Pre-reading questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What items do you recycle?
- What are your thoughts on single-use products?
Vocabulary
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- cut down /kuht doun/
- prohibit /proh-HIB-it/
- impressive /im-PRES-iv/
- minister /MIN-uh-ster/
- coastal /KOHS-tl/
[phrasal verb] – to do or use less of something
I’ve been trying to cut down on dairy.
[verb] – to officially refuse to allow something
Parking is strictly prohibited in these areas.
[adjective] – causing someone to feel admiration or respect
Charles has an impressive record of accomplishments.
[noun] – (in many countries) a high government official who is in charge of or has an important position in a particular department
He has been the minister of foreign affairs for many years.
[adjective] – positioned on, or relating to the coast
The hurricane destroyed several coastal towns.
Article reading
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
New South Wales (NSW), Australia, will ban single-use plastics to cut down on waste, including straws, plastic spoons and forks, and shampoo microbeads. Beginning in September 2023, Queensland will also ban a number of these items, including heavyweight plastic shopping bags. Victoria will take action and prohibit “problematic single-use plastics from sale or supply” as of February 1, 2023. Australia still has a long way to go in its efforts to tackle its plastic waste problem, despite the impressive rate of law changes. Shane Cucow, the plastics campaign manager at the Australian Marine Conservation Society, says that Australia’s plastic packaging recycling rate is still just 16%, whereas the national target is 70%. In a study of the management of plastic trash among 25 nations, Australia came in seventh for its overall efforts to cut down on plastic waste.
James Griffin, the environment minister for NSW, asserted that the restrictions in his state will “prevent 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering the environment over the next 20 years.” NSW banned thin plastic bags in June and, as of November 1, this year, prohibited expanded polystyrene take-out food containers, single-use plastic drink stirrers, cotton buds, and other products. In the same month, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) made a positive announcement, indicating a 29% decrease in coastal plastic pollution since 2013.
James Griffin, the environment minister for NSW, asserted that the restrictions in his state will “prevent 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering the environment over the next 20 years.” NSW banned thin plastic bags in June and, as of November 1, this year, prohibited expanded polystyrene take-out food containers, single-use plastic drink stirrers, cotton buds, and other products. In the same month, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) made a positive announcement, indicating a 29% decrease in coastal plastic pollution since 2013.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What products will New South Wales ban?
- When will Victoria prohibit “problematic single-use plastics from sale or supply”?
- According to Shane Cucow, what is Australia’s plastic packaging recycling target rate?
- When did New South Wales prohibit thin plastic bags?
- By what percentage has coastal plastic pollution decreased since 2013?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What do you do with plastic products (such as plastic water bottles) after using them?
- Please share the waste management system in your country.
- If you were an Australian environment minister, what else would you do to reduce plastic waste?
- Do you think banning single-use plastic products is sufficient to reduce waste?
- Which is better, recycling or buying only the things we need? Why?