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 . In recent years, Ethiopia has become a regional leader in solid waste management. Last year, the country transformed the landfill (垃圾填埋场) in Addis Ababa into a new waste-to-energy plant, the first such project on the continent. The plant incinerates up to 1, 400 tonnes of waste every day, about 80 percent of the city's rubbish, supplying the capital with 25 percent of its household electricity needs.
However, despite these important steps, challenges remain in Ethiopia. Although the country has permitted the Basel, Stockholm and Rotterdam conventions, laws and policies for environmentally sound management of hazardous (有害的) wastes are still not effective in pre- venting littering waste illegally.
To help Ethiopia meet these challenges, the Chemicals and Waste Management Program is supporting the country with a three-year project to enhance its capacity for sound management of hazardous wastes.
In the initial stages, a project management unit will be formed, made up of many representatives from government departments and private organizations. This unit will be responsible for reviewing and assessing Ethiopia's current legal system, which, despite numerous advances in recent years, does not specifically target the recycling of hazardous waste. Once legal gaps are identified, the project will seek to update existing policies and strategies.
Many people in Ethiopia are not aware of the possible effect of environmental damage and the need to report such crimes to the police. To resolve this pressing issue, Ethiopia will be conducting a series of capacity-building activities, including creating awareness-raising programs, training trainers and providing equipment.
Ethiopia will also work to establish a national mechanism for chemicals and waste management by engaging government departments and civil society groups. Authorities will also make budgetary provisions (预算拨款) in national, regional and institutional planning to ensure funding for these activities is sustainable even after the project's completion.
1. Which can replace the underlined word “incinerates” in paragraph 1?| A．Produces. | B．Burns. | C．Gathers. | D．Absorbs. |
| A．The relevant laws are not sound. | B．The shortage of workers is severe. |
| C．The pollution level is too high. | D．The funds are not sufficient. |
| A．Restrict their environmental movement. | B．Call on them to start some programs. |
| C．Reward them with budgetary provisions. | D．Raise their environmental awareness. |
| A．Ethiopia is facing serious environmental problems. |
| B．Ethiopia has achieved success in waste management. |
| C．Ethiopia is putting efforts into waste management. |
| D．Ethiopia has reduced environmental pollution levels. |
3 . China still dumps most of the garbage it generates in landfills, which could pollute soil, water and air. Today, China is facing a problem similar to the one Japan faced in the 1970s, especially in its coastal cities which have a relatively high economic growth rate and a large population but comparatively limited land space, resulting in serious environmental pollution.
China has just started its garbage sorting journey, and it will take time for the people to make it a habit of sorting garbage at source.
Shanghai is among China's first cities to introduce garbage classification and also the country's most serious in its performing. Since July 1, 2019, Shanghai residents have been required by law to sort garbage into four different categories, or they could face fines. Individuals, including tourists, can be fined up to 200 yuan for failing to sort their waste properly, while companies and institutions can be fined up to 50，000 yuan.
The city government has set up online apps to handle sorting questions, and announced guidelines to address the "one-size-fits-all" method. The country is about to invest over 21 million yuan in the construction of garbage processing facilities to meet demands.
Following Shanghai, Beijing is also pushing ahead with garbage sorting legislation (立法) in the continual national action to get all of China sorting garbage. Not forced yet, the Chinese capital is already carrying out garbage sorting in more than 200 residential communities and it's trying to get more residents on board by making the system smarter. Now it's introducing artificial intelligence into its waste management system, by setting up little cameras in many sets of bins.
However, not every face can be recognized by the smart dustbin until you register (注册) for the system. Once registration is complete, users will scan a QR code on the bin, which then opens it up to allow for garbage disposal (处理). Now, each household gets one special QR code for throwing out waste. Here, the intelligent bins don't just calculate garbage weight, they also help residents gain rewards by collecting points through the special app.
