WRITTEN MEDIATION PRACTICE FILE 2

TOPIC: FASHION

You read this introduction to an article on a website:

The Second-Hand Fashion Market Is Growing Rapidly

The fashion resale market is booming. According to a recent report by ThredUp, the U.S. second-
hand fashion market is expected to more than triple in value in the next 10 years – from US$28
billion in 2019 to US$80 billion in 2029.

For many consumers, buying secondhand fashion is driven by a desire to live a more sustainable
lifestyle. Extending a product’s life cycle has environmental benefits, reducing the economy’s
dependence on natural resources and the creation of waste.

Another reason for the sudden interest in second-hand clothes can be traced to economic
uncertainty. With unemployment numbers and the cost of living on the rise, buying pre-owned
fashion could be a way for consumers to treat themselves to a nice dress or a pair of jeans while
spending less.

Adapted from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/gulnazkhusainova/2021/01/28/the-secondhand-market-is-growing-rapidly-can-

challengers-like-vinokilo-thrive-and-scale/?sh=4099023eccb6

TASK 2. MEDIATION …… /12.5 points

You have approximately 20 minutes to complete this task.

You decide to write a message to a friend who is interested in this topic to tell him about what you
have read.
You must write about the following points:
- Explain in your own words the information you have read.
- Summarize the main ideas mentioned in the article.
Write between 60 and 80 words.

Remember the steps:

1. Read the text carefully.

2. Read the text again and underline the most important information.
3. Write down the most important ideas from the text in your own words.
4. Write your message. You can begin like this:

Hi Chris,
Don’t add new ideas.
I’ve just read an interesting article about…
Don’t give your own opinion.
Respect the word limit.
 SAMPLE ANSWER

Read the text carefully. There are three main ideas:

- The second-hand fashion market is growing very fast.
- There are two reasons:
1) People are worried about the environment.
2) They want to save money.
Write the message. Explain the main ideas using your own vocabulary.

Hi Chris,1
I’ve just read an article about buying second-hand clothes2. A new study3 says this
market is increasing very fast4 and it’s going to be worth5 80 billion dollars by the
end of this decade 6. There are two main reasons for this. In the first place7,
shoppers8 are concerned about the environment, so buying used clothes
decreases the use of natural resources 9 and produces less rubbish10. Secondly,
because of the difficult economic situation, people also want to save money11. (80
words)
1. Read the question carefully. In this case, you are writing to “a friend”. Give
him or her a name.
2. Begin with a general sentence to introduce the topic of the article.
Remember to use your own words.
3. It’s not necessary to specify the title of the study or the name of the people /
company who did it.
4. The original text says “growing quickly” and “booming”.
5. Do you know this expression? You could also say “It’s going to reach a
value of…”
6. This is another way to say “before the end of 2029”.
7. Don’t forget your linking words!
8. Try to find synonyms: consumers = shoppers, buyers
9. In some cases, however, words are very specific and it’s really difficult to
find an equivalent expression (natural resources)
10. Rubbish  waste
11. Spend less = save money