despite/in spite of 后接名词或 -ing 形式,不接完整句子。用这个结构可以让你的观点更有层次,展示逻辑关系。注意不要接 but。
例句
Despite the charge, many people still buy plastic bags.
尽管要收费,许多人还是买塑料袋。
In spite of recycling more, the amount of waste is increasing.
尽管回收多了,垃圾量仍在增加。
常见错误
✗ Despite it is expensive, people buy plastic bags. → ✓ Despite being expensive, people buy plastic bags.
despite 后不能跟完整句子,要用名词或动名词。
↑ 提分:再高一档可用 although/even though + 完整句,更灵活交替使用。
阅读 Reading opinion note
Should Shops Charge for Plastic Bags?
A growing number of shops have started charging for plastic bags, and many people believe this is a good idea. Here are some opinions from local residents.
Maria: I support the charge. Before the charge, I used to throw away plastic bags after one use. Now I always take my own reusable bag. The small charge encourages people to change their habits. It also raises money for environmental projects.
James: I think the charge is unfair. Sometimes you forget your bag and then you have to pay. It is not a big charge, but it is still an extra cost. Also, many people need plastic bags for other uses at home, like lining bins. If the charge were higher, people might start reusing bags even more, but the current charge is just an inconvenience.
Emma: In my opinion, the charge is not enough—we should ban plastic bags completely. Even with the charge, plastic bags still end up in landfill or in the ocean. Biodegradable bags are better, but they still create waste. Reusable bags are the best solution.
Liam: I agree with James. The problem is not just bags; it is our throwaway culture. We need better education, not just a charge. If we taught children about the environment, they would grow up with better habits.
lining bins套在垃圾桶内衬throwaway culture用完即弃的文化
matching1.Match each person with their opinion. 1 Maria, 2 James, 3 Emma, 4 Liam
A thinks the charge is unfair
B believes education is more important
C supports the charge and now uses reusable bags
D wants to ban plastic bags completely
✅ 1-C, 2-A, 3-D, 4-B — Maria说'Now I always take my own reusable bag'对应C;James说'the charge is unfair'对应A;Emma说'we should ban plastic bags completely'对应D;Liam说'We need better education, not just a charge'对应B。
TFNG2.James thinks the charge is too expensive.
✅ FALSE — James说'It is not a big charge',说明他不觉得太贵,只是觉得不公平。
MCQ3.According to Emma, what is the problem with biodegradable bags?
A They are too expensive.
B They still create waste.
C They are not strong enough.
✅ B — Emma说'Biodegradable bags are better, but they still create waste.'
gap_fill4.Liam suggests that if we taught children about the environment, they would grow up with better ___.
✅ habits — 原文最后一句'...they would grow up with better habits.'
💡 技巧:观点匹配题先快速扫读人名,找出每个人说的一两个核心观点,再和选项一一对应。注意同义替换:'support the charge' 可能表达为 'I think it is a good idea'。
听力 Listening Section 3 · UK
情景:两个学生讨论学校关于减少塑料垃圾的提案(Section 3 学术讨论)
Tutor
So, what do you think about the proposed ban on single-use plastics on campus?
Liam
I think it's a great idea. It would really cut down on waste, especially in the cafeteria.
Emma
Yes, but we need to think about practical things. For example, if we banned plastic cups, what would people use instead?
Liam
They could bring their own reusable cups, like many already do.
Emma
That's true, but not everyone will remember. And some might not want to carry a cup around all day.
Tutor
What about a small deposit system? You pay a bit extra for a cup and get the money back when you return it.
Liam
That could work. It encourages people to return the cups, and the university can reuse them.
Emma
I'm not sure. In spite of the deposit, some people might just throw them away if it's not convenient.
Tutor
So the key is making it easy and convenient for students. Right, let's look at some data from other universities that have done this.
MCQ1.What is the main topic of the discussion?
A The cost of campus recycling
B A proposed ban on single-use plastics
C The quality of cafeteria food
✅ B — 导师开场说'proposed ban on single-use plastics on campus'。
gap_fill2.Liam thinks a ban would cut down on waste, especially in the ___.
✅ cafeteria — 他说'especially in the cafeteria'。
gap_fill3.Emma is concerned that not everyone will remember to bring their own ___ cup.
