These days, wearing a face mask (口罩) is a common thing to do, and it helps prevent diseases during COVID-19. However, that also means single-use face masks, gloves, and other PPE are the newest forms of rubbish on city streets, beaches, and in the ocean.

This is bad for all, and there are many reasons. And one of the worst ones is that the littered face masks can seriously hurt animals. Ashley Fruno, a member of an animal rights group said, “Face masks aren’t going away soon.” So when we throw them away, they can be bad for the environment and the animals that live on the same planet as us.

Monkeys have been found biting the straps (带子) of used masks in the hills outside Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur. This may make them lose their breath or even die. In Britain, a seabird’s legs have been found tangled (缠住) in the straps of a mask for up to a week. It was a painful experience for the seabird.

It’s hard to believe that face masks that once saved people’s lives are now killing wild animals. A large number of face masks are moving to the living places of animals. If you wear a single-use face mask, make sure of throwing it away properly. Never litter it on the ground, or throw it away outside, as the wind could blow it away.

Please don’t let the masks become a night-mare for wildlife. Thank you for doing your part to keep all animals safe!

In China, each year we produce about 150 million tons of city waste according to a report. Where does the waste go? People usually burn or bury (埋) it. On the other hand, we receive waste from some developed countries. 【小题1】 What about the useless part? Still burned or buried. But is it a proper way?

Waste pollutes the environment, harms people’s health and causes animals to die. It also gets in the way of green and sustainable (可持续的) development. 【小题2】 We should leave clean water and green mountains to our next generations (一代人).

China is getting really serious about waste now.

【小题3】 From January 2018, China started to stop 24 kinds of waste coming into our country. And more laws and rules about dealing with waste have been made. Anyone who breaks the law will be punished.

China also tries to put waste into good use. One example is the waste electricity factories. 【小题4】 No harmful gases or water will get into the environment.

The Chinese government is encouraging people to do waste sorting (分类). Cities like Shanghai, Chongqing and Beijing have their own sorting systems. More will join them soon. As President Xi Jinping said during visit to Shanghai, waste sorting is new fashion (时尚). 【小题5】