1 . More than a million tons a year of America's plastic rubbish are not ending up where they should. As many as 1, 300 plastic grocery bags per person is landing in places such as oceans and roadways, according to a new study of U. S.
In 2016, the United States generated 46.3 million tons of plastic waste, by far the most in the world. Between2.7% and 5. 3% of that was mismanaged, according to a study in Friday's journal Science Advances. “If you took nearly 2. 5 million tons of mismanaged plastic waste and dumped it on the White House lawn, it would pile as high as the Empire State Building,” said Jenna Jambeck, an environmental engineering professor.
Previous studies hadn't put the United States among the 10 worst offending nations for plastic waste in oceans. That's because the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency only tracks what goes into official parts of the waste stream such as landfills (废物填埋场) and recycling centers.
“The new study provides a more realistic view of our mismanaged waste,” said University of Toronto ecology professor Chelsea Rochman, who wasn't part of the study. “We consume a lot of plastic which then becomes plastic waste. We recycle very little of this material, which is a waste of resources.”
“A large but hard to quantify part of the problem involves the 51% of U. S. plastic waste shipped abroad for recycling to countries that routinely mismanage waste," Law said. The situation has been converting since many countries have become more limiting about taking U. S. rubbish imports. American exports of plastic waste have declined dramatically since their peak in 2016.
The government is spending billions of dollars trying to fix the problem, with modernized recycling technology and new business models to reduce waste while urging compulsory recycled content standards for new products and packaging.
“The best thing you can do environmentally is to produce no waste at all,” Jambeck said.
1. What can we know about the plastic waste in America?| A．It is improperly dealt with. | B．It is increasing every year. |
| C．It is as high as a tall building. | D．It is finding its way into landfills. |
| A．How plastic waste is managed officially. | B．Why all plastic waste isn't recycled. |
| C．When plastic waste reaches its peak. | D．Where all plastic waste finally ends up. |
| A．continuing | B．changing | C．existing | D．affecting |
| A．The lack of capital for waste management. | B．The lack of modern technology. |
| C．The limit of waste exports. | D．The seriousness of waste. |
2 . From the moa in New Zealand to the dodo in Mauritius (both of these two flightless birds have died out), the arrival of humans has often spelled extinction for tasty but previously isolated animals. Many scientists had assumed that the woolly rhinos (长毛犀牛) suffered the same thing. But Love Dalén, a professor at the Centre for Palaeogenetics in Stockholm. and Edana Lord, one of Dr Dalén's PhD students, are not so sure.
Until recently, information on the story of this great ice-age animal had been limited to the fossilized bones (骨骼化石). In the past couple of decades, however, scientists have learned to use a richer source of information： ancient genomes (基因组). By itself, DNA breaks down quickly, attacked by water and sunlight. But DNA covered in bones and teeth can survive longer, especially if those bones and teeth are themselves in permanent frozen land. It was this sort of DNA that enabled Dr Dalén and Ms Lord to investigate the woolly rhinos' disappearance.
Working with a team of colleagues, the researchers obtained DNA from 12 woolly rhino bones collected from permafrost in Siberia. Analyzing the genetic diversity of the bones, the researchers found that rather than declining as humans arrived, the population of rhinos remained stable from 29,000 years ago to 18,500 years ago, a few thousand years before they died out. Perhaps the people who met the animals found them distasteful. Or perhaps the rhinos were simply too dangerous to hunt with their simple weapons.
On the other hand, the animals' decline lines up suggestively with a rapid period of global warming that began around 14,700 years ago. The researchers argue that this was the more likely cause of the animals' disappearance. This time, it seems, it was Mother Nature who did it.
1. What probably caused the extinction of the moa and the dodo?| A．Human activity. | B．Geographical disasters. |
| C．Lack of food. | D．Climate change. |
| A．By testing DNA itself. |
| B．By collecting fossilized bones. |
| C．By analyzing ancient genomes. |
| D．By studying the permanent frozen land. |
| A．They disappeared quickly. |
| B．They decreased in numbers. |
| C．They were hunted as foo |
| D．They co-existed with humans long |
| A．Mother Nature Is Actually the Killer |
| B．What Killed Woolly Rhinos? |
| C．Woolly Rhino Bones Were Found in Siberia |
| D．What Happened to Woolly Rhinos? |
3 . Coral reefs are some of the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth. Coral reefs support more species per unit area than any other marine (海洋的) environment, including about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals and hundreds of other species. Scientists estimate that there may be millions of undiscovered species living in and around reefs. This biodiversity is considered the key to finding new medicines for the 21st century. Many drugs are now being developed from coral reef animals and plants as possible cures for cancer, viruses, and other diseases.
Healthy coral reefs support fisheries as well as jobs and businesses through tourism and recreation. About half of all managed fisheries depend on coral reefs and related habitats for a part of their life cycles. The National Marine Fisheries Service estimates the commercial value of U. S. fisheries from coral reefs is over $ 100 million, Local economies receive billions of dollars from visitors to reefs through diving tours, recreational fishing trips, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses based near reef ecosystems.
Coral reef structures also buffer (缓冲) shorelines against 97 percent of the energy from waves, storms, and floods, helping to prevent loss of life, and property damage. When reefs are damaged or destroyed, the absence of this natural barrier can increase the damage to coastal communities from normal wave action and violent storms. Several million people live in U. S. coastal areas near coral reefs. Some coastal development is required to provide necessary infrastructure (基础设施) for coastal residents and the growing coastal tourism industry.
