As we grow old, we realize that we have so little time to read and there are so many great books that we’ve yet to get around to. Yet rereaders are everywhere around us. For certain fans, re-reading The Lord of the Rings is a traditional practice annually. One friend told me that Jane Austen’s Emma can still surprise him, despite his having read it over 50 times.
New sudden clear understandings can be gained from the process of re-reading. Journalist Rebecca Mead, a long-time English woman in New York, first came across George Eliot’s Middlemarch at 17. Since then, she has read it again every five years. With each rereading, it has opened up further; in each chapter of her life, it has resonated (引起共鸣) differently. Mead evidenced the large number of ways in which really good books not only stand the test of repeated reading, but also offer fresh gifts each time we crack their spines. These kinds of books grow with us.
Scientists have also recognized the mental health benefits of re-reading. Research conducted with readers in the US found that on our first reading, we are concerned with the “what” and the “why”. Second time round, we’re able to better appreciate the emotions that the plot continues to express. As researcher Cristel Russell of the American University explained, returning to a book “brings new or renewed appreciation of both the great book and its readers.”
It’s true that we often find former selves on the pages of old books (if we’re fond of making notes on the pages). These texts can carry us back to a time and place, and remind us of the kind of person that we were then. We’re changed not only by living experience but also by reading experience. More than the movie director, the writer calls upon our imaginations, using words to lead us to experience mixed feelings in literature.
Re-reading a book takes up more time, but as Mead confirms, the rewards make it extremely worthwhile.
1. The two books are mentioned in Paragraph 1 mainly to________.| A．attract the attention of readers | B．introduce the topic of the passage |
| C．provide some background information | D．show the similarity between rereaders |
| A．recite them | B．reread them | C．recall them | D．retell them |
| A．reading benefits people both physically and mentally |
| B．readers mainly focus on feelings on their first reading |
| C．we know ourselves better through rereading experience |
| D．writers inspire the same imaginations as film directors do |
| A．call on different understandings of old books |
| B．focus on the mental health benefits of reading |
| C．bring awareness to the significance of rereading |
| D．introduce the effective ways of rereading old books |
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【推荐1】Public bookshelves are appearing across Germany on street corners, city squares and in suburban supermarkets. In these freeforall libraries, people can grab whatever they want to read, and leave behind anything they want for others. There’s no need to register, no due date, and you can take or give as many as you want.“This project is aimed at everyone who likes to read. It is open for everybody, ” Michael Aubermann, one of the organizers of the free book exchange said.
The western city’ s latest public shelf was put up next to Bayenturm. It is the fourth free shelf that Aubermann’ s group, the Cologne Citizen’s Foundation, has placed outside.“We set up our other outdoor shelves last year and it’s been working really well, ” said Aubermann. The public bookshelves, which are usually financed by donations and cared for by local volunteer groups, have appeared independently of each other in many cities, suburbs and villages. Each shelf holds around 200 books and it takes about six weeks for a complete turnover, with all the old titles replaced by new ones.
Even commercial book stores and online book sellers seem to support the idea of free book exchanges.“We see this project rather as a sales promotion than as competition, ”said Elmar Muether. “If books are present everywhere, it helps our business, too.”
So far, the Cologne book group has had few problems with damage or other problems. Aubermann said, “Propaganda (宣传) is the only kind of literature we do not allow here.”
At another bookshelf in the Bayenthal neighborhood, the lower shelves are reserved for children’s literature only.“It is important that we make it easy for everyone to participate in this ‘reading culture on the street’—from old readers to kids to immigrants, ”Aubermann said.
While most of the shelves have so far been put up in upscale neighborhoods, Aubermann and the 20 volunteers who help look after the project are planning to put up future shelves in poor neighborhoods, where citizens often don’t have as much access to literature.
