Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. reuse
    • ex. Our school encourages the reuse of old bottles to help reduce waste.
  2. donate
    • ex. My cousins donated all their old toys to charity.
  3. yarn
    • ex. She used yarn to make a warm scarf for her daughter.
  4. retail
    • ex. A new retail shop opened across the street.
  5. transport
    • ex. Trucks transport fresh vegetables to the market every morning.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Creative reuse centers are helping people buy low-cost art materials while reducing waste. These stores sell craft materials that were donated, such as yarn, cloth, paint, and tools, at much lower prices than regular shops. Charlene Catalano bought yarn and other supplies for only $6 (about ¥950) at Brooklyn Creative Reuse instead of shopping at a large retail store.

Many art supplies are sold in large packs, but people often use only part of them. When the items that were never used before are thrown away, they can stay in landfills for a long time and may release harmful chemicals. Also, using these supplies again saves the water and energy needed to make, package, and transport new products.

Experts say people can make art more sustainable by buying only what they need and donating extra materials instead of throwing them away. Artists can also recycle paint through special programs or turn household items into art materials. Artist Rosina Morelli said shopping at a reuse center encouraged her to donate her own extra materials so that other people could use and enjoy them.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Reuse Centers

  • What do you think about reuse centers? Discuss.
  • Which do you prefer: shopping at reuse centers or at big retail stores? Why? Discuss.
  • If you owned a reuse center, what items would you ask people to donate? Why? Discuss.

Art and Sustainable Art Materials

  • Do you like doing art projects? Why or why not? Discus.
  • Why do you think many people throw away art materials they do not finish using? Discuss.
  • What could people do instead of throwing away extra art materials? Discuss.