7/31/2019 Reading Paper 1

1/5

Read the following article and then answer questions 120. Write your answers in the

spaces provided. For multiple-choice questions, choose the best answer and blacken

ONE circle only. (20 marks)

Wearing thin

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1 A growing number of countries are taking steps to regulate the fashion industrys

use of super-thin models in fashion shows. The governments of Spain, Italy, Brazil and

India have developed laws aimed at keeping ultra-thin models out of shows. This is a

positive step, and other countries appear likely to follow suit. The move follows the

announcement that Italian fashion designer Donatella Versaces daughter is suffering

from anorexia nervosa a dangerous eating disorder and news of the eating

disorder-related deaths of two Latin American fashion models.

2 For many years, people have criticised the fashion industry for promoting the idea

that women must be thin to be beautiful. However, their complaints have fallen on deaf

ears. Fashion designers continue to use ultra-thin models to display their clothes becausethey think skinny models gaunt frames make clothes look better. Unfortunately, this

means that many clothes are designed to suit unnaturally thin body shapes, causing

many normal-sized women to feel that they are too fat to be fashionable. Critics believe

that this effect on womens self esteem can lead to increased risk of eating disorders and

unhealthy weight loss.

3 To make things worse, the message that thin equals beautiful is not limited to

fashion shows. It is being constantly reinforced by the media. Every day, women are

exposed to thousands of advertisements featuring skinny fashion models and messages

about the importance of losing weight so as to appear more attractive. In addition, many

clothing shops and boutiques only display the smallest sizes, and do not stock larger

sizes. Whats more, the sizes that they do stock are likely to run small, meaning that

even a normal-sized woman may have difficulty fitting into a large-sized garment.

4 The small sizing of fashionable clothes is especially evident in Hong Kong. The

Hong Kong Eating Disorders Association (HKEDA) carried out a survey of 600 Hong

Kong women aged sixteen and over. Nearly half of the women surveyed said they had

trouble finding clothes that fit (even though most of the women were of average size).

Furthermore, around two thirds of those women reported feeling embarrassed or

ashamed when clothes did not fit them, and more than eighty per cent said they had tried

to lose weight just so they could find clothes that would fit. Twenty-eight of the womensaid that the unavailability of larger clothing sizes had caused them to consider

committing suicide.

5 The belief that thin is beautiful is obviously very damaging to womens mental and

emotional health. It is also harmful to their physical health as it encourages unhealthy

weight loss and increases the risk of developing a potentially fatal eating disorder like

anorexia nervosa. The HKEDA is working hard to help Hong Kong women avoid eating

disorders, but its task is made much harder by the irresponsible actions of the local

fashion and slimming industries.

6 Unfortunately, due to the nature of Hong Kongs legislative system, it is unlikelythat the Government will be able to pass any laws to restrict the use of super-thin models

Pearson Education Asia Limited 2008 PHOTOCOPIABLE

7/31/2019 Reading Paper 1

2/5

40

45

50

in Hong Kong. However, the HKEDA hopes that the members of the local fashion

industry will follow the international trend away from super-skinny models, and begin to

act more responsibly. Specifically, the association is encouraging wider availability of

larger-sized clothes and the use of medium-sized instead of extra small-sized clothing in

shop displays.

7 It is not easy to battle ____ the negative preoccupation with weight. However,

Patricia Wong, a former anorexic, is determined to help women reject the ideal that the

fashion industry wants everybody to believe in. In her book,Big Beautiful Women,

Wong seeks to show women in Hong Kong that keeping fit and having a balanced diet

are preferable to forcing themselves to meet the impossible standards of thin models in

magazines and slimming-industry advertisements. She also encourages women to shift

their focus away from body shape to self-confidence and inner strength. Wong says if

people feel comfortable with their body shapes, self-confidence will follow and with it

will come beauty.