1. Which of the following is TRUE about the public bookshelves?| A．People can take the books and leave their books at will. |
| B．People can’ t borrow books unless they donate books. |
| C．People can borrow whatever they like after registering. |
| D．People have to return the books according to the required time. |
| A．are financed by local volunteers | B．have been going well since their birth |
| C．were managed by the local government | D．will hold more books and take a shorter turnover |
| A．communities that have many people | B．communities that have many tall buildings |
| C．communities that are free to live in | D．communities that are of high grade |
| A．Public Reading Becomes Popular Worldwide | B．New Trends of Bookshelves in Germany |
| C．Public Bookshelves Spread Across Germany | D．Reading Culture on the Street in Europe |
【推荐2】My motivation for starting our family tradition of reading in the car was purely selfish: I could not bear listening to A Sesame Street Christmas for another 10 hours. My three children had been addicted to this cassette on our previous summer’s road trip.
As I began to prepare for our next 500-mile car trip, I came across a book — Jim Trelease’s The Read Aloud Handbook. This could be the answer to my problem, I thought. So I put Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach into my bag. When I began to read aloud the tale of the boy who escapes the bad guys by hiding inside a giant peach, my three kids argued and wrestled in their seats. But after several lines, they were attracted into the rhythm of the words and began to listen.
We soon learned that the simple pleasure of listening to a well-written book makes the long miles pass more quickly. Sometimes the books we read became highlights of the trip. I read Wilson Rawls’s Summer of the Monkeys as we spent two days driving to the beach. We arrived just behind the power crews restoring (恢复) electricity after a tropical storm. The rain continued most of the week, and the beach was covered with oil washed up by the storm. When we returned home, I asked my son what he liked about the trip. He answered without hesitation, “The book you read in the car.”
Road trips still offer challenges, even though my children now are teenagers. But we continue to read as we roll across the country. And I’m beginning to see that reading aloud has done more than help pass the time. For at least a little while, we are not shut in our own electronic worlds. And maybe we’ve started something that will pass on to the next generation.
1. Why did the author start reading in the car?| A．She wanted to have a better journey. |
| B．She wanted to keep a family tradition. |
| C．Her children were addicted to reading. |
| D．Children were tired of the cassette. |
| A．They kept fighting. | B．They hid themselves. |
| C．They soon settled down. | D．They read together aloud. |
| A．They were caught in a storm. |
| B．They enjoyed reading on the road. |
| C．They had a good time on the beach. |
| D．They thought it had passed too quickly. |
| A．Better Traveling than Reading |
| B．Books that Changed My Children |
| C．Road Trips Full of Challenges |
| D．Reading Makes Great Road Trips |
【推荐3】Amazing and utterly beautiful, The Midnight Library is everything you’d expect from the genius storyteller, Matt Haig. I picked it up on our readers’ recommendation (we asked our readers to send in some of their favorite books) and I could see why it won the Best Fiction of 2020 in the Goodreads Choice Awards.
The story follows Nora Seed, a woman who is struggling and feels that nothing in her life has gone according to plan. While the initial chapters of the book are quite sad, Nora finds herself given a chance to start over in the Midnight Library, a magical place full of books of all the different paths in life she could have taken. Nora has a chance to stay in the library and try out different versions of her life until she finds the life she most wants to live.
I love the idea that no dreams or forks in your road are insignificant and that they all lead us to different versions of ourselves. In one version, Nora is an Olympic swimmer. In another, she is a glaciologist. The novel reveals in a beautiful way that the potential we all have within us is impossible to measure, and that we have the possibility to be happy in many different versions of life.
It also discusses how dangerous it can be to live your life with regrets. The Midnight Library reveals to Nora that even if you make very different choices, you may realize you have appreciation for your current home and the people in your life. It is your perspective that matters.
I really love the blend (融合) of fantasy and magical realism in this novel, and I would love for this to be turned into a series where we get to explore other characters’ lives in The Midnight Library as well.
