Fashion

Fashion There are 51 questions in this paper.

PRACTICE PAPER 8A — READING Time allowed: 1 hour
Text 1 Read the reviews of clothes shops below and then answer questions 1–13. (20 marks)

Hip Shop, Causeway Bay

Mainly caters for girls aged 12-18. Particularly good for accessories like earrings, necklaces,
bracelets and bags. Items tend to be pink and shiny or glittery. Prices are low, but then the
quality is not so good either. A cheap place to pick up some fun things for a party, but don’t
be surprised if they break after a week or two.

Op Art, Tsim Sha Tsui East

New and unusual styles created by Hong Kong art and textile students. Lots of interesting
one-off and experimental pieces. You may be lucky and find a dress designed by a future star!
But you need to be brave and confident – you will certainly be noticed wearing the clothes
from here. Styles tend to suit university students and unconventional women in their twenties.

Joan, Admiralty
This is the place to pick up sophisticated women’s clothes from all the top fashion designers.
The quality is superb, but everything at Joan is on the expensive side. If you need to ask the
price, you shouldn’t be shopping here! Occasionally you can pick up a bargain from ‘last
season’s collection’ in the Joan Sale. Staff are sophisticated and well-informed about the goods
they sell.

Reptile, branches all over Hong Kong

Famous for brightly-coloured sports and casual wear for men and women of all ages. Reptile
clothes are generally quite cheap, and are genuinely good value as the quality is exceptionally
high for the price. Reptile is where you go if you are looking for basic clothes (e.g. polo shirts,
chino trousers,) that will not shrink, fall apart or change colour when you wash them. A bonus
is that the staff are young and cheerful.

A4004, a chain of stores with branches throughout Hong Kong

A4004 specialises in office clothes for men aged 20-60 – suits, ties, jackets, shirts, etc. The
chain also sells smart casual clothes such as pullovers, cotton trousers and short-sleeved shirts.
A4004 has a reputation for good quality clothes at a reasonable price. However, most designs
lack individuality or sparkle. Suitable for hard-working middle managers who want to dress
like their boss.

Piccolini, Pacific Place, Festival Walk, The Landmark

Smart Italian clothes for successful men and women in their 30s, 40s and 50s. Expensive,
extremely well- made suits and smart casual clothes in the best materials. The first shop opened
in Pacific Place last year and proved to be so popular that two more branches have opened in
the last six months. A further shop is planned for Ocean Terminal next year. As well as
clothes, Piccolini also sells top class Italian leather goods - like belts, shoes, bags and wallets.

X-S, Mong Kok

Specialist in men’s sports clothes from Australia and hip-hop styles imported from the USA.
A popular hang-out for teenagers who can watch videos of extreme sports, snow-boarding
and skate-boarding while they shop. Also a good place to listen to the latest music from the
States, played loud! Prices are quite high, as goods are specially imported, but this is one of
the few places in Hong Kong that is genuinely up-to-date with American street fashion.

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Answer the following questions using information from the reviews.

Write the letter(s) (A-G) next to each question. The first has been done for you as an example. (6 marks)

Where is the place to buy really original unusual women’s clothes? a. B

1. Which shop specialises in clothes imported from Italy? 1.

2. Where can you buy the latest in American fashion for men? 2.

3. Where can you buy a reasonably-priced suit for work? 3.

4. Where can women’s clothes by every famous designer be bought? 4.

5. Which shop is well-known for having friendly young assistants? 5.

6. Which two shops sell sports clothes? 6. and

Decide whether these statements are True, False or the information is Not Given. Put a tick in ONE box
only for each statement. (5 marks)

True False Not Given

7. Hip Shop is aimed at the teenage market.
8. A4004 sells high-fashion clothes for men.
9. Joan sells clothes for women of all ages.
10. Clothes in X-S are hard to find elsewhere in Hong Kong.
11. Op Art clothes are quite expensive.

12. Which reviews contain negative remarks about shops? Fill in the table below. One has been done for
you as an example. (6 marks)

Hip Shop quality is not so good

13. Your older sister’s 20th birthday is next week. She is good-looking and self-assured, and she likes to
dress differently to everyone else.

