Ban on environmental protection

廣西 張 菊

主題語境：環境保護

篇幅：330詞

建議用時：6分鐘

1England is taking its single-use plastics ban even further by restricting the sale of plastic cutlery (餐具),plates,bowls,trays,balloon sticks,as well as certain kinds of cups and food containers.According to an announcement on the English government's website,the new ban will be executed in October of this year.

2Once the ban comes into force,people will no longer be able to buy or obtain these single-use plastics from businesses.

3The upcoming ban expands on the country's existing rules surrounding plastic products.In 2018,England introduced a ban on microbeads,the tiny pieces of plastic added to personal care products that can get into waterways and harm marine life.It later restricted the availability of single-use plastic straws,drink stirrers,and cotton swabs in 2020,and introduced a tax on imported plastic packaging that doesn't include at least 30 percent recycled material last year.The country also charges for the use of plastic bags.

4“By introducing a ban later this year,we are doubling down on our commitment to remove all avoidable plastic waste,”Rebecca Pow,England's environment minister,says in a statement.England's ban follows Scotland and Wales' move to restrict the sale of plastic cutlery and plates last year,and comes after the European Union did the same in 2021.

5However,some critics argue that it still isn't enough to solve the problem of plastic pollution.As a journalist and former The Guardian's environment editor,John Vidal,points out,England's ban is too narrow in its scope(范圍),as it doesn't cover singleuse plastic water bottles,makes no mention of plastic bags and does not even try to control the burning of plastic waste in incinerators(焚化爐).

6In addition to an extended ban on single-use plastics,the country is also“carefully considering”restrictions on wet wipes,tobacco filters,and sachets.It may also require companies to add labeling to plastic products to inform customers how to properly deal with them,and is working towards developing a bottle return program.

Reading

Check

Vocabulary

1.What do the underlined words“be executed”mean in paragraph 1?

A.Make progress.

B.Take into effect.

C.Make ends meet.

D.Do a good deed.

Inference

2.What does Rebecca Pow think of the ban？

A.It is worrying.B.It is puzzling.

C.It is surprising.D.It is encouraging.

Detail

3.Why does John Vidal say the ban isn't enough to solve plastic pollution?

A.It is only put into practice in England.

B.It is not fully prepared for the upcoming challenges.

C.It doesn't cover single-use plastic water bottles and bags.

D.It doesn't awake people's awareness of protecting the environment.

Inference

4.In what tone does the author write the text?

A.Neutral.B.Admiring.

C.Cold.D.Doubtful.

Language

Study

Ⅰ.Difficult sentence in the text

As a journalist and formerThe Guardian's environment editor,John Vidal,points out,England's ban is too narrow in its scope,as it doesn't cover single-use plastic water bottles,makes no mention of plastic bags and does not even try to control the burning of plastic waste in incinerators.正如記者、《衛報》前環境編輯約翰·維達爾指出的那樣，英格蘭的禁令范圍太窄了，因為它沒有涵蓋一次性塑料水瓶，沒有提到塑料袋，甚至沒有試圖控制塑料垃圾在焚化爐中的燃燒。

【點石成金】本句中有兩個as，第一個as 引導的是一個定語從句，意為“正如”；第二個as引導的是一個原因狀語從句，意為“因為”。

Ⅱ.Text-centered chunks

as well as 除……之外；此外

come into force 開始生效

no longer 不再……

at least 不少于；至少

come after 相繼；跟在……后面

in addition to 除了……