Trashy fashion

Trashy fashion
Ms. Judd spends her days in a studio making clothing from plastic bags, electrical wire and old cassette tapes. Now, environmental activists plan to showcase her work in Washington.
The star piece of her collection is a man's coat made from Mr. Obama's campaign fliers which took her 200 hours to make. She has already made three items from Obama’s campaign: A sun dress stitched from plastic signs; a suit from strips of posters; and the man's coat, made from door hangers. The outfits have their limitations. An evening gown sparkling with 12,000 bits of glass; a fitted jacket cut from the vinyl top of a convertible car. "You can't sit down in any of them," says Ms. Judd.
Ms. Judd, who used to work for the Santa Fe trash department, began to wonder whether she could spark interest in solid waste by making garbage glamorous. Two years ago, Ms. Judd decided to try to turn her hobby into a full-time job. She doesn't sell her work; she markets it as an educational tool. She wants to use her clothes to illustrate talks and to raise awareness through art exhibits. The concept intrigued Pittsburgh International Airport, who organized a show. Ms. Judd also spoke to several youth groups there. "The children were amazed to see that something so beautiful could be created out of something we would normally throw away," says Pat Bluett, assistant executive director of a Boys and Girls Club. “The club's recycling volume has since doubled,” she says.
The educational theme also appealed to Jenna Mack, co-producer of Saturday's Green Inaugural Ball. The all-organic, $500-a-ticket event is expected to draw 1,000 environmentalists. Models will show off Ms. Judd's fashions on platforms in the lobby. "Maybe the mental image of that dress made from glass might make people think twice before they throw out a bottle next time," Ms. Mack says.

Question 1 (2 points)
Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.
a) Ms Judd has made several pieces of clothing using materials from Obama’s campaign.
b) Judd’s clothes are comfortable and practical.
c) Ms Judd has been making clothes as a hobby for the past two years.
d) All tickets for Saturday’s ball cost five hundred dollars.

Question 2 (2 points)
Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) What does Ms Judd do with the clothes she makes?
b) What does Ms Mack hope will happen when people see the dress made from glass?

Question 3 (1.5 points)
Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.
a) long, thin pieces (paragraph 2)
b) increase (paragraph 3)
c) attract (paragraph 4)
Question 4 (1.5 points)
Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) The man’s coat took Ms Judd 200 hours to make.
Ms Judd spent …
b) Pittsburgh International Airport showed interest in the idea and organized an exhibition.
Interest …….. and an exhibition ……….
c) Ms Judd said “I wondered whether I could spark interest in recycling and tried to make garbage glamorous.”
Ms Judd said she…….

Question 5 (5 points)
Write a short essay (about 120-150 words) on the following topic:
People nowadays are recycling more than before. Do you agree?

Self-Access Group. CEP Santander