文字稿

近日，英國國會議員發起了一個向外帶咖啡杯征稅的建議。議員們認為，對外帶咖啡杯征稅可以減少一次性紙杯的使用，并同時鼓勵商家多使用可回收再利用的杯子。但英國政府對沾滿咖啡泡沫的紙杯是否能真正被回收提出了質疑。

When MPs proposed a levy on throwaway coffee cups, it caught the public’s imagination. The MPs said the idea could radially cut the number of cups littering the streets and nudge coffee shops to providing recyclable cups.

The government said it wasn’t convinced that the recycling industry could handle supposedly recyclable cups that were actually covered in cold cappuccino froth. Ministers said shop owners could offer discounts for coffee drinkers carrying their own cups. But the MPs said taxes would prove much more effective than discounts and accused the government of not taking plastic waste seriously.

The government denied that and said the situation was too complex to rush into hasty solutions.

英國國會議員發起向外帶咖啡杯征稅的建議引起了民眾的關注。議員們稱這個計劃可以大幅地減少外帶杯被亂扔在街頭的數量，并且能鼓勵咖啡店給顧客提供可回收再利用的杯子。

英國政府表示，他們不相信回收行業可以處理這些所謂可回收的杯子，尤其是當杯中沾了一層冷卡布奇諾沫。大臣們說雖然咖啡店主可給自帶杯子的顧客打折，但稅收會比折扣更有效。他們同時指責政府沒有認真對待塑料垃圾的問題。

英國政府否認了這一說法，并表示問題過于復雜而不應草率解決。

1. 詞匯表

levy 稅收額，征稅
nudge 輕推，鼓勵
handle 處理
recyclable 可回收再利用的
froth（液體表面的）白沫
hasty 草率的

2. 閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題 。

1. How did the public react when MPs proposed a levy on throwaway coffee cups?

2. What benefits did MPS believe it would have?

3. What problem did the government believe the recycling industry can’t handle?

4. What did MPs accuse the government of?

3. 答案

1. How did the public react when MPs proposed a levy on throwaway coffee cups?
When MPs proposed a levy on throwaway coffee cups, it caught the public’s imagination.

2. What benefits did MPS believe it would have?  
The MPs said the idea could radially cut the number of cups littering the streets and nudge coffee shops to providing recyclable cups.

3. What problem did the government believe the recycling industry can’t handle?
Recycling supposedly recyclable cups that were actually covered in cold cappuccino froth.

4. What did MPs accuse the government of?
MPs accused the government of not taking plastic waste seriously.