Theme: Environmental Science, Educational Policy, Campus Sustainability, Economics, Student Response and Awareness
Questions
Reading Passage (45 seconds to read):
The university has recently announced a new initiative to promote environmental sustainability on campus. As part of this initiative, the administration will replace all single-use plastic utensils and containers in the campus dining halls with biodegradable alternatives. The university claims that this change will significantly reduce plastic waste and encourage more sustainable habits among students. While the initiative has been praised by many, some students have raised concerns about the potential increase in costs and the impact on the quality of service in the dining halls.
Listening Script:
Now listen to a conversation between two students discussing the new initiative.
Question:
Summarize the man’s opinion on the university’s new sustainability initiative to replace plastic utensils and containers, and explain how it contrasts with the points mentioned in the reading passage. Be sure to include specific details from both the reading and the listening.
Rating Tool
Transcripts
Listening Script:
Student 1:
Did you hear about the university’s new sustainability initiative? They’re replacing all the plastic utensils and containers in the dining halls with biodegradable ones.
Student 2:
Yeah, I heard. It sounds like a good idea in theory, but I’m not sure how well it’s going to work in practice. I mean, biodegradable utensils are usually more expensive, and I wonder if that cost is going to be passed on to us, the students.
Student 1:
That’s a valid concern, but don’t you think it’s worth it if it means reducing our environmental impact? Plastic waste is a huge problem, and this could be a big step in the right direction.
Student 2:
I agree that reducing plastic waste is important, but I’m also worried about the quality of service. I’ve heard that biodegradable containers can be flimsy and might not hold up well with hot food. That could be a real issue if you’re trying to carry a hot meal back to your dorm.
Student 1:
I see what you mean. It would be really frustrating if the containers break or leak. Maybe the university needs to test these alternatives more thoroughly before fully implementing the change.
Student 2:
Yeah, that’s a good point. I hope they consider all the practical issues before rolling this out campus-wide.
Sample Answer:
In the reading passage, the university has announced a new initiative to replace all single-use plastic utensils and containers in the campus dining halls with biodegradable alternatives. The university believes that this change will reduce plastic waste and promote more sustainable habits among students. However, the man in the listening passage expresses concerns about this initiative.
He acknowledges the importance of reducing plastic waste but is worried about the potential increase in costs, noting that biodegradable utensils are usually more expensive. He fears that this additional cost might be passed on to the students. Additionally, he is concerned about the quality of service, mentioning that biodegradable containers might be flimsy and could cause problems, especially with hot food. He suggests that the university should thoroughly test these alternatives before fully implementing the change.
The man’s opinion contrasts with the positive view presented in the reading passage. While the university focuses on the environmental benefits of the initiative, the man highlights the practical challenges and potential drawbacks, such as increased costs and the durability of the biodegradable materials. He believes that these issues need to be carefully considered to ensure that the initiative is effective and does not negatively impact students.
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