A

Have you got any gadgets hanging around your home that you no longer want or use? Between us, we have millions of bits of tech stockpiled in drawers that could be given a new lease of life.

Part of the problem for our unloved gadgets is that many become obsolete quickly because their software doesn’t get updated. Other items are left unused because they’ re broken or they’ve become replaced by a fancy new version. Many of these items are electronics, but despite them appearing to be past their sell-by date, they don’t need to end up in landfill. And here are some tips for you to make the most of our unwanted gadgets.

Recycling is the obvious solution

Materials used to make them can be extracted and reused in other things. As an example, Elisabeth Ratcliffe from the Royal Society of Chemistry told the BBC: “There are about thirty different elements just in a smartphone, and many of them are very rare. ” These can be used in touch screens and solar panels.

Repairing is the best approach

Probably the best approach to our throwaway culture is to repair our broken tech. This takes patience and skill, which can be learnt at repair clubs and repair cafés—free meeting places where you’ ll find tools and materials to help you make any repairs you need. In the UK, the interest in mending our stuff and giving it a new life is reflected by the popularity of a TV series called The Repair Shop, where craftspeople rescue and resurrect items their owners thought were beyond saving.

Upcycle is a final option

You can breathe new life into unwanted stuff by transforming it into valuable pieces or collectable retro items. These could be sold on, meaning you can make some cash from your junk and create much needed space in your home!

21. Which of the following isn’t the reason for the problems of unwanted gadgets?

A. Their software doesn’t get upgraded             B. They are substituted with senior versions

C. They need to end up in landfill                      D. They may have passed sell-by date

22. In which way can you make some profit from dealing with thrown-away gadgets?

A. Recycle them           B. Repair them             C. Upcycle them           D. Reuse them

23. What is the best title for the passage?

A. How to make our gadgets last longer

B. How to protect environment better

C. The ways to use gadgets effectively

D. The problems of unwanted gadgets