China welcomes the age of compulsory garbage sorting with its cities revising laws on garbage classification. For Shanghai, sixty percent of the city is expected to implement garbage sorting by the end of this year, and 90 percent by 2020. Garbage sorting is, without doubt, a costly but worthwhile commitment. It is good for the environment and essential for the country's long-term development, and may finally turn out to be a promising industry as well.
1. What is the correct order in using smart garbage sorting system？ ______①Gain rewards
②Open up the bin
③Register for the system
④Scan a QR code on the bin
| A．④②③① | B．③④②① | C．②④③① | D．④③②① |
| A．engage | B．enforce | C．emphasize | D．encourage |
| A．If tourists forget to sort their waste properly, they will be fined 200 yuan. |
| B．Residents in Beijing have to sort garbage into four different categories. |
| C．The intelligent garbage bins can only show garbage weight. |
| D．Garbage sorting can also become a profitable business in future. |
| A．To promote eco-friendly lifestyle. |
| B．To build a garbage sorting system. |
| C．To increase the use of artificial intelligence. |
| D．To support the construction of garbage processing facilities. |
4 . Wealthy countries are exporting millions of tons of plastic waste to Southeast Asia, where local recycling systems cannot process all of it. Greenpeace and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, or GAIA, studied the issue. Their findings showed that the export of plastic waste is causing widespread pollution problems.
In early 2018, China banned the import of plastic waste for recycling, which threw the international trade in recycled materials into disorder. Greenpeace and GAIA workers gathered information from the top 21 importers and exporters of plastic waste. They looked at the recycling trade before and after the Chinese ban. Over half of the plastics — more than 3 million tons a year — used to go to China. It is now being sent to Southeast Asia. Huge mountains of plastics are growing in Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, among other countries.
The Malaysian village of Jenjarom is about 50 kilometers away from Kuala Lumpur. Greenpeace workers found huge piles of plastic waste on the ground in the middle of a palm oil farm. Nobody was working to reduce the size of the piles. The writing on the bottles, boxes and plastic bags showed where they came from. Much of the waste traveled thousands of kilometers from Europe and North America.
People are suffering from the waste, said local environmentalist Pua Lay Peng. “They just throw the non-recyclable plastics or the rejected products, and then they burn them in the backyard of these factories. The poisonous smoke has already caused a lot of health problems for our residents.”
Kate Lin, a project leader at Greenpeace, said wealthy countries are simply exporting their waste. They do not follow up what happens after it crosses the border. Many Southeast Asian countries are beginning to restrict the import of plastic waste, which forces the rubbish to go to markets with less control, such as Indonesia and India.
Greenpeace said improving recycling is not the final solution. Instead, the world must severely reduce plastic production and consumption.
1. What did China’s ban in early 2018 lead to?| A．Southeast Asian countries making similar bans. |
| B．Southeast Asian countries producing less plastic waste. |
| C．European countries paying more attention to plastic waste. |
| D．European countries exporting plastic waste to Southeast Asia countries. |
| A．To show the danger of burning plastic waste. |
| B．To explain how imported plastic waste is dealt with. |
| C．To show imported plastic waste is harming local people. |
| D．To encourage local governments to handle plastic better. |
| A．Fear. | B．Limit. | C．Consider. | D．Increase. |
| A．People avoid producing and using plastic products. |
| B．People recycle plastic products shortly after using them. |
| C．Developing countries refuse the import of plastic waste. |
| D．Wealthy countries export plastic waste to developed Asian countries. |
We live in a world of plastic. Shopping bags, drink bottles, your toothbrush and even your clothes are among the everyday items
Humans
A Plastic Ocean is a documentary film directed by the Australian journalist Craig Leeson. It investigates the serious harm plastic has done
Plastic is so widely used because it is durable (耐用的) and cheap. However, this durability is the same quality that makes it so
6 . Light pollution is blocking a starry view of the night sky for more than half of people across England, a research has found.
Fifty-seven percent of stargazers struggled to see more than 10 stars, while just 2% of participants said they experienced a truly dark sky making them be able to count more than 30, according to the research by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). People in the countryside were encouraged to count how many stars they could see with eyes within the constellation of Orion, which is visible only in the winter months.
