Recycling & Waste – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Answer: (B) To introduce an additional container for specific recyclable items.

• Explanation: The manager announces that the city is delivering new bins and introduces a “bright yellow container” specifically designed for soft plastics and metal. Option (B) is a paraphrase of this main idea. Option (A) is a trap; “next Monday” is when the bins arrive, but the collection schedule is not discussed. Option (C) is a trap; “bad odors” are mentioned as a reason to wash cans, not the main reason for the announcement.

2 Answer: (C) Empty drink cans and flexible plastic bags.

• Explanation: The manager says the yellow bin is for things like “plastic shopping bags, and aluminum soda cans”. Option (C) uses paraphrases (“flexible plastic bags” for shopping bags, “empty drink cans” for soda cans). Option (A) is a trap; the manager explicitly warns: “do not throw hard plastics or glass bottles in there” (they go in the blue bin). Option (B) is a trap; “food scraps” (leftovers) go in the black bin.

3 Answer: (A) Clean them with water.

• Explanation: The manager asks residents to “rinse out your cans.” “Rinse out” means to wash or clean with water. Option (A) is a paraphrase. Option (C) is a trap; the manager mentions the “office on the ground floor” for asking questions, not for dropping off trash. Option (B) is a plausible real-life action but is never mentioned in the audio.

Building Manager: Attention all residents of Oakridge Apartments. This is your building manager speaking. I have an important update regarding our waste disposal system. Starting next Monday, the city council will be delivering new garbage bins to our residential area. You will notice a bright yellow container placed next to our usual black and blue ones.

This new yellow bin is specifically designed for soft plastics and metal. This includes things like empty snack wrappers, plastic shopping bags, and aluminum soda cans. However, it is crucial that you do not throw hard plastics or glass bottles in there; those must continue to go into the blue recycling bin as usual. Also, please remember to rinse out your cans before throwing them away to prevent bad odors in the heat.

Our old black bins will now be strictly used for non-recyclable household waste, such as food scraps. If you have any questions about this new sorting system, please stop by my office on the ground floor. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our community clean!

1 Answer: (B) Customers will have to pay money if they need bags from the store.

• Explanation: The reporter says that if you don’t bring your own bags, “you will have to purchase paper ones for fifty cents each.” Option (B) is a paraphrase of this rule. Option (A) is a trap; the audio mentions “reusable cloth bags,” but you have to bring your own, the store doesn’t give them for free. Option (C) is a trap; the ban is on free plastic bags at the checkout, not all plastic items in the whole store.

2 Answer: (C) They have to use delivery containers made from sustainable materials.

• Explanation: The reporter states that restaurants must switch to “environmentally friendly packaging, like cardboard or plant-based containers.” Option (C) uses paraphrasing (“delivery containers” for “packaging”, “sustainable materials” for “environmentally friendly”). Option (A) is a trap; they are banned from using styrofoam for takeaway food, but they can still sell takeaway meals. Option (B) is a trap; styrofoam is “completely banned,” so they cannot use or charge for it at all.

3 Answer: (A) Some local merchants have concerns about the financial impact.

• Explanation: The reporter mentions that “business owners are worried about the extra costs.” Option (A) uses synonyms (“local merchants” for “business owners”, “concerns about the financial impact” for “worried about extra costs”). Option (B) is a trap; the “extra costs” are a worry for business owners, not environmental organizations. Option (C) is a trap; the word “thrilled” is used in the audio, but it describes the environmental groups, not the shop owners.

News Reporter: Good morning, city residents. You are listening to the daily update on Channel 5. Today, we have a major announcement regarding our environment. Starting this Friday, the new city law on single-use plastics will finally take effect. So, what does this mean for you?

Well, first of all, local supermarkets will no longer offer free plastic bags at the checkout. If you forget to bring your own reusable cloth bags, you will have to purchase paper ones for fifty cents each. Secondly, the law also targets local restaurants and cafes. They are now completely banned from serving takeaway food in styrofoam boxes. Instead, they must switch to environmentally friendly packaging, like cardboard or plant-based containers.

The city council expects this change to dramatically reduce the amount of waste ending up in our oceans. Some business owners are worried about the extra costs, but environmental groups are thrilled with the decision. We will send our team out this weekend to see how shoppers are adjusting to the new rules. Back to you in the studio.

1 Answer: (B) The bottle is divided from different types of waste.

• Explanation: The host says that machines “separate it from other materials like glass and paper.” Option (B) uses paraphrasing (“divided” for “separate”, “different types of waste” for “glass and paper”). Option (A) is a trap; the bottle is washed, but this happens later at the recycling factory, not the sorting facility. Option (C) is a trap; melting also happens later.

2 Answer: (C) By warming up the pieces until they become liquid.

• Explanation: The host explains that the plastic pieces are “heated until they melt into a thick liquid.” Option (C) paraphrases this idea (“warming up” = “heated”). Option (A) is a trap; cutting them into pieces (flakes) is the step before making the threads. Option (B) is a trap; the host says the process is “almost like making spaghetti,” but they don’t actually use food ingredients.

3 Answer: (B) An item of clothing for cold weather.

• Explanation: The final step is that the threads are “woven together to manufacture warm winter jackets.” Option (B) uses synonyms (“item of clothing” for “jackets”, “cold weather” for “winter”). Option (A) is a trap; making new bottles is a common real-world recycling method, but it is not the process described in this podcast. Option (C) is a plausible eco-friendly item but is never mentioned.

