Đề trắc nghiệm Reading Unit 5 (Environment) - Life A2-B1

Reading passage 1 (1-10): Our Town's Green Initiative

Our town, Greenfield, started an ambitious new recycling project last month, and it has already created a lot of discussion among the residents. The primary goal is to significantly reduce the amount of household rubbish we send to the city's main landfill, which is quickly running out of space. To achieve this, the council has placed several sets of new, brightly coloured bins around the town for different materials. The large green bins are designated for all types of glass bottles and jars. The blue ones are for paper and cardboard, including everything from newspapers to cereal boxes. Finally, the red bins are for metal items like tin cans and aluminium foil.

Currently, we don't have any special bins for plastic waste, which is a major concern for many families. However, the council has assured everyone that they are planning to introduce purple bins for plastics within the next six months. A lot of residents are happy with this change, seeing it as a positive step to protect our local environment. However, a few people, especially the elderly, say they don't have much time or energy to separate their rubbish so carefully. To address these concerns, the council published a small, easy-to-read guide with some useful information. This guide not only explains why recycling is critically important for our planet but also gives a little practical advice on how to organize waste easily at home. It even includes a calendar for collection days. The project ultimately needs everyone's collective effort to be successful and make Greenfield a cleaner place to live.

Reading passage 2 (11-20): Eco-Friendly Packaging from Mushrooms

In a world struggling with plastic pollution, a company in the United States has developed an innovative and much better alternative for the environment. This new type of packaging is not made in a factory from chemicals; surprisingly, it is made from mushrooms. The material, officially called 'myco-composite', is literally grown, not manufactured. The production process is brilliantly simple and sustainable. It begins with agricultural waste, such as corn husks or wood chips, which are materials often thrown away by farmers. This waste is carefully cleaned and then mixed with mycelium, which is the complex, thread-like root structure of mushrooms.

This organic mixture is then placed into a mould of any desired shape, for instance, the exact shape needed to protect a new mobile phone or a laptop inside its box. The mould is then left in a dark, controlled environment for about a week. During this period, the mycelium grows rapidly, feeding on the agricultural waste. As it grows, it acts like a powerful natural glue, binding all the loose waste particles together into a solid, cohesive block. The resulting material is not only strong but also incredibly lightweight, making it perfect for shipping. Most importantly, this new packaging is completely biodegradable. This means it breaks down naturally and returns to the soil in under two months when composted, leaving no harmful residue. This is a huge environmental improvement compared to traditional polystyrene (Styrofoam), which can take over 500 years to decompose and releases toxic chemicals. Nearly half of the company's clients, including some major electronics brands, are now using this mushroom packaging, and the number is growing every quarter.

Reading passage 3 (21-30): The Creative World of Upcycling

Many people are familiar with recycling, the process of breaking down waste materials like glass, paper, or plastic to manufacture completely new products. However, a different and arguably more creative concept called 'upcycling' is gaining popularity. Upcycling does not involve breaking down the materials. Instead, it is the art of taking an old, broken, or unwanted object and creatively transforming it into something new and useful, often with a higher perceived value or quality than the original item. For instance, old, worn-out car tyres can be turned into durable garden swings or beautiful, colourful planters for flowers. A stack of old magazines can become a unique stool, and glass bottles can be cut and polished to make stylish drinking glasses or lamps. The possibilities are truly endless, limited only by a person's imagination and skill.

Sarah, an artist with a passion for sustainability, runs a small boutique shop that sells only upcycled furniture and home decor. She spends her weekends visiting flea markets and second-hand stores, looking for old chairs with broken legs, tables with scratched surfaces, and drawers that people have thrown away. 'I see potential and a hidden story in things that other people see as rubbish,' she explains. She takes these items back to her workshop, carefully cleans them, repairs any broken parts, and then gives them a new life by painting them with unique, intricate designs. Her shop is very popular, especially with young professionals and students who want their homes to look distinctive and be environmentally friendly. Sarah believes upcycling is more than just a craft; it's a mindset. It encourages people to be resourceful, to see value in the old, and to think twice before buying something new. This, in turn, saves resources, reduces energy consumption, and prevents more items from ending up in landfills. While it may not solve the world's entire waste problem, upcycling is a powerful and creative step in the right direction.

