Instructions: A week ago, China Daily gave a short report on the new measures on waste sorting issued by the municipal government of Beijing. The policy requires all service providers to reduce their use of disposables. At the same time, its residents are urged to meet the four standards of garbage classification, and anybody who fails to follow the new policy will have to pay 200 renminbi or $28.50 as a penalty. Is there any similar waste-sorting policy implemented where you live? If yes, how are people carrying it out? Are there any problems? What do you think are the possible barriers to the implementation of the polity? Read the following report and choose your own topic, but it should be related to environmental protection and also suitable for a short essay written in only THREE hours. You should write an expository or argumentative essay in 600 words or more about the issue and follow the basic 5-paragraph essay structure, which includes a title, an introduction, 2~4 body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You are expected to present your points through a thesis statement in the introduction paragraph and illustrate or support the points in the body paragraphs. As it is an open-book exam, online research is allowed; however, please cite all your sources and manage the time efficiently. The Grading Rubrics for your reference: 1. Essay Structure (短文结构, 20 points); 2. Central idea/Thesis Statement (中心论点, 20 points); 3. Paragraph Development & Coherence (段落扩展及连贯性, 20 points); 4. Description, Exposition, and/or Reasoning (描述、说明和/或论证, 20 points); 5. Grammatical Accuracy and Variety (语法准确和多样性, 10 points); 6. Range of Vocabulary (词汇丰富程度, 10 points). Note: No more than 15 % of your essay is allowed to be written by or quoted from others; scholastic dishonesty is definitely not acceptable. The essay would deserve a "0" if proved of plagiarism (剽窃), e.g. 30% and more, or even the whole, of the essay found to be “copy-and-pasted” from others. In addition, please do NOT share your essay drafts or inform others about the exam form and content after you finish the examination so that everybody, including yourself, would have the same fair opportunity as everybody else. ----------------------- Beijing to levy fines on people who fail to properly sort waste By Xin Wen, China Daily Updated: November 28, 2019 http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2019-11/28/content_37526126.htm New measures also require reduced use of disposables by service providers Beijing residents who fail to meet garbage classification standards will face fines up to 200 yuan ($28.50) if they refuse to rectify, starting May 1 after a newly revised regulation was passed by the capital's legislative body on Wednesday. The capital will use four garbage classification standards: kitchen waste, recyclables, hazardous waste and other waste, according to the newly amended regulation passed by the Standing Committee of Beijing Municipal People's Congress. Citizens and companies in Beijing may face punishment if they fail to sort domestic garbage. © China Daily Information Co.