Table of Contents
Plastic fish-shaped containers for soy sauce may soon disappear.
The containers have been used for many years at sushi restaurants worldwide. But now, the state of South Australia will be the first place to stop using them. This ban on single-use plastics began on September 1.
The plastic fish containers were invented in Japan in 1954. A man named Teruo Watanabe created a small plastic container for soy sauce. He called his invention the “Lunch Charm.” Soon, the plastic fish containers became very popular in Japan and then around the world.
Under the new law in South Australia, it will be illegal to sell or give away pre-filled soy sauce containers that hold less than 30 milliliters (about one ounce). But the ban does not include small plastic bags, called sachets. The government hopes that sushi restaurants will start using large bottles of soy sauce instead.
According to a South Australian government minister, the plastic fish containers are used for only a few seconds. But they are small and can easily fall on the ground or be blown into drains. This makes them a major source of trash on streets and beaches.
A marine expert, Dr. Nina Wootton, says the plastic fish containers can harm sea animals. Because the containers are shaped like a fish, other fish and sea animals might mistake them for real food and eat them. Also, the plastic is very thick, so it takes a long time to break down.
The ban is a good first step, but some people say more is needed. They believe governments should make stronger laws to reduce all plastic pollution.
Vocabulary
- Shaped – Having a certain form/shape, like a circle or a square; to be a shape
- Container – Something that holds or stores items
- Disappear – can’t be found; vanish; not able to be seen
- Worldwide – all around the world; everywhere in the world
- State – A large area of land that has its own government (The USA has 50 states)
- Ban – to not allow; to stop; to forbid; prohibit;
- Single-use – something that you can only use one time
- Invent – to make something new that no one else has made before
- Name – To give something/someone a name
- Create – to make something new or original; produce
- Invention – A new thing that someone has made for the first time ever
- Charm – Something that is small and attractive; something small that people can hold and is cute
- Popular – Liked by many people; something many people like; common; frequent
- Around the world – worldwide; in many places in the world; in many countries
- Law – a rule, regulation, or guideline set by the government
- Illegal – not allowed by law; forbidden by official rules; unlawful; criminal
- Give away – To give something to someone for free
- Pre-filled – Already having something inside; already filled
- Include – to contain; incorporate; to be part of; to have something smaller as a part of it; come with
- Sachet – A small, flat bag, usually for liquids
- Government – the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Hope – something good that you want to happen in the future; a confident feeling about what will happen in the future; wish
- According to – as ‘someone’ said; as stated by ‘someone’; in the opinion of ‘someone’
- Minister – a government person in charge of a department; government secretary; politician
- Drain – A pipe that carries water away; the hole in a sink or a bathtub that water goes down
- Major – very important, big or significant
- Source – any thing or place from which something comes from or is obtained; origin; where something comes from; the original; a reference; a person who tells secrets
- Marine – related to the ocean or the sea;
- Expert – a person with a lot of knowledge and experience in a trade, job or profession
- Harm – injury, damage, or problems you create;
- Mistake – to be wrong about something; to misunderstand
- Break down – To fall apart or decompose; To turn into smaller and smaller pieces until nothing is left
- First step – The beginning of a plan or process; the first thing you do for a project or plan
- Reduce – to make less; make smaller; decrease; bring down; shrink
- Pollution – Trash or dirt that makes the air, land, or water unclean; damage caused to water, air, etc. by harmful substances like chemicals or waste;
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- Do you think banning plastic soy sauce containers is a good idea? Why or why not?
- What other single-use plastic items do you see in your daily life?
- Do you think a similar law would be good for your country? Why?
- What can a regular person do to help reduce plastic waste?
- Would you prefer to use a large bottle of soy sauce or a small plastic container at a restaurant? Why?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Plastic fish-shaped _____ for soy sauce may soon disappear.
_____ containers have been used for many years at _____ restaurants worldwide. But now, the state of _____ Australia will be the first place to stop using _____. This ban on single-use plastics began on _____ 1.
The plastic fish containers were _____ in Japan in 1954. A man named Teruo Watanabe _____ a small plastic container for soy sauce. _____ called his invention the “Lunch Charm.” Soon, the plastic _____ containers became very popular in Japan and _____ around the world.
Under the new law in South Australia, _____ will be illegal to sell or give away pre-filled soy sauce containers _____ hold less than 30 milliliters (about one ounce). But the ban does not _____ small plastic bags, called sachets. The government _____ that sushi restaurants will start using large bottles of soy sauce _____.
According to a South Australian _____ minister, the plastic fish containers are used for only a _____ seconds. But they are small and can easily _____ on the ground or be blown into drains. This makes them a _____ source of trash on streets and beaches.
A _____ expert, Dr. Nina Wootton, says the plastic fish containers _____ harm sea animals. Because the containers are shaped _____ a fish, other fish and sea animals might _____ them for real food and eat them. Also, the _____ is very thick, so it takes a long time to break _____.
The ban is a good first _____, but some people say more is needed. They _____ governments should make stronger laws to reduce all _____ pollution.
