Biodegradable Plastics Reading Answers

Sep 6, 2024

Biodegradable Plastics Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Biodegradable Plastics Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total.In the first section, you have to label the parts in the image. Then you have to choose the correct options. In the next section, you have to tell whether the statements are true or false.

Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers feature topics such as Biodegradable Plastics Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

Section 1

Biodegradable Plastics

With advances in technology and the increase in global population, plastic materials have found wide applications in every aspect of life and industry. However, most conventional plastics are non-biodegradable, and their increasing accumulation in the environment has become an ecological threat. Biodegradable plastics are seen by many as a promising solution to this problem, because they are environmentally friendly. Biodegradable plastics offer a lot of advantages, such as increased earth fertility, a low accumulation of bulky plastic materials in the environment (which would certainly minimize injuries to wild animals), a reduction in the cost of waste management and the fact that they can be derived from renewable feedstock, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions The theory that people like to believe is that biodegradable plastic is synthesized in a factory from plant ingredients and then molded to create whatever product is required. After the product life is over, decomposition breaks the plastic down to carbon dioxide, which in turn can be returned to plants in nature through photosynthesis. The plant materials can then become part of the plastic creator process again. The key part of this process is the decomposition, which will be looked at in more detail below.

So, what are biodegradable plastics? Biodegradable plastics are plastics that can be broken down by microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi. It is important to note that biodegradable plastics are not necessarily made from biomaterial (i.e. plants). Several biodegradable plastics are even made from oil, in the same way as conventional plastics. It is also important to note the distinction between plastics that are degradable, biodegradable and compostable. People should be cautious when they see a plastic product that advertises that it is 'degradable,' but not 'biodegradable' or "compostable," because this is nothing special. These three terms are not really different classes' of plastic, in the sense of being separate sets. They are subsets of one another: all compostable plastics are biodegradable and all biodegradable plastics are degradable. There are many methods that can be used to break down degradable plastic, but this often just reduces it to extremely small pieces of the same plastic. Over a matter of years, it is possible for the pieces to become small enough to be assimilated by, and be harmful to, wild creatures.

When something is biodegradable, it means it is degradable, but it also means something more: it means that it can be broken down by the metabolism of microorganisms. When a plastic is biodegradable, it can be digested, so that the carbon atoms in the chains of the polymer are broken apart and can actually participate in the creation of other organic molecules. They can be processed by, and become safe parts of, organic living things. This returns them to nature in a very real sense: they become part of the carbon cycle of the ecology of the earth. When something is compostable, it means that it biodegrades, but it also means that it will degrade within a certain amount of time, under certain conditions. For many types of degradable plastic, it is possible to say that it will break down 'eventually,' but if it were to be sealed in an airtight room, this could take thousands of years.

Using biodegradable plastics as an environmentally friendly solution for things such as plastic bags seems sensible at first glance but is it really better for the environment? There is a growing environmental lobby that feels that the rubbish issue should be solved by changing people's attitudes rather than by changing the products they are throwing away. Making products biodegradable may actually make the problem of rubbish worse, by making people think that it is acceptable to throw away valuable resources like plastics For example, a biodegradable plastic bag that's thrown into a hedge will still take years to disappear, rather than days, as some people believe. Even a thrown away banana skin needs one to three years before it is biodegraded. What is more, biodegradable plastics require specific conditions to biodegrade properly, including the presence of micro-organisms, temperature, and humidity, and if not managed properly, they may be worse for the environment than conventional plastics. When biodegradable plastics are put into landfill, which should always be avoided in any case, they produce harmful greenhouse gasses when breaking down.

So what are biodegradable plastics good for? In principle, plastics are valued for their ability to make strong, durable products, for example in food storage, transport, building and construction. Biodegradability should therefore be regarded as an additional functionality when the application demands a cheap way to dispose of the item after it has fulfilled its job. One theoretical example of a useful biodegradable product can be found in the food packaging industry. The packaging itself can be composted together with its contents when the product is past its sell-by date or spoiled. There are plenty of other examples such as in agriculture or medicine. In conclusion it is a mistake to focus on finding ways to make products easier to throw away in the name of helping the environment. Biodegradable plastics are exciting and useful materials, but they should only be used when they have a definite benefit for a specific product. The best way to help save the planet is to save energy and improve ways of recycling and recovering all plastics.

Questions 1 and 2

Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD from the text for each.

Answer: DECOMPOSITION

Supporting statement: “.....The key part of this process is the decomposition, which will be looked at in more detail below.....”

Keywords: decomposition

Keyword Location: para 1, Line 12

Explanation: The passage emphasizes that decomposition is a crucial part of the biodegradable plastic process, where the plastic breaks down into simpler substances. The term directly connects to the breakdown of biodegradable plastics after their life cycle.

Answer: PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Supporting statement: “.....After the product life is over, decomposition breaks the plastic down to carbon dioxide, which in turn can be returned to plants in nature through photosynthesis.....”

