Focus 2 Unit 7 Reading Test

Read the article and choose the correct answer, A, B or C.

NO MORE PLASTIC BAGS!                                     by Environment Correspondent Jack Marshall

In 2011 a new law, the first of its kind in the UK, was passed in Wales. Shops were no longer allowed to give away free plastic bags to their customers. Instead, they had to charge 5p per bag. The money was collected and given to charity. The results were amazing – within a year, the demand for supermarket bags fell by about 96%. The extra charge was enough to get Welsh shoppers to remember to take their own

bags whenever they went shopping. The law was the result of a huge campaign, which was supported by a national newspaper as well as various politicians and also green campaigners. It has become increasingly popular too. When it was introduced, it was supported by about 59% of the Welsh population, but after only six months the figure was 70%. There is no doubt that plastic bags are bad news for the environment. Every year in the UK, about 18 billion plastic bags are supplied by supermarkets – that’s about 290 bags per person. Then, when they have been used (for an average of 20 minutes each) they’re thrown away. Some of them end up being buried underground in landfill sites, and that’s where they do the damage. They remain there for hundreds of years, poisoning the soil and polluting the environment. It’s important to remember, too, that before they even reach the shops, the plastic bags have already travelled thousands of miles – many are produced in China or India and then shipped to countries in Europe, including the UK. The solution to this problem is obvious – stop producing so many plastic bags, and stop giving them away, but shoppers in

the UK have been very slow to change their ways. However, the success of the new Welsh law shows that it is possible to change people’s shopping habits. According to researchers from Cardiff University, part of the reason for the popularity of the law is that the money it raises goes to charity, not the government. Certainly, hundreds of thousands of pounds have been raised since the law was introduced. The money has gone to a variety of good causes, including local children’s charities and wildlife conservation organisations too.

1 The new law meant that in Wales...

NO MORE PLASTIC BAGS!                  by Environment Correspondent Jack Marshall

In 2011 a new law, the first of its kind in the UK, was passed in Wales. Shops were no longer allowed to give away free plastic bags to their customers. Instead, they had to charge 5p per bag. The money was collected and given to charity. The results were amazing – within a year, the demand for supermarket bags fell by about 96%. The extra charge was enough to get Welsh shoppers to remember to take their own

bags whenever they went shopping. The law was the result of a huge campaign, which was supported by a national newspaper as well as various politicians and also green campaigners. It has become increasingly popular too. When it was introduced, it was supported by about 59% of the Welsh population, but after only six months the figure was 70%. There is no doubt that plastic bags are bad news for the environment. Every year in the UK, about 18 billion plastic bags are supplied by supermarkets – that’s about 290 bags per person. Then, when they have been used (for an average of 20 minutes each) they’re thrown away. Some of them end up being buried underground in landfill sites, and that’s where they do the damage. They remain there for hundreds of years, poisoning the soil and polluting the environment. It’s important to remember, too, that before they even reach the shops, the plastic bags have already travelled thousands of miles – many are produced in China or India and then shipped to countries in Europe, including the UK. The solution to this problem is obvious – stop producing so many plastic bags, and stop giving them away, but shoppers in

the UK have been very slow to change their ways. However, the success of the new Welsh law shows that it is possible to change people’s shopping habits. According to researchers from Cardiff University, part of the reason for the popularity of the law is that the money it raises goes to charity, not the government. Certainly, hundreds of thousands of pounds have been raised since the law was introduced. The money has gone to a variety of good causes, including local children’s charities and wildlife conservation organisations too.

2 After the law was introduced, many people....

NO MORE PLASTIC BAGS!                                     by Environment Correspondent Jack Marshall

In 2011 a new law, the first of its kind in the UK, was passed in Wales. Shops were no longer allowed to give away free plastic bags to their customers. Instead, they had to charge 5p per bag. The money was collected and given to charity. The results were amazing – within a year, the demand for supermarket bags fell by about 96%. The extra charge was enough to get Welsh shoppers to remember to take their own

bags whenever they went shopping. The law was the result of a huge campaign, which was supported by a national newspaper as well as various politicians and also green campaigners. It has become increasingly popular too. When it was introduced, it was supported by about 59% of the Welsh population, but after only six months the figure was 70%. There is no doubt that plastic bags are bad news for the environment. Every year in the UK, about 18 billion plastic bags are supplied by supermarkets – that’s about 290 bags per person. Then, when they have been used (for an average of 20 minutes each) they’re thrown away. Some of them end up being buried underground in landfill sites, and that’s where they do the damage. They remain there for hundreds of years, poisoning the soil and polluting the environment. It’s important to remember, too, that before they even reach the shops, the plastic bags have already travelled thousands of miles – many are produced in China or India and then shipped to countries in Europe, including the UK. The solution to this problem is obvious – stop producing so many plastic bags, and stop giving them away, but shoppers in

the UK have been very slow to change their ways. However, the success of the new Welsh law shows that it is possible to change people’s shopping habits. According to researchers from Cardiff University, part of the reason for the popularity of the law is that the money it raises goes to charity, not the government. Certainly, hundreds of thousands of pounds have been raised since the law was introduced. The money has gone to a variety of good causes, including local children’s charities and wildlife conservation organisations too.

