Ban on environmental protection

广西 张 菊

主题语境：环境保护

篇幅：330词

建议用时：6分钟

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(范围),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(焚化炉).

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.正如记者、《卫报》前环境编辑约翰·维达尔指出的那样，英格兰的禁令范围太窄了，因为它没有涵盖一次性塑料水瓶，没有提到塑料袋，甚至没有试图控制塑料垃圾在焚化炉中的燃烧。

【点石成金】本句中有两个as，第一个as 引导的是一个定语从句，意为“正如”；第二个as引导的是一个原因状语从句，意为“因为”。

Ⅱ.Text-centered chunks

as well as 除……之外；此外

come into force 开始生效

no longer 不再……

at least 不少于；至少

come after 相继；跟在……后面

in addition to 除了……