English Reading & Writing
2022. CBSH
학 번
3&4. Environment,
Economy and Jobs
이름
DESIGNS FOR A BETTER WORLD
When you throw your old things away, do you ever think of where they go? Do they just
disappear? No, they break down or biodegrade. Look at the timeline on the left. It shows how long
some common objects take to break down.
The environment is facing big problems because of the things we throw away, but there is a
solution. It is called sustainable design. The idea behind sustainable design is simple: design a
product which does not hurt the environment. It can mean a car which emits no, or very little, CO2
into the air. It can also mean products made of biodegradable material. Such products do not harm
the environment when they are thrown away. Below are two examples that show how this idea
works.
Shoes That Bloom
Imagine planting your old shoes and seeing a flower garden come up. That is exactly what
happens with biodegradable shoes. These sensible shoes are made of materials such as oats, cotton,
and special plastic, which break down easily. To make the shoes more fun and attractive, the tongues
of the shoes also have seeds in them! When the shoes are put into the ground, a variety of flowers
bloom. But do not worry. You can still wear the shoes in rain and snow. They can get wet but will
not biodegrade unless you plant them.
Birdseed Plates
Disposable plastic plates cause serious environmental problems because they can take about 100
years to break down. Little have we done about them until now. The answer is to make plates from
something else. Why not edible ingredients, like birdseed and potatoes? That is precisely the idea
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behind birdseed plates. They are designed to be eaten by animals. When you are done with your
meal, just throw the plate into a tree or bush. When the plate hits something hard, it breaks into
smaller pieces which animals like to pick up and eat.
If people in the past had been as eco-friendly as the designers of these products, they would not
have caused the crisis the world is facing today. Sustainable design clearly shows that we can keep
the crisis from getting worse. It only takes creativity and willingness to protect the environment and
hand over a cleaner planet to future generations.
A. Get Ready
What disposable item do you use most often in your daily life, and how does it harm the environment?
B. Explore the Text
1. What is the purpose of the text?
ⓐ to criticize the use of disposable items
ⓑ to encourage an eco-friendly attitude
ⓒ to point out the dangers of plastic waste
2. Which statement is NOT true?
ⓐ Sustainable design has a positive impact on our planet.
ⓑ The shoes become flowers when exposed to water.
ⓒ The birdseed plates easily break into pieces.
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