Based on the reviews, which shop would you visit to buy her a present? (3 marks)

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 Text 2 Read the following article and then answer questions 14 – 32. (19 marks)

Cathay stewardesses to wear old-style uniforms

Cathay Pacific passengers will get a free trip down memory lane this year as part of
the airline’s 60th anniversary celebrations. During flights in August and September, 2,000
stewardesses clad in uniforms from yesteryear will be posing for photos with passengers in
addition to selling duty-free goods and serving meals.

5 To ensure authenticity, the airline has already spent an entire year tracking down the
original hats, shoes and materials, and reprinting the patterns for fabric used in the stewardesses’
blouses.

“People who have been flying with us for 30 or 40 years will perhaps be reminded of
the first time they ever flew in a plane, or their first trip to the United Kingdom when they left
10 Hong Kong to study,” said Iris Lim, assistant manager in charge of uniforms.

“They will see the uniforms they remember best from their past. Stewardesses will be
encouraged to take photos with the passengers. We are the first airline to ever do this and we
have copyrighted the idea. Few other airlines have changed their uniforms so often and so
dramatically as Cathay.”

15 When the airline first took off in 1946, flight attendants were clad in navy blue
military-inspired outfits, complete with stylish hats. This trend lasted until 1962, when a red
suit and a white shirt with a mandarin collar and Chinese flower buttons were introduced.
Since then, the airline has incorporated red into every uniform.

“Passengers in the past liked the Eastern Seas uniform [1974 to 1983] the best, but we
20 stewardesses couldn’t stand it. Our stewardesses now all want to wear the old military
uniforms from the 1940s and 1950s,” Ms Lim said. “I was a flight attendant in the 1960s, and
my favourite is the miniskirt [1969 to 1974]. The Beatles were so popular then and skirts kept
getting shorter and shorter. We were all very fit and loved to show off our legs.”

To ensure passengers know who is in charge and to ‘signal modern-day continuity’,

25 only one out of every three flight attendants will model the vintage uniforms on the flights this
summer. The limited numbers have resulted in an internal contest between flight attendants.
“More than 3,000 flight attendants have written letters to management begging for the chance
to wear the nostalgic outfits. The juniors think it’s such a fresh and fun idea. Some of them
have asked for the opportunity to wear all the different uniforms,” said Ms Lim. “But we have
30 to see who looks best. Not everyone looks good in every outfit. Everyone’s posture and figure
is different.” The decision about who wears what will be announced in the New Year, after two
months of fittings.

(a) to fly during the summer months, the airline is planning to stage mini-fashion
shows at shopping centres across Hong Kong. (29) to enjoy a little bit of Hong Kong’s
35 flying history.

(30) have reflected changes in the role of the stewardess. (31) , stewardesses
had to speak two foreign languages, be registered nurses and look like supermodels. They were
in complete control of the passengers and acted rather like military staff; so the military-style
uniforms were appropriate. (32) , in the 1960s their image was much more glamorous, and
40 so mini-skirts were the obvious choice.

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14. According to paragraph 1, one of Cathay Pacific’s plans to celebrate its 60th anniversary is to ....
A. dress its stewardesses in old uniforms.
B. take photographs of passengers.
C. sell more duty-free goods.
D. take a trip down the lane. 14.

15. In paragraph 1, which word means ‘dressed’?

16. In line 5, ‘authenticity’ means ....

A. easiness.
B. value for money.
C. popularity.
D. realism. 16.

17. According to paragraph 2, it has been difficult to recreate the old uniforms exactly.
True False Not stated

18. In line 11, ‘They’ refers to

19. According to paragraph 4, Cathay is in a good position to do the stewardesses’ uniform plan
because

20. In line 16, ‘This trend’ refers to

21. According to paragraph 5, the colour red is significant to Cathay’s uniforms because

22. Look at the word ‘stand’ in line 20. Now look at the dictionary entry for ‘stand’ below. Which
meaning corresponds to the meaning in line 20? Write the correct number in the box provided.
stand v 1 to keep an upright position, e.g. She was too weak to stand. 2 (of a
vehicle) to remain in the same place, e.g. The car stood at the traffic lights
and then drove off. 3 (of a liquid, mixture) to remain still and not be
disturbed, e.g. Mix the ingredients and let it stand for twenty minutes.
4 (esp in negative questions and sentences and questions with can/could)
to endure sth/sb; to bear sth/sb, e.g. He can’t stand hot weather.
22.

