Reading comprehension

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