Keywords: photosynthesis

Keyword Location: para 1, Line 10

Explanation: The passage explains that after biodegradable plastics decompose, the resulting carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants through photosynthesis, illustrating a cyclical process where the material returns to nature.

Questions 3 - 6

Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.

One benefit of biodegradable plastics is that
wildlife can feed on the end results.
they take up less room in landfill.
they break down quickly in landfill.
they can improve the fertility of the soil.

Answer: D

Supporting statement: “.....Biodegradable plastics offer a lot of advantages, such as increased earth fertility.....”

Keywords: fertility, earth

Keyword Location: para 1, Line 6

Explanation: The passage highlights that biodegradable plastics can enhance soil fertility, which is a key environmental benefit. This advantage makes biodegradable plastics valuable in improving the quality of the soil.

To be classed as a biodegradable plastic, it must
originate from plant material.
be able to be broken down by microscopic bodies.
be disintegrated by carbon dioxide exposure.
have some fossil fuel oil in it.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: “.....Biodegradable plastics are plastics that can be broken down by microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi......”

Keywords: microorganisms, broken

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 1

Explanation: The passage clearly defines biodegradable plastics as those that can be decomposed by microorganisms. This ability to break down via biological processes is the defining characteristic of biodegradable plastics.

If a plastic is compostable,
it must also be biodegradable.
it cannot also be degradable.
it can be broken down to very small plastic pieces.
it cannot also be recyclable.

Answer: A

Supporting statement: “.....All compostable plastics are biodegradable.....”

Keywords: compostable, biodegradable

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 7

Explanation: The passage clarifies that compostable plastics are a subset of biodegradable plastics, meaning that all compostable plastics must also be biodegradable.

Degradable plastics can
not be recycled once the degrading process has started.
only be broken down with the presence of oxygen.
all be safely disposed of in the ground.
still absorbed by some animals.

Answer: D

Supporting statement: “.....Over a matter of years, it is possible for the pieces to become small enough to be assimilated by, and be harmful to, wild creatures.....”

Keywords: assimilated, wild

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 10

Explanation: The passage explains that degradable plastics can break down into small pieces that may be absorbed by animals, potentially causing harm. This demonstrates the environmental risks associated with degradable plastics.

Question 7

Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.

Biodegradable plastics can become
a key part of biofuel resources.
parts in the bicycle industry.
part of the harmless formation of different organic molecules
non-degradable very easily.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: “.....When a plastic is biodegradable, it can be digested, so that the carbon atoms in the chains of the polymer are broken apart and can actually participate in the creation of other organic molecules.....”

Keywords: molecules, broken

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 3

Explanation: The passage describes how biodegradable plastics can be broken down into their basic components, which can then be used to form other organic molecules. This process returns the materials to the natural carbon cycle, making them harmless.

Questions 8 - 13

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text?

In boxes 8 - 13 on your answer sheet write:

TRUE If the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

Compostable plastics can break down in the required time in any circumstances.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “.....When something is compostable, it means that it will degrade within a certain amount of time, under certain conditions......”

Keywords: conditions, compostable

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 7

Explanation: The passage states that compostable plastics require specific conditions to biodegrade properly, such as the presence of microorganisms, appropriate temperature, and humidity. Therefore, they do not break down in any circumstances, contradicting the statement.

If people are not careful, biodegradable plastics could make the waste problem worse.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “.....Making products biodegradable may actually make the problem of rubbish worse, by making people think that it is acceptable to throw away valuable resources like plastics......”

Keywords: rubbish, worse

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 5

Explanation: The passage suggests that biodegradable plastics might encourage irresponsible disposal behavior, potentially exacerbating the waste problem if people believe it is acceptable to throw away plastics without consideration.

Biodegradable plastics planned for use in the construction industry are currently going through an approval process.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: Since the passage does not address the use of biodegradable plastics in construction or any approval process, the correct answer is "Not Given."

Biodegradable plastics can produce unsafe by-products when breaking down.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “.....When biodegradable plastics are put into landfill, which should always be avoided in any case, they produce harmful greenhouse gases when breaking down.....”

Keywords: gases, breaking

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 10

Explanation: The passage mentions that when biodegradable plastics break down in landfills, they can produce harmful greenhouse gases. This indicates that they can have unsafe by-products under certain conditions, supporting the statement.

Biodegradable plastic is already being used with food that can be disposed of into the ground together with it.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “....The packaging itself can be composted together with its contents when the product is past its sell-by date or spoiled......”

Keywords: composted, food

Keyword Location: para 5, Line 4

Explanation: The passage provides an example of biodegradable plastics being used in the food packaging industry, where the packaging can be composted along with its contents when the food is spoiled. This supports the statement.

Farming is one industry where biodegradable products can be useful.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “.....There are plenty of other examples such as in agriculture or medicine.....”

Keywords: agriculture, examples

Keyword Location: para 5, Line 5

Explanation: The passage mentions that biodegradable products have applications in agriculture, indicating that farming is one of the industries where these products can be useful. This statement is directly supported by the passage.

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