Plastic has become very common in our daily life; however, most plastic items take up to 1,000 years to decompose in landfills. Can we enjoy the convenience of plastics and a greener world at the same time? Our readers have sent us many emails with useful tips this week.

Hai, 18

I try to use fewer plastic bags when shopping. The supermarket near my house even provides cardboard boxes, so I can pack my groceries and get rid of plastic packaging! When I must use plastic bags, I try to reuse them again and again instead of throwing them away after a single use.

Phuong, 16

I know how convenient it is to buy a bottle of water from a vending machine or a supermarket; however, I always bring my reusable water bottle. All I have to remember is to fill my bottle before going to school, and then use the water filling stations or drinking fountains at school.

Hoang, 15

I always reuse plastic takeaway containers. I use them to store portions of cooked food and keep leftovers in the fridge, which is also better for the environment.

Ha, 16

I have learnt that most plastic containers have numbers at the bottom to show the type of plastic they're made of. So when you recycle a bottle, for instance, remove the cap because a bottle often has number 1 on it while the cap often has number 5. Numbers 1 and 2 are the most widely accepted plastics for recycling.

Binh, 17

When I started recycling, I made the mistake of putting some plastic takeaway containers with some leftover food into the recycling bin. The next day, the whole bin was contaminated, so all the recyclables were taken to the landfill instead. So now I always rinse out containers before recycling them.

(Adapted from Global Success)

Question 26. Which best serves as the title for the passage?

A. Go Green with Plastics!        B. Surprising Benefits of Plastics

C. Put an End to Plastics!        D. Plastics – an Environmental Nightmare

Question 27. The word them in paragraph 2 refers to        .

A. cardboard boxes        B. groceries        C. tips        D. plastic bags

Question 28. According to paragraph 3, Phuong        .

1. prefers to buy a water bottle from a vending machine
2. always brings her reusable water bottle to school
3. sometimes forgets to fill up her water bottle before school
4. finds that the drinking fountains at her school are polluted

Question 29. The phrase rinse out in paragraph 6 is closest in meaning to        .

A. change        B. replace        C. buy        D. wash

Question 30. Which of the following is NOT stated in the passage?

1. Hoang uses plastic takeaway containers to store cooked food.
2. Hai’s green lifestyle is supported by a local business.
3. Binh has learnt from a past mistake how to recycle things properly.
4. Ha has been taught some recycling symbols at school.

UNIT 3: GREEN LIVING