Reading passage 4 (31-40): Oceanic Threads - A New Wave of Fashion

Welcome to Oceanic Threads!

Are you looking for stylish, high-performance clothing that also helps heal our planet? You've come to the right place. At Oceanic Threads, we create premium-quality apparel from a very surprising source: plastic rubbish collected directly from the ocean and its coastlines. Our brand was born from a deep love for the sea and a desire to combat the plastic pollution crisis.

Our Unique Process:
Every year, it is estimated that over eight million tons of plastic waste enter our oceans, harming marine life and delicate ecosystems. We partner with dedicated environmental organizations like the Ocean Cleanup Project, which operates in heavily polluted areas such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Their teams collect vast amounts of plastic bottles, fishing nets, bags, and other items. We take this recovered plastic and put it through a sophisticated process. First, it is sorted and thoroughly cleaned. Then, it is shredded into small flakes and melted down into pellets. These pellets are then extruded and spun into a soft, yet incredibly durable, high-performance yarn. This amazing yarn is the foundation for all of our products, from breathable T-shirts and waterproof jackets to sturdy backpacks and accessories.

Our Product Philosophy:
We offer a wide range of items for men and women who love the outdoors and care about their environmental footprint. All products are designed to be both fashionable and exceptionally long-lasting, encouraging a move away from 'fast fashion'. For example, our signature 'Wave Rider' jacket is fully waterproof, wind-resistant, and made from approximately 30 recycled plastic bottles. We consciously limit our colour palette because we want to avoid using a lot of harsh chemical dyes. Instead, we offer some timeless, classic choices inspired by the sea itself: ocean blue, sandy beige, deep black, and coral red. You can explore our full collection in our online catalogue.

Our Core Mission:
Our mission is simple yet powerful: to turn a devastating problem into a beautiful solution. By purchasing an item from Oceanic Threads, you are not just buying a piece of clothing. You are directly funding the clean-up of our oceans, supporting a circular economy, and making a statement that style and sustainability can go hand-in-hand. Would you like to join the new wave of fashion?

Reading passage 5 (41-50): The River Revitalization Project: A Community's Success

The Silver River, which flows through the very heart of our city, Northwood, was once a source of pride and beauty for all its residents. People used to swim in its clear waters and have picnics along its green banks. Over the last fifty years, however, the river suffered a slow and tragic decline. A lot of untreated industrial waste from old factories and tons of household rubbish ended up in the water, making it dangerously unsafe for both fish and plants. The river's once-clear water turned a murky, dark brown, and a terrible smell hung in the air, especially during the hot and humid summer months. Many long-time residents felt a deep sense of loss and sadness about this environmental degradation and desperately wanted to take meaningful action.

Finally, three years ago, a powerful, community-led initiative called the 'River Revitalization Project' was launched. This ambitious project has several interconnected goals. The first and most immediate goal is to physically clean the river itself. Every weekend, without fail, dozens of dedicated volunteers of all ages meet to remove rubbish from the water and the overgrown riverbanks. They have pulled out everything from plastic bags and bottles to old tyres and shopping carts. So far, they have collected over ten thousand kilogrammes of waste. The second goal is to prevent future pollution at its source. The project team actively works with the few remaining local factories to help them research and install modern, better waste management systems. They also run engaging educational campaigns in local schools, teaching the next generation about the vital importance of not throwing trash into the river or its drains.

A third, and perhaps the most inspiring, goal is to actively bring life back to the river's ecosystem. In a close partnership with marine biologists from the local university, the project has started a programme of reintroducing native fish species, like the Silver Perch, that had completely disappeared decades ago. Furthermore, they have planted hundreds of native trees, shrubs, and local plants along the riverbanks. These plants are crucial as they help to naturally filter the water, prevent soil erosion, and provide a critical habitat for birds, insects, and other small animals. The positive changes are already clearly visible. The water is significantly clearer, the bad smell has reduced, and several species of birds, including the kingfisher, have returned to nest. There is still a lot of work to do, but the project has given the city its hope back. It stands as a shining example that when a community unites with a shared purpose, it can truly heal its local environment.