Pearson Education Asia Limited 2008 PHOTOCOPIABLE

7/31/2019 Reading Paper 1

3/5

1. According to paragraph 1, very thin models ......

A. usually die from anorexia nervosa.

B. are very common in Spain, Italy, Brazil and India.

C. are taking positive steps against eating disorders.D. are banned from fashion shows in some countries.

A B C D

2. According to paragraph 1, Donatella Versace ......

A. has a daughter who is a fashion model.

B. is a fashion designer from Italy.

C. is suffering from a dangerous eating disorder.

D. wants to keep ultra-thin models out of fashion shows.

A B C D

3. According to paragraph 2, people who complain about the fashion industry think

that

A. fashion designers are very self-conscious about their

body shapes.

B. the use of very thin models has serious negative

consequences.

C. most women are too fat to wear fashionable outfits.

D. fashion models must be thin.

A B C D

4. In line 11, they refers to ......

A. normal-sized women.B. super-skinny models.

C. fashion designers.

D. critics.

A B C D

5. In paragraph 2, which phrase means been ignored?

6. According to paragraph 3, many clothing shops

A. display advertisements featuring skinny models.

B. do not stock fashionable clothes in larger sizes.

C. employ very skinny fashion models.

D. stock a wide range of clothing in many different sizes.

A B C D

7. In line 21, what does they refer to?

8. In paragraph 3, which word means item of clothing?

Pearson Education Asia Limited 2008 PHOTOCOPIABLE

7/31/2019 Reading Paper 1

4/5

Read paragraph 4 and decide whether the statements below are True, False or the

information isNot Given. Blacken ONEcircle only for each statement. (5 marks)

True False Not Given

9. The HKEDA surveyed 600 Hong Kong teenagers.

10. Many of the surveyed women experienced difficulty

finding clothes to fit them.

11. Women said they were made to feel embarrassed by

sales staff in fashion boutiques.

12. It is common for Hong Kong women to try dieting in

order to fit into clothes.

13. Some women thought about killing themselves because

they could not fit into fashionable clothes.

14. Find an adjective in paragraph 5 that means causing death?

15. According to paragraph 5, which of the following is NOT caused by the belief that

thin is beautiful?

A. increased risk of developing of an eating disorder

B. mental and emotional damage

C. unhealthy weight gain

D. weight loss

A B C D

16. According to paragraph 6, the HKEDA hopes that

A. Hong Kongs fashion industry will follow the

example set by Spain, Italy, Brazil and India.

B. more shops selling plus-sized clothing will open in

Hong Kong.C. the Government will create laws that force the

slimming industry to act more responsibly.

D. the Government will create laws to regulate the use of

very skinny models in Hong Kong.

A B C D

Pearson Education Asia Limited 2008 PHOTOCOPIABLE

7/31/2019 Reading Paper 1

5/5

17. Look at the word nature in line 38. The word has different meanings. Read the

dictionary entry for nature below and decide which meaning corresponds to the

meaning in line 38.

nature(Noun)

A. Everything in the physical world that is not controlled by humans, such aswild plants and animals, earth and rocks, and the weather.

B.Someones character.

C. The qualities or features that something has.

D. A particular kind of thing.

A B C D

18. In line 45, there is ONE word missing. What is it?

19. According to paragraph 7, which of the following statements are TRUE?

1. Patricia Wong used to suffer an eating disorder.

2. Big Beautiful Women tries to convince women that a good character is not as

important as appearance.

3. The fashion industry wants you to believe that eating a healthy diet is

preferable to being skinny.

4. Patricia Wong believes that if you feel confident about yourself, you will

look beautiful.

5. Patricia Wong is a writer.

A. 1, 2 and 4

B. 1, 3 and 4

C. 1, 4 and 5

D. 2, 4 and 5

A B C D

20. Which of the following alternative titles would be the most suitable for the article?

A. Clothing stores receive serious complaints

B. Eating disorders on the rise in Hong KongC. Fashion world in shock over model deaths

D. Fighting the skinny myth

A B C D

Pearson Education Asia Limited 2008 PHOTOCOPIABLE