Question 12
GCE_MODEL_QUESTIONS_VOL1
•
2024
•
ENGLISH_LANGUAGE
•
objective
Write an opening statement for a debate on the motion: "This House would ban the use of plastic bags in all supermarkets." Your statement should (i) clearly adopt a stance, (ii) employ at least three different rhetorical strategies (e.g., rhetorical question, statistic, analogy), and (iii) anticipate two plausible counter‑arguments with brief rebuttals. The total response should not exceed 200 words.
Answer Options
A.
Ladies and gentlemen, I stand firmly for banning plastic bags in all supermarkets. In 2022 the UK generated 1.5 million tonnes of plastic‑bag waste, a figure that highlights the crisis. Banning them is like removing a splinter - painful at first but healing for the planet. We anticipate one objection: that retailers will lose profit. Evidence from Ireland shows a reduction in bag use, but the impact on sales is minimal. Thus, the ban is necessary.
B.
Ladies and gentlemen, imagine a world where supermarkets hand out bags that never decompose - can we ignore the damage? In 2022, the UK produced over 1.5 million tonnes of plastic‑bag waste, a staggering figure. Banning plastic bags will protect our oceans. We anticipate one objection: that consumers will find the ban inconvenient. However, reusable bags are already popular, so the concern is unfounded. Therefore, we should support the ban.
C.
Ladies and gentlemen, I urge you to support a total ban on plastic bags in supermarkets. In 2022, the UK generated over 15 million tonnes of plastic‑bag waste, overwhelming our ecosystems. Banning plastic bags is not an inconvenience; it is akin to removing a splinter - painful at first, but ultimately healing for the planet. We anticipate two objections: first, that shoppers will find the ban inconvenient. Yet the rise of affordable reusable bags shows consumers readily adapt when alternatives are provided. Second, that retailers will suffer financially. Evidence from Ireland, which introduced a similar ban, shows a 90 percent reduction in plastic‑bag use and a negligible impact on sales, with many stores reporting increased customer goodwill. Therefore, for environmental stewardship and long‑term economic benefit, we must support the ban.
Correct Answer
D.
Ladies and gentlemen, imagine walking into a supermarket and being handed a bag that will linger in our oceans for centuries - can we, in good conscience, continue this practice? In 2022, the UK generated over 1.5 million tonnes of plastic‑bag waste, a figure that dwarfs the 2 % of total waste that can be recycled. Banning plastic bags is not an inconvenience; it is akin to removing a splinter - painful at first, but ultimately healing for the planet.
We anticipate two objections: first, that shoppers will find the ban inconvenient. Yet the rise of affordable reusable bags shows consumers readily adapt when alternatives are provided. Second, that retailers will suffer financially. Evidence from Ireland, which introduced a similar ban, shows a 90 % reduction in plastic‑bag use and a negligible impact on sales, with many stores reporting increased customer goodwill. Therefore, for environmental stewardship and long‑term economic benefit, we must support the ban.
Correct Answer
D
Correct Option:
Ladies and gentlemen, imagine walking into a supermarket and being handed a bag that will linger in our oceans for centuries - can we, in good conscience, continue this practice? In 2022, the UK generated over 1.5 million tonnes of plastic‑bag waste, a figure that dwarfs the 2 % of total waste that can be recycled. Banning plastic bags is not an inconvenience; it is akin to removing a splinter - painful at first, but ultimately healing for the planet.
We anticipate two objections: first, that shoppers will find the ban inconvenient. Yet the rise of affordable reusable bags shows consumers readily adapt when alternatives are provided. Second, that retailers will suffer financially. Evidence from Ireland, which introduced a similar ban, shows a 90 % reduction in plastic‑bag use and a negligible impact on sales, with many stores reporting increased customer goodwill. Therefore, for environmental stewardship and long‑term economic benefit, we must support the ban.
About This Question
This is
Gce Model Questions Vol1
2024
English Language
Question 12.
It is one of the
objective
questions from the
2024
Gce Model Questions Vol1
English Language
examination.
Difficulty level:
Hard
.