B1 – Intermediate
The holiday season is a time when people celebrate with family and friends. Many people buy gifts, prepare special food, and decorate their homes. Because of this, there are more trash during the holidays. A lot of waste comes from food packaging, gift wrapping, and unused items. This situation can have a negative effect on the environment if people are not careful. Learning how to reduce, reuse, and recycle can help protect the planet amidst holiday celebrations.
Read the full article to learn more about how holiday waste affects the environment and what simple actions people can take to reduce it.
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2601/260101-holiday-waste.html
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “get-together” mean? “There are many holidays around the end of the year. These involve parties, family get-togethers, and the giving of gifts.”
Use it in a sentence and give a synonym or a similar expression. - What does “household waste” mean? “The USA’s Environmental Protection Agency estimates that household waste increases by 25 per cent over the holiday period.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym or a similar expression.
- What does “experience over stuff” mean? “She said one idea was to buy ‘experiences over stuff’.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym or a similar expression.
Discussion Questions:
- Have you noticed the same problem with garbage in your country during the holidays?
- Did you and your family create a lot of waste last holiday season?
- How do you avoid producing waste during celebrations?
- What are the recycling rules like in your city? Are they easy to follow?