3 The article says that every year in the UK,...

NO MORE PLASTIC BAGS!                  by Environment Correspondent Jack Marshall

In 2011 a new law, the first of its kind in the UK, was passed in Wales. Shops were no longer allowed to give away free plastic bags to their customers. Instead, they had to charge 5p per bag. The money was collected and given to charity. The results were amazing – within a year, the demand for supermarket bags fell by about 96%. The extra charge was enough to get Welsh shoppers to remember to take their own

bags whenever they went shopping. The law was the result of a huge campaign, which was supported by a national newspaper as well as various politicians and also green campaigners. It has become increasingly popular too. When it was introduced, it was supported by about 59% of the Welsh population, but after only six months the figure was 70%. There is no doubt that plastic bags are bad news for the environment. Every year in the UK, about 18 billion plastic bags are supplied by supermarkets – that’s about 290 bags per person. Then, when they have been used (for an average of 20 minutes each) they’re thrown away. Some of them end up being buried underground in landfill sites, and that’s where they do the damage. They remain there for hundreds of years, poisoning the soil and polluting the environment. It’s important to remember, too, that before they even reach the shops, the plastic bags have already travelled thousands of miles – many are produced in China or India and then shipped to countries in Europe, including the UK. The solution to this problem is obvious – stop producing so many plastic bags, and stop giving them away, but shoppers in

the UK have been very slow to change their ways. However, the success of the new Welsh law shows that it is possible to change people’s shopping habits. According to researchers from Cardiff University, part of the reason for the popularity of the law is that the money it raises goes to charity, not the government. Certainly, hundreds of thousands of pounds have been raised since the law was introduced. The money has gone to a variety of good causes, including local children’s charities and wildlife conservation organisations too.

4 The new law has been popular in Wales because the money raised...

NO MORE PLASTIC BAGS!                  by Environment Correspondent Jack Marshall

In 2011 a new law, the first of its kind in the UK, was passed in Wales. Shops were no longer allowed to give away free plastic bags to their customers. Instead, they had to charge 5p per bag. The money was collected and given to charity. The results were amazing – within a year, the demand for supermarket bags fell by about 96%. The extra charge was enough to get Welsh shoppers to remember to take their own

bags whenever they went shopping. The law was the result of a huge campaign, which was supported by a national newspaper as well as various politicians and also green campaigners. It has become increasingly popular too. When it was introduced, it was supported by about 59% of the Welsh population, but after only six months the figure was 70%. There is no doubt that plastic bags are bad news for the environment. Every year in the UK, about 18 billion plastic bags are supplied by supermarkets – that’s about 290 bags per person. Then, when they have been used (for an average of 20 minutes each) they’re thrown away. Some of them end up being buried underground in landfill sites, and that’s where they do the damage. They remain there for hundreds of years, poisoning the soil and polluting the environment. It’s important to remember, too, that before they even reach the shops, the plastic bags have already travelled thousands of miles – many are produced in China or India and then shipped to countries in Europe, including the UK. The solution to this problem is obvious – stop producing so many plastic bags, and stop giving them away, but shoppers in

the UK have been very slow to change their ways. However, the success of the new Welsh law shows that it is possible to change people’s shopping habits. According to researchers from Cardiff University, part of the reason for the popularity of the law is that the money it raises goes to charity, not the government. Certainly, hundreds of thousands of pounds have been raised since the law was introduced. The money has gone to a variety of good causes, including local children’s charities and wildlife conservation organisations too.

5 In this article the writer shows his...

NO MORE PLASTIC BAGS!                                         by Environment Correspondent Jack Marshall

In 2011 a new law, the first of its kind in the UK, was passed in Wales. Shops were no longer allowed to give away free plastic bags to their customers. Instead, they had to charge 5p per bag. The money was collected and given to charity. The results were amazing – within a year, the demand for supermarket bags fell by about 96%. The extra charge was enough to get Welsh shoppers to remember to take their own

bags whenever they went shopping. The law was the result of a huge campaign, which was supported by a national newspaper as well as various politicians and also green campaigners. It has become increasingly popular too. When it was introduced, it was supported by about 59% of the Welsh population, but after only six months the figure was 70%. There is no doubt that plastic bags are bad news for the environment. Every year in the UK, about 18 billion plastic bags are supplied by supermarkets – that’s about 290 bags per person. Then, when they have been used (for an average of 20 minutes each) they’re thrown away. Some of them end up being buried underground in landfill sites, and that’s where they do the damage. They remain there for hundreds of years, poisoning the soil and polluting the environment. It’s important to remember, too, that before they even reach the shops, the plastic bags have already travelled thousands of miles – many are produced in China or India and then shipped to countries in Europe, including the UK. The solution to this problem is obvious – stop producing so many plastic bags, and stop giving them away, but shoppers in

the UK have been very slow to change their ways. However, the success of the new Welsh law shows that it is possible to change people’s shopping habits. According to researchers from Cardiff University, part of the reason for the popularity of the law is that the money it raises goes to charity, not the government. Certainly, hundreds of thousands of pounds have been raised since the law was introduced. The money has gone to a variety of good causes, including local children’s charities and wildlife conservation organisations too.

6 What has been a result of the new law?