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2022 ‫מועד סתיו‬ - 49 - ‫ פרק שני‬- ‫אנגלית‬

Text II (Questions 18-22)

(1) In 2008, the East African nation of Rwanda banned plastic bags. Although more
than 40 countries around the world – including China, France, and Italy – have
prohibited, restricted, or taxed the use of plastic bags, Rwanda's policy is unprecedented
in scope. It is illegal in Rwanda to import, produce, use, or sell plastic bags or

(5) packaging, except within specific sectors of the economy, notably the healthcare
industry. Violators of the policy are subject to heavy fines or even imprisonment and
may be forced to make a public apology. The law also applies to visitors entering the
country; any plastic bags in their possession are confiscated at the border.

The campaign against plastic is part of the Rwandan government's overall effort to
(10) present an image of a prosperous and modern country that is attractive to international

visitors. Essential to this image is cleanliness, and eliminating the plastic bags that once
littered the streets and clogged the drainage system was a primary focus of this
endeavor. On the surface, Rwanda's extreme measures have been remarkably effective.
Numerous international environmental agencies have praised the program's success.
(15) Kigali, Rwanda's capital, is now considered to be the cleanest city in Africa.

Nevertheless, the ban has created serious new problems. The government has failed
to provide a viable substitute to market vendors and their customers, all of whom rely
heavily on plastic bags to package and carry meat, produce, and other staples. As a
result, people smuggle plastic bags in from neighboring countries to sell on the black

(20) market. For them, the financial incentives outweigh the harsh consequences of getting
caught.

Questions

18. An appropriate title for this text would be -

(1) Rwanda's Campaign against Plastic: The Impact on Tourism
(2) Rwanda's Cleanliness Program: Popular with the People
(3) Rwanda's Plastic Bag Ban: Imperfect Success
(4) Rwanda Achieves the Impossible: Getting Rid of Plastic

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