Podcast Host: Welcome back to ‘Everyday Science’, I’m your host, Mark. Today, we’re talking about the secret life of your trash. Have you ever wondered what happens to a plastic water bottle after you drop it in the recycling bin? Well, its journey is actually quite amazing.

First, a collection truck takes the bottle to a sorting facility. There, large machines separate it from other materials like glass and paper. Next, it gets shipped to a special recycling factory. At the factory, the bottle is thoroughly washed and then chopped up into tiny flakes.

But that’s just the beginning. Those plastic pieces are heated until they melt into a thick liquid. This liquid is then pushed through very small holes to create thin, strong threads—almost like making spaghetti! Finally, these threads are woven together to manufacture warm winter jackets.

So, the next time you dispose of your empty drink container properly, remember: you’re not just reducing pollution. You might actually be helping to create someone’s new clothes! Thanks for tuning in, and see you next week.

1 Answer: (B) It is thrown away into garbage dumps.

• Explanation: The speaker says that “eighty-five percent of all textiles end up in landfills each year.” Option (B) uses paraphrasing (“vast majority” for 85%, “thrown away into garbage dumps” for “end up in landfills”). Option (A) is a trap; the speaker mentions charities, but says they actually have to throw away excess donations. Option (C) is a plausible eco-friendly solution but is never mentioned in the audio.

2 Answer: (A) Because these groups receive more items than they can handle.

• Explanation: The speaker explains that “many charities are overwhelmed and still have to throw away excess donations.” Option (A) is a paraphrase of being “overwhelmed” with “excess” items. Option (B) is a trap; it is true that synthetic fibers take centuries to break down, but this is a fact about the fabric in landfills, not the reason why charities struggle. Option (C) is not mentioned.

3 Answer: (C) To purchase second-hand clothing instead of brand new ones.

• Explanation: The speaker strongly encourages the audience to “explore thrift stores… Buying pre-owned items significantly extends the lifespan of a garment.” Option (C) uses the synonym “second-hand clothing” for “pre-owned items / from thrift stores.” Option (A) is a trap; the speaker mentions “synthetic fibers” earlier, but does not tell the audience to buy natural materials. Option (B) is a trap; the speaker wants people to buy from thrift stores, not just donate to them (as donating was already proven to be an imperfect solution).

Student: Good morning, everyone. Today, I want to talk about a growing environmental crisis: fast fashion. We all love buying trendy clothes at low prices, but have you ever thought about the real cost? The fashion industry produces millions of garments every month. Unfortunately, because these items are cheap and quickly go out of style, consumers often treat them as disposable.

Recent studies show that a staggering eighty-five percent of all textiles end up in landfills each year. That is millions of tons of fabric, much of which contains synthetic fibers that take centuries to break down. Some people think donating their old outfits to charities completely solves the problem, but the truth is, many charities are overwhelmed and still have to throw away excess donations.

So, what can we do to help? Instead of always purchasing brand new outfits, I strongly encourage you to explore thrift stores or use clothing rental apps. Buying pre-owned items significantly extends the lifespan of a garment and reduces the demand for new production. Let’s make a positive impact on our planet by changing the way we shop. Thank you for listening.

1 Answer: (B) She purchases them in large quantities using her own containers.

• Explanation: The vlogger says she takes her “large glass jars” to the store and buys everything “in bulk.” Option (B) uses paraphrasing (“large quantities” for “in bulk”, “own containers” for “glass jars”). Option (A) is a trap; she mentions “tiny plastic packets,” but that is what she used to buy in the past. Option (C) is a plausible eco-friendly action but is never mentioned in the audio.

2 Answer: (C) She uses a wet cloth and a metal box.

• Explanation: She explains that she wraps the greens in a “slightly damp cotton towel” and puts them in a “metal container.” Option (C) uses synonyms (“wet cloth” for “damp cotton towel”, “box” for “container”). Option (A) is a trap; she explicitly states she “completely stopped buying that plastic wrap” (cling film). Option (B) is a trap; she mentions “ziplock bags,” but she uses beeswax covers instead of them.

3 Answer: (A) To decrease the amount of everyday waste created at home.

• Explanation: Near the end, she says, “Small changes like these really help reduce our daily household rubbish.” Option (A) uses paraphrasing (“decrease” for “reduce”, “everyday waste” for “daily rubbish”). Options (B) and (C) are traps; she is a lifestyle vlogger so cooking or selling products might be common in real life, but neither is mentioned as her goal in this specific video.

Vlogger: Hey everyone, welcome back to my channel! Today, I’m giving you a quick tour of my zero-waste kitchen. As you can see, there is almost no plastic in here.

First, let’s look at my spice rack. I used to buy tiny plastic packets of pepper and cinnamon every month. But now, I take these large glass jars to the local zero-waste store and buy everything in bulk. It’s so much cheaper and looks beautiful on the shelf.

Now, moving on to the fridge… um, a lot of my followers ask me how I keep my vegetables fresh without using cling film. Well, I completely stopped buying that plastic wrap last year. Actually, it’s quite simple. For leafy greens, I just wash them, wrap them in a slightly damp cotton towel, and put them in a metal container. They stay crispy for days! I also use beeswax covers for half-cut lemons or onions instead of ziplock bags.

Small changes like these really help reduce our daily household rubbish. Don’t forget to hit the like button if you want more eco-friendly tips!