1. What can we know about the author of the text?| A．He should be an editor. |
| B．He is the friend of Matt Haig. |
| C．Magical realism books are his favorite. |
| D．He shares a similar experience with Nora. |
| A．A magic library. | B．The harm of regrets. |
| C．The exploration of life. | D．Ways to make correct choices. |
| A．In a novel. | B．In a magazine. |
| C．In a history book. | D．In a biography. |
| A．To publicize the book. |
| B．To honour Matt Haig, author of the book. |
| C．To share the author’s opinions on the book. |
| D．To thank readers who recommended the book. |
【推荐1】Imagine having an ear made out of an apple. It seems like a crazy idea from a horror movie. But it could happen in the near future.
Canadian biophysicist Andrew Pelling used an apple to grow a human ear. He thinks fruit and vegetables can be used to cheaply repair human body parts in the future.
Scientists have been trying to grow organs in labs to replace our old ones. But it is a hard job. For example, liver cells can grow in a lab, but the cells still need things like blood vessels to actually work. These things have to grow inside a scaffold called the extracellular matrix.
In the past, scientists have used man-made materials, animal parts and even dead people as scaffolds. But that has proved to be complicated and expensive.
Pelling and his team, however, found the apple to be a cheap and easy-to-use scaffold.
They first cut an apple into the shape of an ear. Then they used a special way to take out the apple’s cells and make it a scaffold. The team then added human cells to the apple, and watched it grow.
“You can implant these scaffolds into the body, and the body will send in cells and a blood supply and actually keep these things alive,” Pelling said during a Ted Talk speech.
The team put the apple scaffold inside a living mouse and the mouse’s cells slowly took over the pieces of apple.
Now Pelling is thinking of other fruit, plants or vegetables to use.
He says that the shape of flower petals could be perfect for repairing skin. And asparagus could fix a broken spine.
1. The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 6 probably means ________.| A．apple’s cells | B．human cells | C．the scaffold | D．the apple |
| A．to make human ears | B．to repair burnt skin |
| C．to fix a broken spine | D．to make human body parts |
| A．A new use of fruits and vegetables | B．How to replace organs |
| C．The cheapest way to use apples | D．A crazy idea from horror movies |
【推荐2】“Nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide will be living with some degree of hearing loss by 2050. At least 700 million people will require access to ear and hearing care and other rehabilitation (康复) services unless action is taken. Untreated hearing loss can have a destructive impact on people’s ability to communicate, to study and to earn a living. It can also impact on people’s mental health and their ability to maintain relationships,” said Dr Tedros, WHO Director- General.
The report, launched ahead of World Hearing Day on 3 March, stresses the need to rapidly step up efforts to prevent and solve hearing loss by investing (投资) and expanding access to ear and hearing care services. Investment in ear and hearing care has been shown to be worth it.
Lack of true information about ear diseases and hearing loss often limit people from accessing care for these conditions. Even among health-care providers, there’s often a lack of knowledge about prevention, early identification and management of hearing loss and ear diseases, preventing their ability to provide the care required.
In children, almost 60% of hearing loss can be prevented through measures such as immunization (免疫) for prevention and early management. In adults, noise control, safe listening together with good ear health can help maintain good hearing and reduce the potential for hearing loss.
Identification is the first step in dealing with hearing loss. Clinical screening at strategic points in life ensure that any loss of hearing and ear diseases can be identified as early as possible. Once checked, early prevention is key. Medical and surgical treatment can cure most ear diseases, potentially reversing (逆转) the associated hearing loss. However, where hearing loss is irreversible, rehabilitation can ensure that those affected avoid the negative effects of hearing loss.
