6 Minute Egnlish - Why did Singapore ban gum












Hello, Finn. Are you chewing gum over there?

Yes. I'm hang on. Or stick on the desk for now. That is revolting. What's you been put in the bin? Since when do you take up this anti-social habit? Anti-social means annoying to other people by the way.

Yes. Well. OK, Rob. Fine.

Well, since I heard there was evidence that chewing gum can improve your brain.

So how do you do that?

Well, some experts say chewing action can lead to an increase in blood flow to the brain.

Interesting. Guess what?

What are talking about chewing gum on today's programme. So here is the question for you Finn. When did the Singapore government out law chewing gum? Was it in
a) 1982
b) 1992
c) 2002

Yes, and just before answering, out law on something means to make it illegal.

Thank you for that.

I think the answer is a) 1982.

Well, we would chew on it for a while showing if you can find out if you are right at the end of the programme.

Great.

So Rob, what is the history of chewing gum?

Well, people have been chewing gum for thousands of years. The ancient Greece chew gum make from resident. And stick substance produce by trees. But why do people like chewing gum.

Well. For many people, just something to do. But you know I like the idea that it's good for my brain. Research shown people find gum chewer are also more approachable. That means they are friendly and easier to talk to.

OK. There might be some truth in that. The thing we hate it to disgust  today through is how to dispose or get rid of gum responsibly. And you do very good example earlier and show do you Finn?

No well. Yes. I didn't.

But lots of people dispose of gum irresponsibly. That means not responsibly. It's often found stuck underneath of tables, chairs, benches and escalators and it's really difficult or expensive to remove once it has tried.

Right. Because gum usually creates  a chemical bond which mean when one thing joins firmly to another. For example the bond is Tom XXXX, rubber XXX and  concrete paving.

So how do we remove the dry gum from roads and pavement. Rob how would you do it?

Well, people do use high pressure stem cleaners and then they scrape them off. But it's a slow process that's labor intensive which means it take a lot of people to do it.

I am sure it does. Let's hear someone telling a BBC reporter about why do they through the gum way in the street. Can you hear the reason she gives.

Not of them. We did sometimes. Why do you do sometimes. Don't know. Because it's bans around.

Now she said she throw the gum in the street when she can't find a bin.

So why doesn't she put in her pocket? Way into she finds a bin.

No. No way man. That will make her pocket sticky.

How dare sounds like you and her are two of kinds? That means very similar. Well, let's find out another gum chewer does.

If you are walking on the street, and you have some of the pocket when you finish it. You throw that away. Not many. So why do you sometimes throw out the gum away? What's the difference? It's side rubber.

So this guy says gum is like food. So it's ok to drop it on the ground. do you agree, Rob?

No, I don't. Food such as XXXXXX quickly and naturally degrades or breaks down. And other types of litter, for example, the XXXXX or XXXX can be picked up easily.

That' right. We were chewing gum is a bit like glum once it dry it extremely difficult to remove. So in this way, of course, it can also be environmentally damaging.

Yes. In 2000, a study of busy London shopping history show a quarter of million palate of chewing gum was stuck to the pavement. And a palate is a small round ball of something that's become hard.

Yes, some lots of palate, doesn't it. The amount of discarded gum in Singapore was considered  to be such a problem. That the government banned the sail and consumption of  gum all together. They said it was because people were sticking their gum in the sliding door of subway trams. Stopping the door from opening and closing.

Yes. It's a sticky subject, doesn't it.

Sticky situation, Rob.

And that bring us on to today's quiz question. I asked you earlier when did the Singapore government out law chewing gum. Was is in
a) 1982
b) 1992
c) 2002

I said a) 1982.

You're wrong Finn. Just for today, the answer is actually b) 1992.

Which means the people of Singapore can  chew gum for ten more years than I said. That's good.



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