Text In the quest for the perfect lawn, homeowners across the country are taking a shortcut--and it is the environment that is paying the price. About eight million square metres of plastic grass is sold each year but opposition has now spread to the highest gardening circles. The Chelsea Flower Show has banned fake grass from this year's event declaring it to be not part of its ethos. The royal Horticultural Society (rhs) , which runs the annual show in west London, says it has introduced the ban because of the damage plastic grass does to the environment and biodiversity.Ed Horne, of the RHS, said: " We launched our sustainability strategy last year and fake grass is just not in line with our ethos and views on plastic. We recommend using real grass because of its environmental benefits, which include supporting wildlife, alleviating flooding and cooling the environment,The RHS's decision comes as campaigners try to raise awareness of the problems fake grass causes. A Twitter account, which claims to " cut through the greenwash" of artificial grass, already has more than 20, 000 followers. It is trying to encourage people to sign two petitions, one calling for a ban on the sale of plastic grass and another calling for an " ecological damage" tax on such lawns. They have gathered7, 276 and 11, 282 signatures However, supporters of fake grass point out that there is also an environmental impact with natural lawns, which need mowing and therefore usually consume electricity or petrol. The industry also points out that real grass requires considerable amounts of water, weed killer or other treatments and that people who lay fake grass tend to use their garden more. The industry also claims that people who lay fake grass spend an average of f500 on trees or shrubs for their garden, which provides habitat for insects.In response to another petition last year about banning fake lawns, which gathered 30, 000 signatures, the government responded that it has" no plans to ban the use of artificial grass It added: We prefer to help people and organisations make the right choice rather than legislating on such matters. However, the use of artificial grass must comply with the legal and policy safeguards in place to protect biodiversity and ensure sustainable drainage, while measures such as the strengthened biodiversity duty should serve to encourage public authorities to consider sustainable alternatives 21. The RHS thinks that plastic grass A. is harmful to the environment B. is a hot topic in gardening circles C. is overpraised in the annual show D. is ruining the view of west london 22. The petitions mentioned in Paragraph 3 reveal the campaigners A. disappointment with the HS B. resistance to fake grass use C. anger over the proposed tax 24. What would the government do with regard to artificial grass?A. Urge legislation to restrict its use D. concern about real grass supply 23. In Paragraph 4, supporters of fake grass point out A. the necessity to lower the costs of fake grass B. the disadvantages of growing real grass C. the way to take care of artificial lawns D. the challenges of insect habitat protection B. Take measures to guarantee its quality.C. Remind its users to obey existing rules A. is being improved continuously D. Replace it with sustainable alternatives 25. It can be learned from the text that fake grass B. has seen a market share decline C. is becoming increasingly affordable D. has been a controversial product

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In the quest for the perfect lawn, homeowners across the country are taking a shortcut--and it is the environment that is paying the price. About eight million square metres of plastic grass is sold each year but opposition has now spread to the highest gardening circles. The Chelsea Flower Show has banned fake grass from this year's event declaring it to be not part of its ethos. The royal Horticultural Society (rhs) , which runs the annual show in west London, says it has introduced the ban because of the damage plastic grass does to the environment and biodiversity.

Ed Horne, of the RHS, said: " We launched our sustainability strategy last year and fake grass is just not in line with our ethos and views on plastic. We recommend using real grass because of its environmental benefits, which include supporting wildlife, alleviating flooding and cooling the environment,

The RHS's decision comes as campaigners try to raise awareness of the problems fake grass causes. A Twitter account, which claims to " cut through the greenwash" of artificial grass, already has more than 20, 000 followers. It is trying to encourage people to sign two petitions, one calling for a ban on the sale of plastic grass and another calling for an " ecological damage" tax on such lawns. They have gathered7, 276 and 11, 282 signatures

However, supporters of fake grass point out that there is also an environmental impact with natural lawns, which need mowing and therefore usually consume electricity or petrol. The industry also points out that real grass requires considerable amounts of water, weed killer or other treatments and that people who lay fake grass tend to use their garden more. The industry also claims that people who lay fake grass spend an average of f500 on trees or shrubs for their garden, which provides habitat for insects.

In response to another petition last year about banning fake lawns, which gathered 30, 000 signatures, the government responded that it has" no plans to ban the use of artificial grass

It added: We prefer to help people and organisations make the right choice rather than legislating on such matters. However, the use of artificial grass must comply with the legal and policy safeguards in place to protect biodiversity and ensure sustainable drainage, while measures such as the strengthened biodiversity duty should serve to encourage public authorities to consider sustainable alternatives

21. The RHS thinks that plastic grass

A. is harmful to the environment

B. is a hot topic in gardening circles

C. is overpraised in the annual show

D. is ruining the view of west london

22. The petitions mentioned in Paragraph 3 reveal the campaigners

A. disappointment with the HS

B. resistance to fake grass use

C. anger over the proposed tax

24. What would the government do with regard to artificial grass?A. Urge legislation to restrict its use

D. concern about real grass supply

23. In Paragraph 4, supporters of fake grass point out