1. What can we learn from Dr Tedros’ words?| A．Hearing loss only influences people’s physical health. |
| B．Nearly 2.5 billion people are suffering from hearing loss. |
| C．Untreated hearing loss can affect people’s daily life seriously. |
| D．Nearly 700 million people can have access to hearing care now. |
| A．Doctors know nothing about prevention. |
| B．No money has been invested in hearing care services. |
| C．People lack true information about ear diseases and hearing loss. |
| D．Hearing loss and ear diseases are never identified and managed early. |
| A．Rehabilitation can reverse hearing loss. |
| B．Most hearing loss in children can be cured. |
| C．It is important to prevent hearing loss and ear diseases early. |
| D．Few ear diseases can be cured by medical and surgical treatment. |
| A．WHO invests more in hearing loss. |
| B．Hearing loss prevention counts |
| C．Ear protection never ends |
| D．Children suffer hearing loss |
【推荐3】For a long time, comedy has been viewed as a profession for men only. But this has changed in recent years. Many female comics (喜剧演员) have made their mark on the stage not by ignoring the issues of gender inequality, but by bringing them to light.
Yang Li, 28, is one of them. Yang has done stand - up comedy (单口喜剧) for about three years and often focuses on the difficulties females face. For example, she recently made the headlines with a biting joke about how women are described in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“In The Avengers (《复仇者联盟》), there are six heroes, and only one of them is a woman,” she said during a July episode of Rock & Roast (《脱口秀大会》). Yang was referring to Black Widow, whose super - power is the ability to slow down her aging. “How exactly is she supposed to save the world by surviving until all the bad guys die?”
“What I said is not only a joke, but also something female comics are facing, as well as women in general,” Yang told Jiemian News.
Chinese comics twins Yan Yi and Yan Yue echoed this opinion. They once joked that “the only movie that doesn't describe two women fighting with each other over a man is The Shing (闪灵) (an iconic horror movie from the US).”
Despite getting more important roles, however, women still face challenges in the comedy industry, according to Six Tone, a publication based in Shanghai.
“I've found that audiences tend to be more judgmental about a female comedian's appearance,” Yang Mengqi, who made the top 30 on Rock & Roast, said. To avoid unwelcome attention, female comics have to be especially prudent (精明的) in choosing what clothes they wear to perform.
The other challenge is that females are sometimes taken less seriously, despite abundant evidence of their talent and commitment in the male - dominated field.
Maple Zuo is a comic who performs in both English and Mandarin. “It's hard to fit in when I'm the only female comedian (at a show),” said Zuo, who has toured internationally. “Every time there's a comedy scene party, they always spontaneously (自然而然地) divided up into two groups: one for the male comics, another for their girlfriends,” she said. “I always end up hanging out with the girlfriends.”
Even so, many Chinese female comics feel optimistic about their future. Yang told Sixth Tone, “When people ask what has motivated me to stick with stand - up comedy, my response is simple: I hope to use whatever influence I have to improve gender equality.”
1. What is the author's main purpose in writing this article?| A．To explore challenges female comics face |
| B．To explain what contributes to female comics' success |
| C．To inform us of the development of the comedy industry |
| D．To describe how the roles of female comics have changed |
| A．Black Widow is less brave than other male heroes |
| B．She admired Black Widow's ability to age slowly |
| C．She doubted Black Widow's ability to survive |
| D．Black Widow reflects negative stereotypes (负面成见) about women in society |
| A．Questioned | B．Repeated | C．Objected | D．Ignored |
| A．show female comics a way to fight cultural stereotypes |
| B．describe why female comics have to mind what they wear |
| C．illustrate that female comics are often excluded (排除) from male comics |
| D．explain what it takes for female comics to succeed |
【推荐1】“What is the biggest challenge of graduate school?” an undergraduate asked the discussion group of graduate students at an event I helped organize last summer. “Not letting the support from my community turn into pressure,” one group member responded.
That answer might have surprised some people. But I understood exactly what she meant. The speaker was an African-American woman. I am a member of a minority group myself, pursuing (追求) a doctor’s degree in chemistry, so her comment resonated (共鸣) with me.
Throughout my education, friends and family have expected me to take advantage of every opportunity I come across because I may not get the same chance again. Members of my community expect me to give outstanding performances everywhere I go because I represent them and our culture. This has been a great source of motivation, but also of pressure. And when I heard the member echo (重复) my experience, I understood that I needed to educate my community about how their comments made me feel and how to keep their support from becoming stressful.
