1 . Garbage cans are not magical openings. Garbage does not disappear when you throw it in a can. Yet, the average American throws away about 1,600 pounds of waste each year. If there are no magical garbage fairies, where does it all go? There are four methods of managing waste: recycling, landfilling, composting, and incinerating. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses. Let's take a quick look at each.
Recycling is the process of turning waste into new materials. For example, used paper can be turned into paperboard, which can be used to make book covers. Recycling can reduce pollution, save materials, and lower energy use. Yet, some argue that recycling wastes energy. They believe that collecting, processing, and converting waste uses more energy than it saves. Still, most people agree that recycling is better for the planet than landfilling.
Landfilling is the oldest method of managing waste. In its simplest form, landfilling is when people bury garbage in a hole. Over time the practice of landfilling has advanced. Garbage is squeezed (挤压) together before it is thrown into the hole. In this way more garbage can fit in each landfill. Large liners are placed in the bottom of landfills so that poisonous garbage liquid doesn't get into the ground water. Sadly, these liners don't always work. Landfills may pollute the local water supply. Not to mention that all of that garbage smells horrible. Nobody wants to live next to a landfill. This makes it hard to find new locations for landfills.
Because of all the negative attention that landfilling has received, interest in composting has grown. Composting is when people pile up organic matter, such as food waste, and allow it to decompose. The product of this decomposition is compost. Compost can be added to the soil to make the soil richer and better for growing crops.
One thing that is easier to do is burning garbage. There are two main ways to incinerate waste. The first is to create or harvest a fuel from the waste, such as methane gas (沼气), and burn the fuel. The second is to burn the waste directly. The heat from the incineration process can boil water, which can power steam generators. Unfortunately, burning garbage pollutes the air. Also, some critics worry that incinerators destroy valuable resources that could be recycled.
Usually, the community in which you live manages waste. Once you put your garbage in that can, what happens to it is beyond your control. But you can make choices while it is still in your hands. You can choose to recycle, you can choose to compost, or you can choose to let someone else deal with it. The choice is yours.
1. Why does the author mention magical garbage fairies in the first paragraph?| A．To creatively support his argument with evidence. |
| B．To point out that garbage doesn't disappear by itself. |
| C．To make the language more attractive to please readers. |
| D．To draw attention to different kinds of garbage thrown away. |
| A．Some think recycling is a waste of time. |
| B．Incineration may destroy recyclable resources. |
| C．Finding new locations is the focus of landfilling. |
| D．The purpose of a compost pile is to make soil rich. |
| A．involves burying garbage in a hole | B．reduces the horrible smells |
| C．squeezes garbage together | D．protects ground water |
| A．Magic: Bringing Back What Was Once Lost |
| B．Deal with the garbage: Which is Best for You? |
| C．Methods of Waste Management: Advantages and Disadvantages |
| D．Do Your Part: How to Save the Earth by Recycling and Composting |
