# Sustainable Fashion Research: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 21, Test 3, Listening Part 3

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 21, Test 3, Listening Part 3. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 21 | B, D | most people use these terms interchangeably |
| 22 | B, D | They're often deliberately vague |
| 23 | D, E | I wasn't convinced by the argument that wool production is sustainable because it doesn't use many chemicals |
| 24 | D, E | I couldn't find any evidence for the claim about sheep farming being better for the environment than cattle farming |
| 25 | G | Over 99 percent of dissolving agents used in the manufacturing process are used again. |
| 26 | B | I'm not sure how sustainable this really is |
| 27 | F | it was only organic bamboo that's truly sustainable |
| 28 | A | takes up half as much energy as conventional fabrics |
| 29 | H | it's the only fabric that's fundamentally sustainable |
| 30 | D | clothes made from hemp protect the wearer from the sun |

## Why these answers are right

**21. B, D.** One correct point is B. Maddy says most people use ethical and sustainable interchangeably, even though the difference is quite distinct. Using two terms interchangeably means treating them as if they mean the same thing, which is what option B states.

**22. B, D.** The second point is D. Maddy says the way companies use these terms does not help, as they are often deliberately vague and give too little information about how products are made. Vague, uninformative use of a term is imprecise use.

**23. D, E.** Option D is one claim they reject. Ryan was not convinced by the argument that wool needs few chemicals, pointing to the fungicides and insecticides used in sheep farming. Not convinced by an argument is disagreement, so D is correct.

The why and the trap for questions 24 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/sustainable-fashion-research/answers).

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Part three.

**Announcer:** You will hear part of a discussion between two textile students about their research into sustainable fashion.

**Announcer:** First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 24.

**Announcer:** Now listen carefully, and answer questions 21 to 24.

**Maddy:** Shall we go through our research for our sustainable fashion project?

**Ryan:** Good idea.

**Ryan:** I think I've done enough reading now.

**Maddy:** Me too.

**Maddy:** I've learned such a lot about what sustainability actually means.

**Ryan:** hmm, Same for me with ethical fashion.

**Ryan:** I didn't really appreciate the difference between that and sustainable fashion before doing this research.

**Maddy:** I know, most people use these terms interchangeably, but in fact, the difference is quite distinct when you think about it.

**Maddy:** Sustainable relates to the environment, and ethical relates more to the way workers or animals are treated.

**Ryan:** I totally understand why people get confused though.

**Ryan:** There are so many other terms used, like eco-friendly, which is actually quite meaningless.

**Maddy:** And the way companies use these terms when describing their products doesn't help.

**Maddy:** They're often deliberately vague, I think, and don't provide enough information about how their products are made.

**Ryan:** Yes.

**Maddy:** It was interesting to read about the debates surrounding wool production.

**Maddy:** And how ethical and sustainable that is.

**Maddy:** It's generally considered to be sustainable because it's a natural product.

**Ryan:** And it also lasts a long time and can be recycled.

**Ryan:** All very positive, but I wasn't convinced by the argument that wool production is sustainable because it doesn't use many chemicals.

**Ryan:** What about all the fungicides and insecticides used in sheep farming?

**Maddy:** Good point, and I couldn't find any evidence for the claim about sheep farming being better for the environment than cattle farming.

**Ryan:** No, they're both really bad.

**Ryan:** I read different reports about how unethical it is to even shear sheep.

**Ryan:** Some people say it's cruel, but as long as the sheep are kept in good condition.

**Ryan:** I can't see anything wrong with it.

**Maddy:** Me neither.

**Announcer:** Before you hear the rest of the discussion, you have some time to look at questions 25 to 30.

**Announcer:** Now listen, and answer questions 25 to 30.

**Ryan:** Shall we talk about some of the semi-synthetic new fabrics now?

**Maddy:** OK, let's do that.

**Ryan:** Let's start with Lyocell.

**Ryan:** I've been reading about that.

**Maddy:** Yeah, that's the one produced from the pulp of eucalyptus trees, isn't it?

**Ryan:** Yes, and what happens with that is really impressive.

**Ryan:** Over 99 percent of dissolving agents used in the manufacturing process are used again.

**Maddy:** Yeah.

**Maddy:** Now, there are a few semi-synthetic fabrics that I'd never heard of, like Cupro, for example.

**Ryan:** Made from byproducts of the cotton industry to create a kind of vegan silk.

**Ryan:** But I'm not sure how sustainable this really is, as there are so many reports of pollution caused by the manufacturing process.

**Ryan:** Bamboo is one fabric we're all familiar with, but I didn't know that it was only organic bamboo that's truly sustainable.

**Ryan:** Me neither.

**Maddy:** Apparently, the manufacturing process for a significant proportion of bamboo Is chemically quite intensive, which obviously can be quite damaging.

**Ryan:** EcoVero is an example of a semi-synthetic fabric which is becoming really popular.

**Maddy:** Probably because manufacturing causes 50 percent fewer emissions, and takes up half as much energy as conventional fabrics.

**Maddy:** That saves production costs as well as being better for the environment.

**Ryan:** That's true.

**Ryan:** I think demand for cork will continue to grow.

**Ryan:** It works really well in vegan shoes and bags.

**Maddy:** hmm, and it's the only fabric that's fundamentally sustainable.

**Maddy:** The cork trees it comes from are renewable, and the product itself is both recyclable and biodegradable, which is unique.

**Ryan:** And the harvesting process is actually good for the trees.

**Ryan:** There are no downsides to using this source at all.

**Maddy:** Hemp is another really good sustainable fabric from a natural source.

**Ryan:** Yes, did you know that clothes made from hemp protect the wearer from the sun?

**Ryan:** And it's also antibacterial.

**Maddy:** No, I didn't.

**Maddy:** But I did read that it's quite hard to grow, so perhaps that's why it's not as common as you think.

**Ryan:** I'm sure that'll change.

**Ryan:** Then, there are recite.

**Announcer:** That is the end of part three.

**Announcer:** You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to part three.

[Practice Sustainable Fashion Research](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/sustainable-fashion-research)