this—sometimes brings in too much conflicting advice and opinions that are sometimes straightforward! That’s why one woman has developed an app to help women crowdsource advice from stylists in a safe, non-violent communication environment.
Sophia Matveeva’s Style Counsel app allows users to post a photo and receive “yes” or “no” answers from other users, or more detailed advice from fashion stylists and bloggers very quickly. According to Mathew Wall, BBC Technology of Business editor, this is a growing business; with several new apps such as AskAnna, Mallzee and StyleDotMe all offering young women tips on suitable and fashionable clothes to wear.
There’s also a website called EyeFitU which finds clothes to fit your figure. Its chief executive, Isabelle Ohnemus, says there are no international standards in clothes sizes but she explains, “We can set up your size profile in a few seconds with 80% accuracy just knowing your gender, height, weight and age”. This information is used to find clothes that suit your actual shape. And the internet giant, Amazon, has also developed a camera that links to a “style check” function that compares photos and gives its opinion of which outfit is better, based on fit, colour, style and current fashion trends.
But does technology make fashion advice a bit impersonal? Sophia Matveeva admits that women in particular are social creatures and that “AI will never stop us talking to each other. . . girls will always want the approval of the cool girl at school.” But as for me: an app with someone I don’t know could be the place to start with some careful-in-speech fashion tips!
1. What is the problem of asking for fashion advice on social media?| A．No feedback. | B．Dishonest opinions. |
| C．Too many choices. | D．Contradictory advice. |
| A．Cool boys at school. | B．Young women fashion-goers. |
| C．Fashion stylists and bloggers. | D．People with a practical dress sense. |
| A．By developing a super camera. | B．By assessing current fashion trends. |
| C．By analyzing users’ basic information. | D．By setting agreed standards for clothes sizes. |
| A．Fashion Anxiety | B．New Fashion Trends |
| C．Wardrobe Decoration. | D．Tech-driven Fashion Advice |
1. Where is the magazine?
| A．On the sofa. | B．On the desk. | C．On the kitchen table. |
| A．Wait until she finishes the magazine. |
| B．Buy a copy of the magazine. |
| C．Read the magazine online. |
| A．£3. | B．£4. | C．£5. |
| A．She is addicted to Cosmo. |
| B．She is a big fan of Martin Scorsese. |
| C．She likes the film The Departed very much. |
10 . “Few articles change owners more frequently than clothes. They travel downwards from grade to grade in the social scale with remarkable regularity,” wrote the journalist Adolphe Smith in 1877 as he traced a coat’s journey in the last century: cleaned, repaired and resold repeatedly; cut down into a smaller item; eventually recycled into new fabric. But with the improvement in people’s living standards, that model is mind-boggling in the era of fast fashion. The average British customer buys four items a month. And it is reported that 350,000 tonnes of used but still wearable clothes go to landfills in the UK each year.
Yet the gradual revival of the second-hand trade has gathered pace in the past few years. At fashion website Asos, sales of vintage clothes (古董衫) have risen by 92%. Clothing was once worn out of necessity, and now it is simply a way of life. Busy families sell used items on eBay, teenagers trade on Depop and some fashion people offer designer labels on Vestiaire Collective. Strikingly, it has become big enough business that mainstream retailers (零售商) want a slice of the action.
For some buyers and sellers, the switch to the second-hand is born of financial difficulties. Only a few have become worried about the impact of their shopping habit on the planet. But the shift is only a partial solution. Some people worry that some mainstream brands may “greenwash” — using second-hand goods to improve their image, rather than engaging more seriously with sustainability.
However, the biggest concern may be that people keep buying because they know they can resell goods, still chasing the pleasure of the next purchase but with an eased conscience (愧疚). Boohoo, a powerful fast fashion company, has seen sales and profits rise, despite concerns about environmental problems in its supply chain that led to an investigation last year.
A new Netflix series, Worn Stories, documents the emotional meanings that clothes can have: Each old item is full of memories. Actually, a handbag from a grandmother and a scarf passed on by a father are both valuable for us. A love of style is not a bad or an unimportant thing. But a committed relationship is better than a quick flash. Can we learn to appreciate our own old clothes as well as others’?
1. What does the word “mind-boggling” underlined in paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Unbelievable. | B．Popular. | C．Reasonable. | D．Influential. |
| A．old clothes are more popular than new pieces |
| B．the online second-hand markets are booming |
| C．the fashion world begins to favor vintage clothes |
| D．many clothing brands are innovative in their new products |
| A．It makes people feel free to pursue fast fashion. |
| B．It makes people more cautious about their budgets. |
| C．It encourages people to choose eco-friendly clothes. |
| D．It pushes people to be more engaged with sustainability. |
| A．Old items have lost favor with the public. |
| B．Old items are worthy of being long cherished. |
| C．Older generations attach great importance to old items. |
| D．Older generations care about the quality of their clothes. |
