ROB the rubbish
Most mountaineers will probably tell you that they climb mountains because of the challenge. But Rob the Rubbish climbs mountains to collect the rubbish.
Robin Kevan, aged 63, was horrified by the litter in the streets of his hometown, Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales. However, instead of complaining, he started to pick up the rubbish and most days filled a large plastic sack, or bin bag, by breakfast. One day, his wife wrote “Rob the Rubbish” on his jacket, and the name stuck.
In November 2005, Rob heard about the litter on Ben Nevis, the United Kingdom’s highest mountain. In a two-day visit, he filled six bin bags with rubbish. Wearing his yellow jacket and two pairs of gloves (because, he explains, you never know what you may encounter in other people’s rubbish), he has since climbed other mountains in the UK. He finds paper wrappers, plastic bags, soft drinks cans and bottles. These are the worst, because glass takes a million years to degrade.
Rob believes that tackling the problem of rubbish involves the re-education of a whole generation. Until then, he wants to do what he can to help restore the purity of natural beauty spots. In addition, his self-imposed task brings him other advantages: a healthy outdoor hobby, a sense of purpose and a feeling of satisfaction.
As a result of the publicity he had received, in autumn 2006 Rob climbed Mt Everest to collect rubbish from the base camp. Now he wants to visit Mt Kilimanjaro in east Africa. Rob hopes that he is raising awareness of the litter problem with his work. So, the next time you go hiking, make sure you don’t leave your rubbish behind.
QUESTIONS
1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE.
a) Ben Nevis was the first UK mountain that Rob climbed.
True (paragraph 3) “he has since climbed other mountains in the UK.”
b) Cans and bottles take the same amount of time to degrade.
False (paragraph 3) “[bottles] are the worst, because glass takes a million years to degrade.”
(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)
2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions.
a) In what ways does Rob benefit personally by collecting rubbish?
It is a healthy hobby, it gives him something useful to do and it makes him feel satisfied.
b) Why was Rob able to go to Mt Everest in 2006?
Because he had received a lot of publicity.
(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)
3. Find the words in the text that mean:
a) big (paragraph 2) large
b) bring back (paragraph 4) restore
c) job (paragraph 4) task
d) increasing (paragraph 5) raising
(Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)
4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.
a) The man who/that Rob met claimed that he hadn’t left (not leave) any litter on the mountain.
b) Besides gaining (gain) a feeling of satisfaction, Rob benefits (benefit) physically from his self-imposed task.
c) Climbing (climb) mountains is dangerous but it can also be exciting.
d) Rob found (find) a lot of litter when he climbed Ben Nevis in November 2005.
(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)
5. Write about 100 to 150 words on one of the following topics.
a) Write a letter to a friend describing the problem of litter in your hometown and what is being done to solve it.
b) What are the advantages and disadvantages of severe penalties such as jail terms for people who litter?
(Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)
Answers will vary.