C1 Reading - Is Banning Single Use Plastic the Right Option?

C1 Reading

Is Banning Single Use Plastic the Right Option?

Around the world, people are realising the significant problems caused by plastic waste. In the last 65 years, we have become increasingly dependent on plastic. It’s easy to understand why: it’s cheap to produce, light – therefore easy and cheap to transport – and incredibly strong and durable. But it’s these advantages which also make it so harmful. _____1_____. The micro-plastics that result from these processes are harmful to the environment. It is also very difficult to recycle, in fact currently only 9% of all the plastic produced has been recycled. _____2_____.

Gap 1 and 2

• E. Plastic never fully degrades by bacteria, so it must be gradually broken down into tiny pieces by the wind, sun or water.

• B. Some is burnt, but the majority goes to landfill.

One popular solution to the problem is to prohibit single use plastics. In the UK, supermarkets are being encouraged to set up plastic-free aisles, in which the food is displayed loose, and shoppers are encouraged to make more environmentally-friendly choices in packing and transporting their food. A tax has already been placed on plastic carrier bags, which has cut their use by 90%. _____3_____. Schemes for reducing the use of plastic bottles are also being considered, including paying people to return bottles to shops and increasing the number of public drinking fountains. Some governments, such as Canada and India, have even promised to ban the use of single-use plastic altogether by the not-too-distant future.

Gap 3

• F. Bans on single-use plastic items like cotton buds and drinking straws and charges for disposable coffee cups are also coming into place

_____4_____. One of the fields where single-use plastic has a vital role is medicine. This is not just because of its low cost. It’s also because, by using dishes, vials, syringes and so on just once, infection and cross-contamination are minimised. _____5_____. Plastic packaging is also crucial in the food industry, as it ensures that food is safe for consumers. Meanwhile, the provision of bottled water in poor regions and in emergency situations has reduced the spread of water-borne diseases and saved many lives.

Gap 4 and 5

• A. Such plans are well-intentioned, but it may not be beneficial to eliminate the use of single-use plastic altogether.

• C. Although glass products are a potential alternative, cleaning them would be extremely expensive in terms of time, money and environmental resources, while increasing the risk to health.

Another issue is that alternative materials to plastic are often more environmentally harmful than plastic. Take paper bags, for example. Research by the Northern Ireland Assembly shows four times more energy is required to manufacture a paper bag than a plastic bag. _____6_____. Even more, pollution is created when paper bags degrade, in fact, they generate 70% more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags. _____7_____. Other alternatives, like aluminium, glass, card or cotton, similarly have environmental issues of their own.

Gap 6 and 7

• J. The process requires cutting trees, the emission of greenhouse gases and the production of toxic chemical waste.

• G. They are also very fragile and rarely reusable, unlike plastic.

Clearly there is a need to reduce plastic waste and its impact on the environment. However, simply banning their single use may not be the best option. Industries that rely on single-use plastics for people’s health and safety must be accommodated. _____8_____. Meanwhile, a better solution to banning all plastics might be to invest in redesigning plastics that can be readily broken down and remanufactured, and better recycling technology.

Gap 8

I. Moreover, alternative materials must be evaluated strictly regarding their own environmental impact.

Multiple Choice

Frida Kahlo was born in Mexico City.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

As a child, she didn't like to play with her sisters, and preferred to be alone.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

As a child, she loved drawing, but didn't want to be an artist.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

She began to paint in a hospital bed after a terrible illness.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Diego Rivera saw her paintings and approached her to say she could become a professional artist.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Diego Rivera wanted to live in the US, but they returned because Friday missed Mexico.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Loneliness made Friday feel a lot of pain, which she reflected in her self-portraits.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Frida used her art to cope with her difficult life.

• true

• false

Use of English

Read the text and choose the most appropriate answer