Rubbish 2

Read the following passage, then answer the questions which follow it.
People don't like getting their hands dirty. Rubbish disposal has always been left to society’s
lower ranks, with an out of sight, out of mind attitude from people not directly involved.
5 Today, however, both the increase in the amount and the complexity of waste produced are
threatening human health and the environment as never before. The composition of waste has
altered, the most dramatic change being in the number of chemicals we dump. Chemicals in
the form of pills, pesticide or paint are an essential part of our lives. The disposal of waste
from this chemical feast has amplified existing shortcomings in the way we treat rubbish,
10 forcing us to confront what we would rather throw away. Contamination of water, air and soil
is widespread. Lead in the air affects our brains. Heavy metals in the soil are taken up by
plants and passed on to us when we eat them. The environment takes a toll as well. Trees are
dying from acid rain. Rivers run black with pollution. Mysterious green waste from petro-
chemical factories mar fields where children play.
15 The increase in complexity of waste has caught disposal authorities on the hop and today’s
hazardous waste is showing up the cracks in the disposal systems. The most common form of
waste disposal is the tip, nowadays called a landfill. Landfills are holes in the ground in which
rubbish is deposited. The rubbish settles and then decomposes. Liquids seep through into the
earth and down into the groundwater, into the water which we drink and use. Nature can cope
20 with a little such abuse but the quantity and toxicity of waste have outstripped Nature's
restorative powers. In order to cope with the problem of containing toxic oozings, modern
landfill sites are lined with impermeable plastic or clay which can isolate their contents. But
this is still a short-term measure: landfills will eventually leak.
Some rubbish is disposed of by incineration. The effectiveness of this depends on what you
25 are burning, at what temperature and where the smoke-borne waste finally lands. Black smoke
means that whatever is in the incinerator is not burning thoroughly. This can increase the
danger to the environment, as in the case with certain chemicals found in lubricants, electrical
transformers and a host of other things that we use every day. These chemicals are among the
most poisonous ever produced, and are very difficult to get rid of. High-temperature
30 incineration is thought to destroy them, but if they are burned at a lower temperature, deadly
toxins are emitted. High-temperature incineration, however, requires expert handling and
specialised kilns, so it is expensive.
Dumping waste straight into the sea is especially popular with island nations such as Britain.
The UK treats the seas around it as a personal dustbin, emptying most of its sewage there and
35 allowing industries to jettison their effluvia into the fishy depths. Britain’s dumping of nuclear
waste in the Atlantic has caused a storm of outrage and the practice has halted for the time
being. But overtures are being made to other countries to pave the way for dumping waste in
their territorial waters, far away from the vocal voters at home with their not in my backyard
attitude to waste.
40 Another way of dealing with waste is to recycle it. Industry is beginning to see the benefits in
reclaiming its toxic cast-offs. Nothing, however, can beat prevention and we all have our parts
to play. We only have to look in our dustbins. Bleaches, fluorescent light tubes, paint thinners,
nail polish, fly sprays and garden chemicals all add to the toxic problems. Households don't
produce as much waste as industry, yet it can be just as deadly.
45
a) What is an out of sight, out of mind attitude? (line 2)

b) Explain why human health and the environment are more at risk than ever before.
c) How has the disposal of chemical waste amplified existing shortcomings in the way we
treat rubbish? (line 7)
50 d) Explain the phrase to confront what we would rather throw away (line 8)
e) What word or phrase could be used in place of on the hop? (line 13)
f) What is meant by showing up the cracks? (line 14)
g) What is the abuse referred to in line 18?
h) What attempts are made to stop contamination of the groundwater?
55 i) Explain the phrase a short-term measure, as used in line 21.
j) Why does black smoke indicate added danger to the environment?
k) Explain the phrase jettison their effluvia into the fishy depths. (line 33)
1) Why are overtures being made to other countries to pave the way for dumping waste in
their territorial waters? (lines 35 - 36)
60 m) What is meant by to recycle it? (line 38)
n) What does the word prevention (line 39) refer to?
o) In a paragraph of 70-90 words, state the methods of dealing with waste and their
advantages and disadvantages as described by the author of the passage.

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Read the following passage, then answer the questions which follow it.

a) What is an out of sight, out of mind attitude? (line 2)

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