Baccalauréat · Série D · Anglais — 2026

Text: Plastic Bags and Pollution: A Growing Environmental Concern

Plastic bags have become a common part of everyday life. They are used worldwide for carrying groceries, packaging goods, and many other purposes because they are cheap, lightweight, and convenient. However, plastic bags have also caused serious environmental problems, especially pollution.

One of the main problems with plastic bags is that they do not decompose easily. It can take hundreds of years for a plastic bag to break down in the environment. This means that when people throw plastic bags away carelessly, these bags accumulate in landfills, rivers, and oceans, harming wildlife and ecosystems.

Plastic bags are a major source of pollution in many cities around the world. They clog drainage systems, leading to floods during the rainy season. In countries like Burkina Faso, plastic pollution worsens urban sanitation problems and threatens public health.

Marine animals are especially affected by plastic bags. Many sea creatures, including turtles, fish, and birds, mistake plastic bags for food and swallow them. This can cause injury, starvation, or death. Furthermore, plastic bags break into smaller pieces called microplastics, which enter the food chain and may affect human health.

To address these issues, many countries and cities have introduced bans or taxes on plastic bags. These measures encourage people to use alternatives such as cloth or paper bags that are biodegradable and less harmful to the environment. Education campaigns also help raise awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and promote responsible waste disposal.

Individuals can also play a key role in reducing plastic bag pollution. Simple actions like refusing single-use plastic bags, reusing bags multiple times, and recycling can make a significant difference. Communities organizing clean-up events also help remove plastic waste from streets, rivers, and beaches.

Plastic bags have become a serious environmental challenge due to their contribution to pollution and harm to wildlife. By adopting sustainable alternatives and changing daily habits, societies can reduce plastic waste and protect the environment for future generations. Understanding the impact of plastic pollution is important for young people, who can become agents of change for a cleaner, healthier planet.

Adapted from: UNEP, Plastic Pollution, 2023; National Geographic, The Problem with Plastic Bags, 2022; WWF, Plastic Waste and Marine Life, 2024; “Impact of Plastic Bags on Environment”, Environmental Studies Journal, 2021.

I. Comprehension — A. Vocabulary

a. Find in the text an antonym for each of the following words or expressions.