The introduction of disposable plastic cups in trains was initially welcomed for hygiene reasons, yet it created a serious environmental problem. Explain why, and state what principle this illustrates about assessing the long-term impact of new materials or technologies before adopting them widely.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 01:00 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Disposable plastic cups were welcomed in trains because each passenger got a fresh, hygienic cup. However, plastic is non-biodegradable — it cannot be broken down by bacteria or other biological processes and persists in the environment for a very long time. Millions of cups discarded daily led to massive accumulation of plastic waste, harming the ecosystem.
This illustrates the principle that new materials or technologies must be assessed for their long-term environmental impact before being adopted widely, not just for their immediate benefits.
Source: Chapter 13, Section 13.2.2 — Managing the Garbage we Produce
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Explanation
- Examiners expect two clear parts: (1) why plastic cups became a problem (non-biodegradable nature) and (2) the principle illustrated.
- Use the term "non-biodegradable" — it is the key vocabulary from this section.
- The textbook's "Think it over" box on disposable cups is the direct source; quote its idea that "no one thought about the impact of disposing millions of cups daily."
- Don't go beyond ~80 words; this is a 3-mark answer. Two focused points + the principle = full marks.