Speaking vocabulary · Topic 12 of 46
Rubbish and recycling
Model answers to every Part 1 question on this topic, with natural B2–C1 vocabulary and idiomatic phrasal verbs to help you answer in your own words.
In this lesson you will
- read and listen to model answers to 4 Part 1 questions about rubbish and recycling
- learn 10 natural phrases, including idiomatic phrasal verbs
- practise them in a gap fill, drag-the-word, multiple-choice and crossword
- answer the questions yourself and record your answers
Step 1
Key vocabulary
- sort outseparate things into groups
- throw outget rid of something you don't want
- pick uplift something up from the ground
- litterrubbish that people leave in public places
- eco-friendlynot harmful to the environment
- make a differencehave a good effect on a situation
- catch onbecome popular
- set an examplebehave in a way that others should copy
- single-usemade to be used once and then thrown away
- pile upincrease in quantity until there is too much
Step 2
Model answers
Read and listen. The highlighted phrases are the vocabulary for this topic: hover over or tap them to see what they mean. Notice how each answer gives a reason or an example, not just “yes” or “no”.
Do people in your country usually sort their rubbish?
It's becoming much more common, because waste sorting was made compulsory in big cities like Shanghai a few years ago. Now people have to sort out their rubbish into different bins. Although it took a while to catch on, most people are used to it now.
Did you recycle when you were a child?
Not really, because back then most families just threw out everything together. The only things we saved were cardboard and old newspapers, which my grandmother sold to a local collector.
What do you do if you see litter in the street?
If it's just a bit of litter near a bin, I'll usually pick it up and throw it away. It's a small thing, but if everyone did it, it would really make a difference, and it helps to set an example for children who are watching.
How do you recycle things like paper and plastic?
I keep a separate bag for paper and plastic in my kitchen, which I take down to the recycling bins before it starts to pile up. I also try to avoid single-use plastic, so I buy more eco-friendly products, like refillable bottles, whenever I can.
Step 3
Practise the vocabulary
Match the meanings
Choose the phrase that matches each meaning.
- rubbish that people leave in public places
- lift something up from the ground
- not harmful to the environment
- separate things into groups
- increase in quantity until there is too much
- become popular
- have a good effect on a situation
- get rid of something you don't want
- made to be used once and then thrown away
- behave in a way that others should copy
Gap fill: use the right form
Complete the answers with phrases from the box. You may need to change the form (e.g. drag on → dragged on, struggle with → struggling with).
Do people in your country usually sort their rubbish?
It's becoming much more common, because waste sorting was made compulsory in big cities like Shanghai a few years ago. Now people have to their rubbish into different bins. Although it took a while to , most people are used to it now.
What do you do if you see litter in the street?
If it's just a bit of near a bin, I'll usually and throw it away. It's a small thing, but if everyone did it, it would really , and it helps to for children who are watching.
Drag the words
Drag each phrase into the right gap. On a phone, tap a phrase and then tap the gap. Tap a filled gap to empty it.
Did you recycle when you were a child?
Not really, because back then most families just everything together. The only things we saved were cardboard and old newspapers, which my grandmother sold to a local collector.
How do you recycle things like paper and plastic?
I keep a separate bag for paper and plastic in my kitchen, which I take down to the recycling bins before it starts to . I also try to avoid plastic, so I buy more products, like refillable bottles, whenever I can.
Choose the right phrase
Which phrase completes each sentence?
- Now people have to ______ their rubbish into different bins.
- Although it took a while to ______, most people are used to it now.
- Not really, because back then most families just ______ everything together.
- If it's just a bit of ______ near a bin, I'll usually pick it up and throw it away.
- It's a small thing, but if everyone did it, it would really ______, and it helps to set an example for children who are watching.
- I keep a separate bag for paper and plastic in my kitchen, which I take down to the recycling bins before it starts to ______.
Crossword
Write the phrases without spaces or hyphens. The numbers in brackets show the length of each word, e.g. kill time (4,4) → KILLTIME.
| 1 | |||||||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | ||||||||||||||
| 6 | |||||||||||||||
| 7 | |||||||||||||||
| 8 | |||||||||||||||
| 9 | |||||||||||||||
| 10 |
Across
- 4 made to be used once and then thrown away (6-3)
- 7 get rid of something you don't want (5,3)
- 8 not harmful to the environment (3-8)
- 9 increase in quantity until there is too much (4,2)
- 10 have a good effect on a situation (4,1,10)
Down
- 1 rubbish that people leave in public places (6)
- 2 lift something up from the ground (4,2)
- 3 behave in a way that others should copy (3,2,7)
- 5 separate things into groups (4,3)
- 6 become popular (5,2)
Step 4
Now you answer
Pick a question, then answer it out loud in two or three sentences. Try to use at least two phrases from this lesson, and give a reason or an example. Record yourself and listen back: did you sound natural? Did you extend your answer?
Press Record, answer out loud, then listen back.
Questions: frequently reported IELTS Speaking Part 1 topics. Model answers and exercises written for Tips4IELTS.