Worksheet on plastic bag usage and environmental concerns in Wales, featuring multiple-choice questions and a reading passage.

Here is the solution to the multiple-choice questions based on the provided text “FOCUS: UNIT TEST SECTION 2 GROUP B”.

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Question 1: In 2011, a small number of free plastic bags were given in Wales. Shops were no longer allowed to give away free plastic bags to their customers. Instead, they had to charge a fee of 5p per bag, which was collected and given to charity. The results were amazing – within a year, the demand for supermarket bags fell by about ninety-six percent. The extra charge was enough to make Welsh shoppers change their habits and remember to take their own bags wherever they went shopping.

> What was the result of a huge campaign, which was supported by a national newspaper, the Daily Mail, as well as various politicians and green campaigners?

The paragraph does not mention a “huge campaign” supported by the Daily Mail or politicians — that detail appears later in the text, referring to a different context (the UK government’s decision in 2015). The paragraph above describes the *result* of the 5p charge introduced in Wales in 2011.

The key sentence:
> “The results were amazing – within a year, the demand for supermarket bags fell by about ninety-six percent.”

This directly matches option B:
✔ B. plastic bags were made illegal in Wales. — ✘ Incorrect. Plastic bags were not made illegal; they were charged at 5p each.

✔ C. Welsh shops stopped selling plastic bags. — ✘ Incorrect. They didn’t stop selling them; they started charging for them.

✔ D. Welsh shoppers stopped using plastic bags. — ✘ Not quite accurate. They didn’t completely stop using them — demand *fell by 96%*, meaning usage dropped dramatically, but not to zero.

✔ A. Welsh shops stopped giving away free plastic bags. — ✔ CORRECT. This is exactly what happened: shops were no longer allowed to give them away for free — they had to charge 5p per bag.

➡️ Answer: A

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Question 2: Every year in the UK eighteen billion plastic supermarket bags are used.

> Which of the following is NOT true?

Let’s evaluate each option:

✔ A. are used. — True. The text says “eighteen billion... are used.”

✔ B. are eaten by birds. — The text says: “It is incredibly popular too. When it is not used, it is often found in the environment. Every year in the UK about eighteen billion plastic bags are given away by supermarkets... It is also harmful to wildlife. Wildlife is affected too, for example, every year a million seabirds die when they mistake bags floating on the sea for food.” → So yes, birds eat them (mistaking them for food).

✔ C. are bought by shoppers. — The text says they are “given away by supermarkets,” not bought — except after 2011 in Wales, where they were sold for 5p. But generally, in the UK context described here, they were *given away*. So this may be misleading — but the question is asking which is NOT true, and we need to find the one that contradicts the passage.

✔ D. go to landfill sites. — The text doesn’t explicitly say this, but it implies environmental harm and littering — landfill is a logical destination for discarded bags. However, the passage doesn’t state this directly.

Wait — let’s re-read the passage carefully.

Actually, the passage says:
> “Every year in the UK about eighteen billion plastic bags are given away by supermarkets...”

So they are given away, not bought. Therefore, saying they “are bought by shoppers” is not true according to the text.

➡️ Answer: C

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Question 3: Most plastic bags in the UK are imported from the rest of Europe.

> Which of the following is NOT true?

Options:

✔ A. are imported from the rest of Europe. — True, as stated.

✔ B. come from outside Europe. — ✘ Contradicts the statement. If they come from “rest of Europe,” they do NOT come from *outside* Europe.

✔ C. are made locally. — The text says “imported,” so they are not made locally → so this is false.

✔ D. go to landfill sites. — Again, not stated, but possible. But the question asks for what is NOT true based on the passage.

The passage says:
> “Most plastic bags in the UK are imported from the rest of Europe.”

So:

- A = TRUE
- B = FALSE (because “rest of Europe” ≠ “outside Europe”)
- C = FALSE (if imported, not made locally)
- D = unknown / not stated

But the question likely expects us to pick the option that directly contradicts the passage.

Between B and C — both seem false.

However, note: “come from outside Europe” would mean non-European countries — which contradicts “imported from the rest of Europe.” So B is clearly false.

C (“are made locally”) — if they’re imported, they’re not made locally → also false.

But perhaps the question is designed so that only one answer is correct — and since B directly contradicts the geographic source mentioned, while C is an inference, B is the most direct contradiction.

Wait — let’s look again.

Actually, the passage says:
> “Most plastic bags in the UK are imported from the rest of Europe.”

So:

- They are NOT made locally → C is false.
- They are NOT from outside Europe → B is false.

But the question says: “Which of the following is NOT true?” — implying only one answer.

In such cases, we must choose the one that is most directly contradicted.

Actually, C is the best answer because if they are *imported*, then they are *not made locally* — so saying “are made locally” is not true.

Whereas “come from outside Europe” — the passage says “from the rest of Europe,” which is still *within* Europe, so “outside Europe” is false — but “rest of Europe” could be misinterpreted.

Actually, both B and C are false, but C is more directly contradicted: if imported, not locally made.

But let’s check the answer key logic.

Alternatively — perhaps the passage implies that some are made locally? No — it says “most... are imported,” meaning the majority are not locally made — so saying “are made locally” (without qualification) is misleading and not true.

Similarly, “come from outside Europe” is also not true.

But looking at standard test design, C is likely the intended answer because “made locally” is the direct opposite of “imported.”

➡️ Answer: C

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Question 4: The tax is popular in Wales because the money goes to local charities.

> Why is the tax popular in Wales?

Options:

✔ A. goes to India and China. — ✘ No, it goes to local charities in Wales.

✔ B. goes to good causes. — ✔ Yes — “the money goes to local charities” — charities are good causes.

✔ C. changes people’s habits. — While true (it changed behavior), the passage says popularity is due to the money going to charity, not habit change.

✔ D. helps the government. — The passage says “the popularity... is that the money goes to charity, not the government.”

So the reason for popularity is that the money goes to charity → which are “good causes.”

➡️ Answer: B

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Question 5: In this article, the author shows...

Options:

✔ A. support for supermarkets. — ✘ No, the article criticizes plastic bag use and supports reducing it.

✔ B. no opinion. — ✘ The author clearly has an opinion — supporting reduction of plastic bags, praising the Welsh model.

✔ C. approval of the tax. — ✔ Yes — the author calls the results “amazing,” notes the popularity, and highlights success.

✔ D. sympathy to shoppers. — ✘ Not really — shoppers adapted successfully.

➡️ Answer: C

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## ✔ Final Answers:

1. A
2. C
3. C
4. B
5. C

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## 💡 Explanation Summary:

- The passage discusses how introducing a small charge (5p) for plastic bags in Wales led to a dramatic drop in usage (96%), showing behavioral change through economic incentive.
- It contrasts this with the UK-wide problem of 18 billion bags used annually, many harming wildlife.
- The tax is popular because proceeds go to charity, not government.
- Most bags are imported from Europe, not made locally.
- The author clearly approves of the tax and its outcomes.

These answers are based strictly on the text provided.