Unit 7 Fashion

Part A

Listen to the conversation and make a summary of its main points.

Complete the following summary.

Script:

M: Excuse me. Do you have a T-shirt of this kind in a larger size?

W: What size do you want?

M: Medium.

W: Pardon?

M: I want a medium.

W: Here’s a medium in black. Do you like it?

M: Well, I like the picture on the front, but I’d prefer a white one with a slogan on the front. W: Here’s a white one in medium. And it’s 100% cotton.

M: Perfect. I’ll take it.

Part B

Fashion — Image or Reality?

Script:

Why do people spend so much money on fashion? Do they want to create an image or make sure they are not old-fashioned? Do people really judge each other by the clothes they wear? The billion-dollar fashion industry certainly tries to convince consumers that such judgements are made.

Unfortunately, they may be right. A recent study using elementary school students was interesting. They said that people wearing Calvin Klein designer jeans were more handsome and successful than those wearing Wranglers. Levi’s-wearers were seen as sporty, fashionable and fun!

Obviously we learn early that “Clothes make the man.” In other words, clothes show age, outlook, status and income. However, clothes that look great on professional models may look terrible on the average buyer.

Although beautiful clothes don’t help physically, they are important for social and

psychological effects. Expensive clothes can make the wearer feel like part of the high status group that sets taste and style. So you are buying an image of success. You may really live a routine life, waking up in the morning feeling dull and ordinary. But when you dress in these expensive clothes, your mood brightens. You feel good, ready to face another day with energy. Sound crazy? People who love clothes say it’s true.

Of course, a lot of people don’t like high fashion. They’d rather spend their money on

something practical. Which would you prefer — the image or the reality?

Exercise 1

Listen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions.

1. What is the main reason why people spend much money on fashion according to the speaker? a. They want to look good and healthy. c. They want to look like models.

d. They want to be more successful.

2. What does “Clothes make the man” mean in the passage?

a. People should wear fashionable clothes.

b. People judge each other by the clothes they wear.

c. d. Clothes can tell one’s personality.

3. What’s the speaker’s attitude towards fashion?

a. Positive. b. Negative.

c. Doubtful.

Exercise 2

Listen to the passage again and complete the following sentences with key words from the listening text. Levi’！ 5. Of course, a lot of people don’t like . They’d rather spend their money on —

Part C

A Compound Dictation

Listen to the passage three times and supply the missing information. short period of time. She has no formal design training because her father wouldn’t let on more “practical subjects”. After earning a Vogue for 17 years and as a design director of Ralph Lauren for two years. In 1990 she opened her first boutique on Madison Avenue in New others. She became a household name in 1994 when she designed stylish costumes for figure skater Nancy Kerrigan to wear in the Winter Olympics.

was crushed when she did not win at the National Figure Skating Championships in 1968. 9) “I wanted to make an artistic contribution to the .”

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