Now when people in my community—always with the best intentions—say something that creates pressure, I tell them and we talk about it. This was a bit awkward at first. But they want to support me, so I need to give them the tools to do that.
Sometimes, friends and family ask me, “How soon can you get your degree?” As many students will agree, this question makes them feel bad. Now I respond by telling them that I prefer to be asked “How are you progressing in your program?” and I explain why.
All graduate students carry a weight of expectations from family, friends and community. Being aware of our needs and opening up lines of communication with supporters is a starting point for making the journey less stressful.
1. How does the author introduce the topic?| A．By asking questions for readers to think about. |
| B．By presenting a situation that aroused her thought. |
| C．By quoting a famous saying. |
| D．By comparing different research findings. |
| A．It is puzzling. |
| B．It is ridiculous. |
| C．It is reasonable. |
| D．It is surprising. |
| A．A different culture. |
| B．A golden opportunity. |
| C．The author’s achievement. |
| D．Other people’s expectations. |
| A．She tells them her thoughts. |
| B．She pretends not to hear them. |
| C．She refuses to talk to them again. |
| D．She argues with them about these questions. |
【推荐2】Today:
A chilly (寒冷的) and frosty start for many this morning, followed by a day of sunshine and local showers. The showers will be slow moving and heavy at times, particularly in the east with a risk of thunder.
Tonight:
Showers will ease this evening and clear spells (一段时间) will develop causing a widespread frost. However, rain will push into the northwest during the early hours, turning heavy at times.
Friday:
Rain, locally heavy, will continue southeastwards through the day with strong winds. Elsewhere, it’ll be bright with some sunshine.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Rain across central parts on Saturday will ease and move northwards. Largely dry elsewhere with some misty sunshine. Mixture of sunshine and showers on Sunday and Monday, turning warmer.
Updated at: 0404 on Thu 31 Mar
UK 6-30 days
UK outlook for Tuesday 5 Apr to Wednesday 13 Apr:
A generally unsettled picture is likely next week, with showers or longer spells of rain affecting the majority of the UK, but with some drier and sunnier interludes (间歇). Temperatures will probably be around normal for most, but central and southeastern areas may see some warmer air moving up from the continent at times. The week after next will probably continue to be changeable with showers or longer spells of rain crossing the UK, but with some brighter and drier interludes in between. Temperatures may become rather low across the north and northwest later next week.
Updated at: 1236 on Wed 30 Mar
UK outlook for Thursday 14 Apr to Saturday 30 Apr:
It is likely to be changeable with a mixture of sunny spells and showers. However, some longer drier spells are also likely, particularly in northwestern areas. Overall temperatures will remain around normal for the time of year but with some warmer spells developing at times.
Updated at: 1237 on Wed 30 Mar
1. Which of the following may best describe today’s weather in general?| A．Cold but fine. | B．Cold and rainy. |
| C．Showers and thunder. | D．Frosty and rainy. |
| A．it has strong winds | B．it has frost |
| C．it has heavy rain. | D．it is mainly sunny. |
| A．It will be quite dry. | B．It will be rather cold. |
| C．It will be generally rainy. | D．It will be hot in the north. |
【推荐3】A flock of wild mandarin ducks(鸳鸯) are the biggest draw in the West Lake scenic area in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, with tourists flocking from around the country to see them. However, some of the tourists have been feeding the ducks, even pulling them by the neck to force-feed them. On Monday, a video claiming that some of the ducks had died from over-feeding went viral on social networking sites.
Although there are prominent signboards warning people against feeding them, tourists just cannot hold back. Some even believe the ducks are underfed and they are doing them a favor, little realizing that their action can be detrimental to the birds' health.