✅ reusable — 她说'But not everyone will remember'前面Liam提到'reusable cups'。
matching4.Match the speakers to their opinions: 1 Liam, 2 Emma
A suggests a deposit system
B thinks convenience is important for the plan to work
C supports the ban but worries about practicality
✅ 1-C, 2-B — Liam一开始支持,但被问到实际问题时他也同意存款方案,但Emma强调方便性;不过从对话看Liam支持禁令,Emma强调实用性。但这里matching:Liam说'It's a great idea'支持禁令对应C;Emma多次说'not everyone will remember'、'if it's not convenient'对应B。
TFNG5.The university has already introduced a deposit system for cups.
✅ FALSE — 导师提议'What about a small deposit system?'说明还没有实行。
Some people think that shops should charge customers for plastic bags to reduce waste. Others believe that this is not effective and that better education is needed. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Many shops have started charging for plastic bags in order to reduce waste. While some people support this idea, others argue that it is not enough and that education is more important. This essay will discuss both views and give my own opinion.
On the one hand, charging for plastic bags can be an effective way to cut down on waste. If customers had to pay a small amount, they would be more likely to bring their own reusable bags. This has been seen in many places where a small charge has reduced bag use by a large percentage. Moreover, the money from the charge can be used for environmental projects, which would have a positive impact on the community.
On the other hand, some people believe that a charge alone is not the solution. They say that even with the charge, many people still buy plastic bags because they are convenient. In spite of the extra cost, some customers forget their bags or simply do not care about the small fee. Furthermore, the real problem is our throwaway culture, which cannot be changed just by a charge. If we really want to reduce waste, we need better education in schools and public campaigns to raise awareness of the issue.
In my opinion, both approaches are necessary. A charge is a useful first step, because it makes people think about their habits. However, education is equally important to create long-term change. If schools taught children about the environmental consequences of plastic waste, they would grow up with more responsible habits. Therefore, I believe that governments should combine a small charge with strong educational programmes. In spite of the challenges, this is likely to be the most effective way to protect our environment.
逐句标注
语法“If customers had to pay a small amount, they would be more likely to bring their own reusable bags.”二类条件句,展示本课语法点。
语法“In spite of the extra cost, some customers forget their bags or simply do not care about the small fee.”使用 in spite of 表示让步,语法正确。
词汇“which would have a positive impact on the community”用 have a positive impact on 这个chunk提升词汇分。
衔接“On the one hand... On the other hand...”清晰的两段式讨论结构,衔接得当。
任务“I believe that governments should combine...”在结尾段明确给出个人观点,完整回应题目。
Q: Do you usually take your own bag when you go shopping?
Yes, I do. I keep a reusable bag in my backpack so that I don't need to buy plastic ones. It's a simple habit, but it helps the environment.
💡 用 so that 表示目的,简单清晰地回答。
Q: Do you think people in your country recycle enough?
I think it depends on the area. In big cities, there are recycling bins everywhere, so people recycle quite a lot. However, in smaller places, it's not so common because there aren't enough facilities.
💡 用 however 对比,展示连接词。
Part 2 · 提示卡
Describe a time when you tried to reduce waste in your daily life. You should say: what you did; why you decided to do it; how easy or difficult it was; and explain how you felt about the result.
I'd like to talk about when I started using a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic ones. I used to buy a bottle of water almost every day when I was out. Then I read an article about how many plastic bottles end up in landfill or in the ocean, and I felt quite guilty. So I bought a metal water bottle and started filling it at home before I went out. At first, it was a bit difficult to remember to take it with me, and sometimes I forgot and had to buy a drink anyway. But after a few weeks, it became a habit. Now I almost never buy plastic bottles. I feel much better knowing that I am creating less waste. It also saves me money, so I think it's a win-win situation.
Q: Why do some people still use a lot of plastic even though they know it's bad for the environment?
I think the main reason is convenience. Plastic is cheap and easy to use, and for many people, that is more important than thinking about the environment. Also, if everyone around you is using plastic, it's easy to follow the crowd. Changing habits is difficult, especially when there is no immediate consequence.
💡 分析原因:方便、从众心理、习惯难改。
Q: Is it the responsibility of individuals or governments to reduce plastic waste?
I believe it's both. Individuals can make small changes, like using reusable bags and bottles. However, governments have the power to introduce laws, such as banning certain plastics or charging a fee. If only individuals try to change, the impact is limited. So, in my opinion, governments should lead the way, but everyone needs to play their part.