Comprehension
The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question.
The Second Hand September campaign, led by Oxfam . . . seeks to encourage shopping at local organisations and charities as alternatives to fast fashion brands such as Primark and Boohoo in the name of saving our planet. As innocent as mindless scrolling through online shops may seem, such consumers are unintentionally—or perhaps even knowingly—contributing to an industry that uses more energy than aviation. . . .
Brits buy more garments than any other country in Europe, so it comes as no shock that many of those clothes end up in UK landfills each year: 300,000 tonnes of them, to be exact. This waste of clothing is destructive to our planet, releasing greenhouse gasses as clothes are burnt as well as bleeding toxins and dyes into the surrounding soil and water. As ecologist Chelsea Rochman bluntly put it, “The mismanagement of our waste has even come back to haunt us on our dinner plate.”
It’s not surprising, then, that people are scrambling for a solution, the most common of which is second-hand shopping. Retailers selling consigned clothing are currently expanding at a rapid rate . . . If everyone bought just one used item in a year, it would save 449 million lbs of waste, equivalent to the weight of 1 million Polar bears. “Thrifting” has increasingly become a trendy practice. London is home to many second-hand, or more commonly coined ‘vintage’, shops across the city from Bayswater to Brixton.
So you’re cool and you care about the planet; you’ve killed two birds with one stone. But do people simply purchase a second-hand item, flash it on Instagram with #vintage and call it a day without considering whether what they are doing is actually effective?
According to a study commissioned by Patagonia, for instance, older clothes shed more microfibres. These can end up in our rivers and seas after just one wash due to the worn material, thus contributing to microfibre pollution. To break it down, the amount of microfibres released by laundering 100,000 fleece jackets is equivalent to as many as 11,900 plastic grocery bags, and up to 40 per cent of that ends up in our oceans. . . . So where does this leave second-hand consumers? [They would be well advised to buy] high-quality items that shed less and last longer [as this] combats both microfibre pollution and excess garments ending up in landfills. . . .
Luxury brands would rather not circulate their latest season stock around the globe to be sold at a cheaper price, which is why companies like ThredUP, a US fashion resale marketplace, have not yet caught on in the UK. There will always be a market for consignment but there is also a whole generation of people who have been taught that only buying new products is the norm; second-hand luxury goods are not in their psyche. Ben Whitaker, director at Liquidation Firm B-Stock, told Prospect that unless recycling becomes cost-effective and filters into mass production, with the right technology to partner it, “high-end retailers would rather put brand before sustainability.”
Question: 1

The act of “thrifting”, as described in the passage, can be considered ironic because it:

Updated On: Mar 20, 2026
  • is an anti-consumerist attitude.
  • has created environmental problems.
  • is not cost-effective for retailers.
  • offers luxury clothing at cut-rate prices.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

The paradoxical nature of "thrifting," as presented, stems from its unforeseen detrimental environmental consequences. The text describes the Second Hand September initiative, which advocates for second-hand purchasing as environmentally sound, contrasting it with fast fashion's energy consumption, which surpasses that of air travel.

While thrifting endeavors to mitigate textile waste and its associated ecological damage, it inadvertently generates environmental problems due to microfibers released from older garments, thereby polluting water bodies.

Consequently, the irony lies in this supposedly sustainable practice contributing to environmental degradation, which corresponds to the conclusion: environmental issues have been generated.

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Question: 2

According to the author, companies like ThredUP have not caught on in the UK for all of the following reasons EXCEPT that:

Updated On: Mar 23, 2026
  • luxury brands want to maintain their brand image.
  • luxury brands do not like their product to be devalued
  • the British don’t buy second-hand clothing.
  • recycling is currently not financially attractive for luxury brands
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

To address the question, we must determine why companies like ThredUP have not succeeded in the UK, excluding one incorrect option. The provided text analyzes UK consumer habits and business approaches concerning pre-owned apparel.