23. According to paragraph 6, the current stewardesses ....

A. prefer to wear their own uniform.
B. want to wear the military uniform.
C. want to wear the mini-skirt uniform.
D. do not want to wear short dresses. 23.

24. According to paragraph 7, will wear the old style uniforms.

A. only three stewardesses working for the airline
B. only one stewardess on each flight
C. only three stewardesses on each flight
D. a third of all stewardesses 24.

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 25. In line 26, the ‘internal contest between flight attendants’ is a contest about

26. In paragraph 7, which TWO words are used as synonyms for ‘old-style’?
and .

27. Look at the word ‘fittings’ in line 32. Now look at the dictionary entry for ‘fitting’ below. Which
meaning corresponds to the meaning in line 32? Write the correct number in the box provided.
fitting adj 1 suitable for the occasion, the right thing to happen, e.g. It was
fitting that he received the prize for best student.
fitting n 2 (usu pl) a small part attached to furniture or equipment, e.g.
electrical fittings 3 (usu pl) items in a building, such as a washing machine
or shelves, that are fixed but can be removed when the owner moves, e.g.
The fittings are included in the price of the flat. 4 the process of having
clothes made or altered to fit one’s size, e.g. a fitting for a wedding dress
27.

28. According to paragraph 8, stewardesses will be modelling the uniforms in shopping centres during
the summer.
True False Not stated

Phrases are missing from the last two paragraphs. From the six phrases (A – F) below, choose the four
which best complete the blanks 29-32 in the text. Write the letters in the spaces provided. One has been
done for you as an example. (4 marks)

a) D

29.

30.

31.

32.

A. The different uniforms

B. Now things have changed
C. Sixty years ago
D. For those who have no plans
E. By contrast
F. So we will all be able

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 Text 3 Read the following account and then answer questions 33 – 51. (19 marks)

My favourite piece of clothing, shoes or accessories

My favourite piece of clothing is not a fantastic fashion item, like a perfectly fitting
pair of trousers or a smart pair of shoes. Don’t get me wrong – I’m as fond of fashion as the
next person – in fact, my friends sometimes call me a ‘fashion victim’. But, the truth is, my
favourite piece of clothing isn’t especially fashionable.

5 Nor was it hugely expensive. I mean, I don’t mind spending money on clothes
(when I’ve got any), but this particular item was a really cheap buy. From Tung Choi Street
market, in fact. Yes, I know, Tung Choi Street isn’t the coolest place to shop, but we all go
down there from time to time, don’t we, looking for bargains?

Well, that was what I was doing with a friend about two years ago. It was a hot
10 summer evening and the market was crowded. We got to one of the crossroads where
the stalls open out and there is a bit more space. We decided to rest a moment before
plunging back again into the crowded narrow path between the stalls.

As usual, there was a large stall on the corner selling T-shirts with different designs.
It’s the sort of place where you can ask them to iron on the design of your choice. I wasn’t
15 planning to buy anything, but I found myself looking at the T-shirts on the display. Many of
the designs were pretty awful – especially the tourist ones (‘HK1997’ or ‘Shop till you
drop’). Then, for no reason, one particular design caught my eye. It was simple – just a line
of six Japanese characters written across the chest, but I really liked it.

I’ve always liked the look of Japanese script – it’s such a strange combination of
20 elegant Chinese characters and squiggles drawn by a four-year-old at kindergarten. So
on impulse I decided to get a shirt with the writing on it.