Despite their great economic and recreational value, coral reefs are severely threatened by pollution, disease, and habitat destruction. Once coral reefs are damaged, they are less able to support the many creatures that live on them and the communities near them. When a coral reef supports fewer fish, plants, and animals, it also loses value as a tourist destination.
1. Why is biodiversity important to medicines?| A．It can reduce the prices of new medicines. | B．It can help make new medicines. |
| C．It can be used for medicines. | D．It can be used to cure diseases. |
| A．They protect people against sharks. | B．They completely avoid serious flooding. |
| C．They prevent people from being drowned. | D．They weaken most of the energy from waves. |
| A．Most fish will die out. | B．Coastal cities will attract fewer tourists. |
| C．There will be no large fish. | D．The sea will be polluted. |
| A．The Importance of Diverse Ecosystems | B．The Environments of Coral Reefs |
| C．The Importance of Coral Reefs | D．The Value of Biodiversity |
4 . Coca-Cola is to test a paper bottle as part of a longer-term goal to get rid of plastic from its packaging entirely. The prototype (样本) is made by a Danish company from an extra-strong paper shell that still contains a thin plastic liner (衬垫). But the goal is to create a 100% recyclable, plastic free botte capable of preventing gas escaping from carbonated (碳酸) drinks. The barrier must also ensure no fibers get into the liquid.
That may have a risk of changing the taste of the drink — or potentially can't meet the requirements of health and safety checks. But industry giants (巨头) are backing the plan. Coca-Cola, for example, has set a goal of producing zero waste by 2030. Coca-Cola was ranked the world's number one plastic polluter by charity group Break Free From Plastic last year, closely followed by other drink-producers Pepsi and Nestle.
The Paper Bottle Company, or Paboco, is the Danish firm behind the development of the paper-based container. Part of the challenge has been to create a structure capable of standing the forces exerted by carbonated drinks — such as cola and beer — which are bottled under pressure. On top of that, the paper needs to be mouldable to create distinct bottle shapes and sizes for different brands and take ink for printing their labels.
After more than seven years of lab work, the firm is now ready to host a trial in Hungary this summer of Coca-Cola's fruit drink Adez. Initially, this will involve 2,000 bottles distributed via a local retail chain.
But it is also working with others. Absolut, the vodka maker, is due to test 2,000 paper bottles of its own in the UK and Sweden of its pre-mixed, carbonated raspberry drink. And beer company Carlsberg is also building prototypes of a paper beer bottle.
Michael Michelsen, the firm's commercial manager, says the bottles are formed out of a single piece of paper-fiber-based material to give them strength.
1. What is the longer-term goal of Coca-Cola company?| A．To stop using plastic in its packaging. |
| B．To produce drinks of alternative tastes. |
| C．To expand business in European countries. |
| D．To use paper bottles with a thin plastic liner. |
| A．Coca-Cola has very strong competitors. |
| B．Some industry giants are in favor of plastic free packaging. |
| C．Carbonated drinks are facing stricter health and safety checks. |
| D．The paper bottle company is under pressure from environmentalists. |
| A．Being hard to be printed on. |
| B．Being able to be strengthened. |
| C．Being able to be made into different shapes. |
| D．Being able to be mixed with other materials. |
| A．Coca-Cola Takes the Lead to Go Green |
| B．Paper Bottles Are in Place for the Market |
| C．Drink Industry Is Turning to Paper Bottles |
| D．Paper Bottle Companies Spring up Worldwide |
5 . When buying suitable plants for my garden, I would read the label carefully, which contains critical information that can tell me whether the plant is likely to work for me.
The label tells me the plant's name, including both a common name, which is easy to remember, and a botanical name, which is more precise and reliable. The botanical name is very useful as it's the key to finding more information about the plant.
The label also states the plant's light needs. They can tell me that the plant needs full sun, full shade or part sun, which are somewhere in between.
I will also find information about how much winter cold the plant can handle. This is usually expressed in terms of the zones on a plant hardiness (耐寒性) map. My Chicago home is generally in Zone 5, with a few spots near the lake in Zone 6. It's safe to buy plants that are hardy in Zone 5 or the colder Zones 4 and 3. Some labels only show a temperature, such as 10 degrees below zero, which is the coldest air temperature the plant is believed to be able to survive.
As an experienced gardener, I never forget to learn about the plant's size from the label. It tells me how tall and wide the plant will eventually grow to be. This is especially critical information if I am shopping for trees because just five or ten years later, that plant can outgrow its site.
There's a lot that plant labels don't tell me, for example, the soil a plant needs. Fortunately, I have a handy tool to learn more: my phone. A quick search for the plant 's botanical name can bring me a wealth of information beyond the label.
1. Why is a plant's botanical name important?| A．It's easy to remember. |
| B．It sounds formal and reliable. |
| C．It helps to understand the label. |
| D．It can be used to search for more information. |
| A．a plant that is tall and wide |
| B．a plant that is hardy in Zone 5 |
| C．a plant that requires full sunshine |
| D．a plant that can survive at 10 degrees below zero |
| A．From the label. |
| B．From the Internet. |
| C．From a plant hardiness map. |
| D．From an experienced gardener. |
| A．Thoughtful | B．Curious. | C．Determined. | D．Particular. |