Human food does not always go down well with ducks, particularly potato chips, as the oily snack can damage the health of mandarin ducks. However, tourists can frequently be seen feeding the ducks food that the birds cannot digest. Besides, feeding the ducks could stop them from competing in the wild to find their food. If they become dependent on food provided by humans, they will lose their survival skills. Also, by giving food to them, the tourists are polluting the environment. Especially, food thrown into the water could harm the ecosystem there.
However, the tourists know little about the harm they cause to the environment and there is a need to create awareness about it. Meanwhile, the number of mandarin ducks at West Lake has dropped from 336 last year to 260 this year. Maybe the declining numbers will wake the tourists up to this reality.
1. What is the main reason for the ducks' death in the West Lake according to the passage?| A．The ducks are fed with oily snacks. | B．The tourists fail to see the warning signs. |
| C．The tourists feed the ducks too much food. | D．The tourists kill the ducks by pulling their necks. |
| A．harmful. | B．sensitive. | C．vital. | D．beneficial. |
| A．Human food is not suitable for ducks to digest. |
| B．Food thrown into the water does harm to the ecosystem. |
| C．Tourists' feeding ducks may have a bad effect on ducks and the environment. |
| D．Ducks may lose their survival skills if receiving food from people all the time. |
| A．More mandarin ducks are seen in the West Lake this year than before. |
| B．People have already known the damage they did to the mandarin ducks. |
| C．More mandarin ducks are likely to be introduced to the West Lake in the future. |
| D．It's high time that people should be aware of the harm to ducks caused by overfeeding. |
【推荐1】Shakespeare has rightly said, “A light heart lives long.” There is no greater thing than cheerfulness in the daily life and our cheer can be expressed through a smile or a laugh. The saying “Laughter is the best medicine” has deep meanings. Many scientists have stressed the importance of laughter, which can lead a healthy life.
In ancient times, most Emperors and Kings had a clown to make them laugh. This improved the atmosphere and helped people to come closer. Almost every comedy has a character to make people laugh. Funny TV plays use recorded sounds of laughter at the proper place.
It is a wellknown fact that health and cheerfulness influence each other. Doctors and psychologists all agree that patients can actually benefit from laughter. Those who see the bright side of life and remain happy are unlikely to go down with stressrelated problems.
A good laugh is also a useful tool in the workplace. Nervousness is unavoidable in business, but humor is an unexpected surprise that can help people better deal with the nervousness. Researchers have found that the more stress people are under, the more they are ready to laugh. A good laugh is looked upon as an encouraging tool. After laughing, you can begin a new thought process; it helps to set the mind in a different way.
Many cities in India have laughter clubs where people get together in the morning for laughing. There are over 200 such clubs in India, which were started in Mumbai. All kinds of fitness exercise, along with laughter skills, are combined into the program. This has become known as the laughter treatment. Until now, many sick people have benefited from it.
Making people laugh is an art and can be cultivated. Collect jokes, funny stories and humorous sayings and use them properly. Build a humor collection — buy books by P. G Wodehouse or anyone else who makes you keep laughing. Watch comedy plays when you are down in life.
1. How does a good laugh help people in the workplace?| A．It keeps people healthy. |
| B．It helps people have creative ideas. |
| C．It helps people make more money. |
| D．It frees people from their worries. |
| A．They can make people confident. |
| B．They can offer people suitable jobs. |
| C．They can help people recover from illness. |
| D．They can provide opportunities for people to make friends. |
| A．Developed. | B．Enjoyed. | C．Realized. | D．Taught. |
| A．To state laughter leads to health. |
| B．To show the importance of laughter. |
| C．To prove laughter helps us work better. |
| D．To introduce some ways to make us laugh. |
【推荐2】In late May, storms flooded streets in Florida. The floods made cars sink and turned roads into brown rivers. Flash flooding can happen when storm drains get blocked up and, especially during hurricanes, overflow into streets. It’s the leading cause of weather-related deaths.
A team of local middle-school students has a plan to stop this ongoing problem. Alyssa, Bianca and Jose are sixth-graders. The Doral students designed a device to warn city workers when and where there is a danger of flooding. The team is one of five grand-prize winners of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest. The contest asked for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) solutions to the biggest challenge facing a school community.