The passage outlines the following potential reasons:

  • Luxury brands are hesitant to globally distribute their newest inventory to prevent price depreciation, aiming to protect their brand image.
  • High-end retailers prioritize brand prestige over environmental concerns unless recycling becomes economically viable, highlighting their reluctance to diminish product value.
  • A societal tendency to favor new purchases over pre-owned items is noted, but it does not assert that Britons refrain from buying second-hand clothing.
  • For luxury brands to embrace recycling, it must become financially beneficial and technologically compatible.

The provided options are:

  1. Maintaining brand image is a priority for luxury brands.
  2. Luxury brands aim to prevent their products from losing value.
  3. Britons do not purchase second-hand clothing.
  4. Recycling is presently not cost-effective for luxury brands.

Evaluating these points against the passage reveals that the assertion "the British don’t buy second-hand clothing" lacks substantiation. The text acknowledges a preference for new items while also noting an increasing adoption of second-hand shopping, implying that Britons do indeed buy pre-owned apparel.

Therefore, the correct answer is: the British don’t buy second-hand clothing.

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Question: 3

The central idea of the passage would be undermined if:

Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
  • customers bought all their clothes online.
  • Primark and Boohoo recycled their clothes for vintage stores
  • second-hand stores sold only high-quality clothes.
  • clothes were not thrown and burnt in landfills.
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The text advocates for sustainable shopping, especially second-hand purchasing, to lessen fashion's environmental damage. It stresses consumer awareness of clothing's environmental effects and recommends choosing durable items that shed fewer microfibers.

While acknowledging microfiber pollution from second-hand clothing, the text posits this could be resolved if these items were consistently high-quality. Consumers buying durable, low-shedding items address both microfiber pollution and landfill waste. Thus, Option C is correct.

Option A focuses on the buying process, not clothing attributes, and doesn't contradict the main point.
Option B could support sustainability and the main idea, not undermine it.
Option D supports the main point by promoting reduced environmental harm via sustainable shopping.

Therefore, the correct option is (C): second-hand stores sold only high-quality clothes.

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Question: 4

Based on the passage, we can infer that the opposite of fast fashion, ‘slow fashion’, would most likely refer to clothes that:

Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
  • are sold by genuine vintage stores.
  • are of high quality and long lasting.
  • do not shed micro fibres.
  • do not bleed toxins and dyes.
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Option B is affirmed as correct. The text highlights the environmental detriments of fast fashion, specifically the issue of garment waste accumulating in landfills. It contrasts the disposable, rapid-cycle model of fast fashion with a recommended sustainable and durable methodology, identified as 'slow fashion'.

The passage suggests that acquiring robust, superior-quality apparel serves as a method to mitigate the negative environmental impacts stemming from the fashion sector. Therefore, 'slow fashion' is understood to represent clothing distinguished by its exceptional quality and extended lifespan, promoting a more sustainable and environmentally aware consumption pattern in fashion.

The correct option is thus (B): are of high quality and long lasting.

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Top Questions on Reading Comprehension

Questions Asked in CAT exam

The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.
In the dynamic realm of creativity, artists often find themselves at the crossroads between drawing inspiration from diverse cultures and inadvertently crossing into the territory of cultural appropriation. Inspiration is the lifeblood of creativity, driving artists to create works that resonate across borders. In a globalized era of the modern world, artists draw from a vast array of cultural influences. When approached respectfully, inspiration becomes a bridge, fostering understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity. However, the line between inspiration and cultural appropriation can be thin and easily blurred.
Cultural appropriation occurs when elements from a particular culture are borrowed without proper understanding, respect, or acknowledgment. This leads to the commodification of sacred symbols, the reinforcement of stereotypes, and the erasure of the cultural context from which these elements originated. It is essential to recognize that the impact of cultural appropriation extends beyond the realm of artistic expression, influencing societal perceptions and perpetuating power imbalances.
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