Page 244 - BACKUP ENGLISH | PREPARATORY CLASS

THEME 20 SHOPPING

Reading

a) Answer the following questions.

1. Which country would you like to see most?
2. What do you know about traditional clothes and the customs of different cultures?
3. Do you have any local, traditional clothing or customs in your city / country?

b) Skim the blog below and write the names of the clothes under the pictures.

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The things we wear are more than just material to protect ourselves; our clothes are signs of our identity, culture, and
heritage—things people can’t easily discard. Over the centuries, people have used clothing to express status or unity among

communities and celebrate important events. Some of these ethnic clothes are incredibly majestic and still worn daily. Here are
the three most fascinating ethnic clothing that I want to share with you.

In India, women wear sarees, breezy, and lightweight clothes which are extremely popular because of their free-flowing nature.
Such a nature is most helpful in the rather hot and tropical climate of the land. It usually consists of an unstitched stretch of

cloth arranged over the body like a robe. While one end is tied around the waist, the other is worn over one shoulder as a stole.
Although they prefer ‘sarees’ for many occasions, both formal and informal, they wear red sarees only for their weddings.

My second favourite is ‘Hmong’ clothing. It is an ethnic group in China with pretty unique traditions and beliefs. If you ever visit

China, you can easily recognise Hmong people from their clothes. The regal headgear is quite catchy and an important part of
the Hmong dresses. It features distinctive pompoms and a thin piece of black and white striped cloth wrapped around it. These
dresses have a layered design to protect themselves against the cold and windy environments of the mountains.

Finally, my number one is Namibia, where people wear vibrant and colourful clothes called ‘Herero’ dresses. These clothes

resemble old-age Victorian dresses, but Herero dresses are much brighter than them. This reflects their personalities and
cultural point of view, as their beliefs suggest being hopeful and cheerful in the worst of times. When thought that way, it’s no
surprise that their outfit tops my list as the most amazing clothing compared to other dresses in other cultures.

242 English for Preparatory Class