My Day of No Plastic
Since its invention, plastic has affected every aspect of our lives. It has made possible thousands of conveniences, but it has come with downsides, especially for the environment. In a 24-hour experiment, I tried to live without it to see what plastic stuff we can’t do without and what we may be able to give up.
At the start of my no-plastic day, I made my way toward the bathroom, only to stop myself before I went in. “Could you open the door for me?” I asked my wife. “The handle is plastic.” She opened it for me, letting out a “this is going to be a long day” sigh (叹气).
My morning routine was a headache. I couldn’t use my toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo or soap, all of which were made of plastic or put in plastic containers. Getting dressed was also a challenge, given that so many clothing items include plastic.
When I went out, I brought along two glass containers and cloth bags of various sizes. I walked to a sandwich shop. “Can you make the salad in this glass container?” I asked. The manager said OK but then rejected my request to use my steel spoon.
After lunch, I took the subway to Central Park, which scored me more violations (违规), since I need a MetroCard and the trains themselves have plastic parts. But at least I didn’t sit in one of those plastic seats.
Back home, I recorded some of my impressions. By my count, on my day of no plastic, I had made 164 violations. I felt defeated. And also uncertain. The next day I called Gabby Salazar, a scientist who studies what motivates people to support environmental causes, and asked her for advice.
“You can drive yourself crazy,” she said, “but it’s not about perfection. It’s about progress.” Believe it or not, individual behavior matters. It adds up. “Remember,” she continued, “it’s not about plastic being the enemy. It’s about single-use as the enemy.”
I promised to try, even after my not successful attempt. I’ll start with small things, building up habits. I can take cloth bags to the grocery. I might start packing my glass water bottle and steel spoon. And from there, who knows?
4. The author conducted the 24-hour experiment because ________.
A.he was tired of using plastic stuff in his daily life |
B.he tried to call upon people to ban plastic products |
C.he wondered how much plastic he consumed each day |
D.he wanted to figure out how to use plastic stuff wisely |
5. Why did the author’s wife sigh?
A.Because she didn’t know his intention. |
B.Because she worried about her husband. |
C.Because she thought it hard to avoid using plastic. |
D.Because she didn’t realize the downsides of plastic. |
6. How did the author feel after the no-plastic day?
A.Astonished. | B.Discouraged. | C.Relieved. | D.Guilty. |
7. How would the author deal with plastic in the future?
A.Continue the plastic-free experiment. | B.Give up the attempt at using less plastic. |
C.Reduce plastic use through small actions. | D.Encourage people to be environmentalists. |