I settled on a black cotton T-shirt with the writing in white. Naturally, I had no idea
what the writing meant. I asked the stall-holder, but of course she didn’t know either. My
main worry was that it might say something like: “The wearer of this T-shirt is a complete
25 idiot”, and all the Japanese tourists would laugh at me. But I decided to take the risk. I paid
my $35, or whatever it was, and back came the black T-shirt, still warm.

For the next two years that T-shirt was my constant companion. It was so soft and
comfortable that I wore it all the time. As soon as it was washed I would start wearing it
again. The poor thing never got a rest. In the winter I would wear it under a shirt, in summer
30 I would wear it on its own. I went swimming in it. I went on holiday with it. I would wear it in
bed instead of a pyjama top. It was my faithful friend.

After a year or so, and about a hundred and fifty washes later, my T-shirt was
looking a bit scruffy. The Japanese characters were peeling off. The black shirt had turned
to dark grey. My friends were starting to make rude remarks about it.

35 I’ve stopped wearing the shirt now, but I can’t throw it away. It’s still lying neatly
folded in the bottom of a drawer. Last week my mum asked me if I had any old shirts that
I didn’t wear any more. Her idea was to use them for cleaning shoes. I had to tell her a lie.
“No mum, sorry – I haven’t got anything like that.”

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 33. In lines 2 – 3, ‘I’m as fond of fashion as the next person’ means ....
A. I like fashion.
B. I hate fashion.
C. I’m not interested in fashion.
D. I’m a fashion victim. 33.

34. In line 6, what does ‘any’ refer to?

35. The writer’s attitude to Tung Choi Street market is that ....
1. it is cheap.
2. it is fashionable.
3. it is popular.
4. it is cool.
A. 1 and 2.
B. 1 and 3.
C. 1 and 4.
D. 2 and 3.
E. 2 and 4. 35.

36. In line 9, what does ‘that’ refer to?

37. According to paragraph 3, the two friends decided to stop at the crossroads because

38. According to paragraph 4, the writer went to the market because he wanted to buy a T-shirt.
True False Not stated

39. In lines 16 – 17, ‘HK 1997’ and ‘Shop till you drop’ are in quotation marks because

40. In line 17, ‘caught my eye’ means

41. In line 20, a ‘squiggle’ is

42. In line 21, ‘on impulse’ means ....

A. after careful consideration.
B. without thinking about it.
C. reluctantly.
D. as a result. 42.

43. In line 23, what was it that the stall-holder ‘didn’t know’?

44. According to paragraph 6, the writer was afraid that Japanese tourists might laugh at him because

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45. The T-shirt cost $35.
True False Not stated

46. The T-shirt is ‘still warm’ (line 26) because ....

A. it was a hot night.
B. it was next to a heater.
C. the writer had been wearing it.
D. it had just been ironed. 46.

47. The writer liked the T-shirt because

48. In line 29, what does ‘The poor thing’ refer to?

49. In line 33, ‘scruffy’ mean

50. According to paragraph 9, the writer’s mother was looking for old shirts because

51. The writer told a lie (line 37) because

END OF PAPER

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 PRACTICE PAPER 8B — WRITING

Complete both tasks. Time allowed: 11/2 hours

Task 1 (100 words)

Two weeks ago you bought a black pullover made by Trend from The Fashion Shop in Causeway Bay.
After one week you washed the pullover for the first time, carefully following the washing instructions
on the label. However, after the wash the pullover has lost its shape. The arms are now much too long. A
lot of the black colour has also washed out and the pullover has become dark grey. You have taken a
photograph of what it looks like now.

Write a letter to the manager of the Fashion Shop, complaining about the quality of the pullover, and
demanding a replacement or your money back. Write about 100 words.

Task 2

Write about 250 words on ONE of the following topics.

1. ‘My favourite piece of clothing, accessories or shoes’. You may want to write about:
z what the item is
z how you obtained it
z how and when you wear it
z why you like it

2. Is it important to wear fashionable clothes? Write an essay outlining the pros and cons, and giving your
own opinion.

END OF PAPER

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