“I’ve been living here my entire life, and all of us have encountered problems with flooding,” says Bianca. “We knew that was the problem we were going to tackle.”
The students’ device uses a laser system called lidar, which stands for “light detection and ranging.” The device, if approved by the city government, could be attached to Doral’s 2,575 storm and manhole drains — one device per drain. If a drain gets blocked with sediment (沉积物), the device could send a warning message to the city’s stormwater management office. Then the stormwater manager could send someone to clean the drain.
Starting in March, the school was closed, so team meetings went virtual. Luckily, says Bianca, “We already had a prototype device, and we just had to adjust it some more ” They also had to pitch their idea virtually to contest judges.
Twenty finalist teams were cut down to the five grand-prize-winning teams. Each of the five teams won $100 000 for technology and supplies for their science classrooms. “We put m a lot of effort and had to trust each other and that each one knew what they were talking about,” says Alyssa.
1. How does the author start the text?| A．With an image. |
| B．With some figures. |
| C．By raising questions. |
| D．By stating a phenomenon. |
| A．It is made up of five middle school students. |
| B．Its aim is to solve the problem of the drain flooding, |
| C．It has won first prize in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest. |
| D．Its members are trained in science, technology, engineering and math. |
| A．To list their challenges. |
| B．To explore their motivation. |
| C．To express their determination. |
| D．To prove their responsibility. |
| A．To inform the authorities when a drain is blocked. |
| B．To arrange for someone to clean the drain. |
| C．To prevent the drain from being blocked. |
| D．To help clear away sediment in the drain. |
【推荐3】The milk carton, made from layers of paperboard and plastic first, appeared in 1952 and soon replaced glass bottles. They were far lighter, could be piled and distributed more easily, and more significantly, they were found to have 78 percent less of an impact on the climate than glass bottles. The Tetra Pak cartons, with a layer of aluminum foil(铝箔) that allowed heat –treated milk to remain fresh, followed in 1961.
However, every technology has drawbacks and those of plastics are becoming painfully obvious. Landfills are stuffed with bottles and cartons, and trillions of pieces of plastic float in the world's oceans.
Carton makers are far from the only contributions to the ballooning volumes of packaging waste. In some ways, they're encouraging recycling. However, it is not universal even in Europe, only 47 percent of materials from the 37 billion cartons, made for European countries in 2016 were recycled.
Cartons are also stuck in a broader paradox(悖论): as economy advances, people tend not only to recycle more but also to consume more. Croatia’s overall recycling rate for packaging in 2016 was 55 percent, compared with Germany’s 71 percent, but the average German produced four times as much packaging waste as the average Croatian.
In theory, cartons are fairly recyclable. When pulped （打成浆） in liquid, their various layers are separated into paper, plastic and metal. All of them can then be turned to other uses. In practice, recycling is currently unfeasible for cartoons, because a cotton is carefully bonded and constructed often with a plastic lid and a straw fixed to the side.
This means carton makers need to do more to make their products not only useful but also sustainable. This involves stronger links with recycling factories and waste companies to ensure that containers they pump into the world are returned and reused. In the long term, they face a huge technological challenge to get to what Tetra Pak says is its ultimate aim -- to construct cartons entirely out of renewable materials.
1. What's the purpose of Paragraph 1?| A．To provide examples. | B．To introduce the topic. |
| C．To make comparisons. | D．To present the argument. |
| A．Their materials are not recyclable. |
| B．Carton makers lack environmental awareness. |
| C．There are no recycling regulations in the world. |
| D．Consumption increases as recycling rate rises. |
| A．Urgent. | B．Expensive. |
| C．Impracticable. | D．Unimaginable |
| A．To come up with new ways to reuse plastic |
| B．To make their products, the market leader. |
| C．To set up a new standard for the materials |
| D．To seek cooperation with recycling and waste companies. |
