Supplementary Exercise for Fashion and Consumerism

University English I Supplementary Learning Materials- Unit 5: Fashion and Consumerism

University English I
Supplementary Learning Materials

Unit 5: Fashion and Consumerism
Summary of contents
I.

Quotation on fashion and consumerism……………………………………………..2

II.

Facts/data…………………………………………………………………….…………….3
1. The World’s Highest Paid Supermodels………………………………....................3
2. Best global brands…………………………………………………………..………….4

III.

IELTS essay topics on consumerism…………………………………………….……5

IV.

Video…………………………………………………………………………………….…..5
1. ABC News 20/20: Myths and Lies – Health and Beauty……………………..…….5
2. Killing us softly 4 – Advertising’s Image of Women (2010)…………………..…….6

V.

Readings……………………………………………………………………………………8
1. Understanding China’s growing love for luxury (By Yuval Atsmon, Vinay Dixit,
Glenn Leibowitz and Cathy Wu, McKinsey & Company)……………………...……8
2. Chinese tourists named top shoppers (By Wang Zhuoqiong)………………….…10
3. When women are in heat, the economy warms up (By Douglas Kenrick)………11
4. Not just Another Pretty Face (By Johannah Cornblatt)………………………...….14
5. The Psychology of Thrift: Why Not Frugal Cool? *By John Gaski)……………….15

VI.

Idioms based on clothes…………………………………………………………..……19

Note:
(1) This material was prepared/ developed by the staff of the English Section, Language Centre,
HKBU, in the summer of 2011. It was updated in the summer of 2012.

Language Centre, HKBU

1

University English I Supplementary Learning Materials- Unit 5: Fashion and Consumerism

University English I
Supplementary Learning Materials

UNIT 5: Fashion and Consumerism
I.

Quotations on fashion and consumerism
1

Charm is a woman 's strength just as strength is a man 's charm. (Havelock Ellis)

2

Art produces ugly things which frequently become beautiful with time. Fashion produces beautiful things which always become ugly with time. (Jean Cocteau)

3

Clothes make the man. Naked people have

References: Durante, K.M., Griskevicius, V., Hill, S.E., Perilloux, C., Li, N. P. (2010). Ovulation, female competition, and product choice: Hormonal influences on consumer behavior Turner, Paul R. (2000), Differences in Spending Habits and Credit Use of College Students, Journal of Consumer Affairs, 34, 113–33.) Not Just Another Pretty Face (By Johannah Cornblatt) (Source: Newsweek, September 27, 2010;