Academic English for International Exams

Course Book

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  • F

Read the following passage. Then try to make notes of the key facts.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a natural substance derived from corn that can be used to create a biodegradable plastic. Today, containers made of PLA, called 'corntainers', are beginning to replace disposable petroleum-based plastic containers. These corntainers are much better for the environment for three distinct reasons.

The principal advantage of PLA containers over petroleum-based plastic containers is that the former can be composted, while the latter cannot, Thus, after being used, a corntainer can be returned to the Earth as fertilizer. Corntainers biodegrade into two harmless byproducts; carbon dioxide and water. Plastic, on the other hand, releases toxic chemicals into the environment.

Because PLA containers are biodegradable, they will take up less space in landfills. Today, disposable plastics account for one quarter of the space in landfills. It can take over 1,000 years for plastics to break down. Corntainers, on the other hand, break down in around 90 days. Using corntainers and composting them will save valuable landfill space.

Finally, switching from petroleum-based plastics to PLA plastics is the socially responsible thing to do. It is better for the environment and therefore benefits everyone. It is our responsibility as citizens to protect the environment and minimize the harm that we cause to it. Corntainers help us do just that.

biodegradable – able to be broken down into natural substances

disposable – able to be thrown away

petroleum – oil found underground

distinct – clear

principal – most important; main

byproduct – something produced in the making of something else

landfill – a place where trash is stored

minimize – to make something as small as possible

Reading:

Now look at the note diagram and fill in the missing information from your notes.

Main idea: Corntainers are better for for three main reasons.
Key point 1: Corntainers can be , which returns them to the Earth as fertilizer.
Key point 2: Corntainers take up in landfills because they will biodegrade.
Key point 3: Using corntainers is the thing to do because it is better for the environment.
Answer may vary
  1. Main idea: the environment
  2. Key point 1: composted
  3. Key point 2: less space
  4. Key point 3: socially responsible

Improve your notes if necessary. Try to summarize the text using your notes.

Reading:

Predict how the listening passage may contrast with the reading.

derivative – something that comes from something else

facility – a building or room designed for a specific purpose

subject – to cause something to experience an event

microbe – a tiny living thing that can only be seen with a microscope

sustained – continuous; not changing

proper – correct; appropriate

rapidly – quickly

source – the place where something comes from

Now listen to a lecture related to the topic in A. Make notes while listening.

Listening

Fill in the blanks of the note diagram below with keywords or key phrases used in the lecture.

Main idea: Corntainers do not solve .
Key point 1: Corntainers require in order to break down.
Key point 2: Many corntainers end up in because people do not understand how to recycle them.
Key point 3: There is nothing about using corntainers because people need corn to eat.
Answer may vary
  1. Main idea: environmental
  2. Key point 1: special facilities
  3. Key point 2: landfills
  4. Key point 3: socially responsible

Summarize the contents of the lecture expanding the diagram above and using your notes.

View the transcript

W: Today, I'd like to take a closer look at corntainers, containers made from polyiactic acid, or PLA, which is a derivative of corn. Mow, you may have heard that PLA plastics can solve many environmental concerns. The problem is, those claims are not correct. Corntainers don't solve these environmental concerns. Let me explain. First of all, PLA plastics need special facilities to make them biodegradable. You can't simply take a corntainer and bury it in your backyard, and have it just turn back into dirt. It doesn't work that way. To break down PLA plastics you need special facilities. In these facilities, the corntainers are subjected to highly controlled conditions, including the presence of microbes and sustained temperatures of 140 degrees. In such conditions, PLA breaks down into water and carbon dioxide in about ninety days. Without those conditions, it doesn't compost well.

Second, containers are ending up in landfills when people mistakenly try to recycle them like regular plastics. People take PLA to regular recycling facilities where the PLA must be separated out from the petroleum-based plastics. The two can't be recycled together; it creates a mess. So recycling facilities must spend time and money to separate the PLA from the plastic, and they just throw it out. And where does it go? It goes into the landfills, anyway. So without proper facilities our landfills are filling up with corntainers. Finally, there is nothing socially responsible about using corn to make plastic containers. Why? Well, because people need corn to eat. There is only so much corn grown in the world. And, as you are aware, the world's population is growing rapidly and people need to eat. People need to eat corn. It is very irresponsible to take corn that could feed people and turn it into plastic. We already have a source for plastic, and it is a source that we can't eat and that source is petroleum. Rather than waste time investing in corntainers, we'd be better off using fewer disposable things in the first place. A generation ago, people reused cloth bags when they went shopping. No waste. They reused glass bottles for food and drink storage. Again, no waste.

Listening:

Review your notes from both the reading and the lecture. Pay attention to the main ideas and supporting details. Paraphrasing the information from your notes, complete the following outline:

Introduction:

Main topic:
Main idea of the reading passage:
Main idea of the lecture:

Body:

Key point 1:
Supporting information from the reading passage: Supporting information from the lecture:
Key point 2:
Supporting information from the reading passage: Supporting information from the lecture:
Key point 3:
Supporting information from the reading passage: Supporting information from the lecture:

Conclusion:

Summary:
Answer may vary

Introduction:

  1. Main topic: Are corntainers good for the environment?
  2. Main idea of the reading passage: Corntainers are better for the environment for three main reasons.
  3. Main idea of the lecture: Corntainers do not solve environmental concerns.

Body:

  1. Key point 1: Corntainers can be composted.
    Supporting information from the reading passage: Corntainers can be composted, which returns them to the Earth as fertilizer.
    Supporting information from the lecture: Corntainers require special facilities in order to break down.
  2. Key point 2: Corntainers do not fill up landfills.
    Supporting information from the reading passage: Corntainers will not take up space in landfills because they will biodegrade.
    Supporting information from the lecture: Many corntainers will just end up in landfills anyway because people don't understand how to recycle them.
  3. Key point 3: Using corntainers is socially responsible.
    Supporting information from the reading passage: Using corntainers is socially responsible because it is better for the environment.
    Supporting information from the lecture: Using corntainers is not socially responsible because people need com to eat.

Conclusion:

  1. Summary: The reading says that corntainers are good, while the lecture says that they do not help the environment.

Use the main ideas and details from D to complete the passage. Include information from both the reading and the lecture.

Both the lecture and the passage discuss PLA containers (corntainers). Though the passage 1. corntainers as an eco-friendly 2. to other plastic packages, the lecturer says they do not benefit the environment.

According to the passage, corntainers are good because they 3. easily and turn into fertilizer. The lecturer 4. the claim. She shows that the 5. process for corntainers is long and complicated. The passage also states that corntainers are beneficial because they 6. the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. However, the lecturer disagrees, saying that many corntainers end up in 7. , anyway. Finally, the passage says that using corntainers is 8. responsible. They help the environment, and thus, 9. everyone. In contrast, the lecturer argues that it is actually 10. to produce plastic with corn that could be used to feed the hungry.

Many people are interested in doing what is best for the environment. The passage claims that corntainers are eco-friendly, but the lecturer disagrees.

Answer may vary
  1. 1. presents
  2. 2. alternative
  3. 3. break down
  4. 4. challenges
  5. 5. composting
  6. 6. reduce
  7. 7. landfills
  8. 8. socially
  9. 9. benefit
  10. 10. irresponsible