I recently gave a talk about zero waste living to university students.During the Q&A afterward，the unavoidable question of cost came up.One student pointed out that he "can't afford to buy ＄30 toothpaste." While the ＄30 price may be a bit generous，the student did raise a good point -that buying zero-waste products is often more expensive than the overly-packaged conventional ones.
   I tried to handle the question as best I could in the moment，but I kept thinking about it afterward.I'm writing about it because I'm sure many others have similar doubts about their own abilities to reduce waste without breaking the bank.
   First，once you begin to explore the zero waste world，you quickly realize how pointless many products in your life are.You start using fewer，buying less，and using them interchangeably.Soon you'll find yourself spending less money overall，which balances the higher cost of the zero waste ones.The total number of products in my bathroom decreased by 50% when I became more focused on waste reduction.
   Second，if you stop to examine those zero-waste products，you'll see that they are usually of superior quality.Companies rarely redesign their packaging to be reusable without also upgrading them to be healthier，safer，and greener.So you're paying extra money not just for non-disposable（一次性的）packaging，but also for a better product that does less harm.
   In my experience，higher-quality skincare products last longer than cheap ones.My personal habits have developed gradually，too.Knowing an item costs more leads me to use it in small quantities and use it to the very end.Moreover，I sometimes even make my own.The price-per-unit is cheap.
   To quote Lindsey Miles，a zero waste blogger，"Zero waste is not about what we can afford to buy.It is about what we choose not to buy." To that student who got me thinking about this，I'd recommend starting with what matters to you.Over time you will figure out where you get the most value for your money.In return，you'll gain a sense of liberation from the consumer culture，and a rewarding sense of accomplishment.

（1）What can we benefit from zero waste products？

D

D

A．Saving regularly.
B．Balancing totally.
C．Living conveniently.
D．Spending-economically.
（2）What kind of products would the author like to recommend？

B

B

A．Zero-cost.
B．Top-grade.
C．Non-breakable.
D．Well-packed.
（3）What do Miles' words in the last paragraph mean？

A

A

A．Buy what is necessary.
B．Choose what is affordable.
C．Consider where we save money.
D．Learn what consumer culture means.
（4）What is the author's purpose？

D

D

A．To oppose wasting.
B．To analyze a social issue.
C．To promote a new product.
D．To advocate eco-consumption.