Campaigners said the results of the star count, supported by the British Astronomical Association, showed the problem of light pollution and how it affected one of the countryside's most magical sights-a dark, starry night sky. They said the results of the research to map England's night skies suggested more could be done by the government, local councils and the general public to reduce the negative effects of artificial light from streets and buildings.
Emma Marrington, dark skies campaigner at the CPRE, said "We're hugely grateful to the people who took the time to get out and take part in our star count. But it's deeply disappointing that the vast majority were unable to experience the natural wonder of a truly dark sky blanketed with stars. " Without any action, our night sky will continue to be lost under a covering of artificial light, ruining the health of the natural world.
She added: "The star count results show just how far-reaching the light from street lights and buildings can be seen. Light doesn't respect boundaries, and careless use can see it spread for, miles from cities.”
She suggested better-designed lighting, street light dimming systems and part-night lighting where some street lights are turned off during the small hours should provide an, opportunity to limit the damage caused by light pollution, reduce carbon emissions and save money.
1. What causes the light pollution according to the text?| A．More and more buildings. | B．Less and less outdoor activities. |
| C．The overuse of artificial light. | D．The spread of light in the countryside. |
| A．Disappointed. | B．Surprised. | C．Regretful. | D．Appreciative. |
| A．Using street lights wisely. | B．Turning off lights at night. |
| C．Spreading light further. | D．Changing the streets' design. |
7 . Light pollution is blocking a starry view of the night sky for more than half of people across England, a research has found.
Fifty-seven percent of stargazers(观星者)struggled to see more than 10 stars, while just 2% of participants said they experienced a truly dark sky enabling them to count more than 30, according to the research by the Campaign to Protect Rural England(CPRE). People in the countryside were encouraged to count how many stars they could see with eyes within the constellation(星座)of Orion, which is visible only in the winter months.
Campaigners said the results of the star count, supported by the British Astronomical Association, showed the problem of light pollution and how it affected one of the countryside's most magical sights-a dark, starry night sky. They said the results of the research to map England's night skies suggested more could be done by the government, local councils and the general public to lessen the negative effects of artificial light from streets and buildings.
Emma Marrington, dark skies campaigner at the CPRE, said, “We're hugely grateful to the people who took the time to get out and take part in our star count. But it's deeply disappointing that the vast majority were unable to experience the natural wonder of a truly dark sky blanketed with stars. Without intervention, our night sky will continue to be lost under a covering of artificial light, ruining the health of the natural world.”
She added, “The star count results show just how far-reaching the light from street lights and buildings can be seen. Light doesn't respect boundaries, and careless use can see it spread for miles from cities.”
She suggested better-designed lighting, street light dimming(暗淡)systems and partnight lighting where some street lights are turned off during the small hours should provide an opportunity to limit the damage caused by light pollution, reduce carbon emissions and save money.
1. What effect does the light pollution bring about to England?| A．It leads the stars to disappear. |
| B．It makes the countryside dim. |
| C．It makes the environment terrible. |
| D．It prevents the people seeing stars. |
| A．The overuse of artificial light. |
| B．More and more buildings. |
| C．Less and less outdoor activities. |
| D．The spread of light in the countryside. |
| A．Regretful. | B．Surprised. |
| C．Appreciative. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．Changing the streets' design. |
| B．Turning off lights at night. |
| C．Spreading light further. |
| D．Using street lights wisely. |
Air pollution is a killer. The World Health Organization says it kills about seven million people around the world each year. Even if
However, breathing in dirty air
The researchers studied about 25,000 people from across China. Between 2010 and 2014, these Chinese men, women and children
9 . Plastic-Eating Worms
Humans produce more than 300 million tons of plastic every year. Almost half of that winds up in landfills(垃圾填埋场)，and up to 12 million tons pollute the oceans. qSo far there is no effective way to get rid of it, but a new study suggests an answer may lie in the stomachs of some hungry worms.
Researchers in Spain and England recently found that the worms of the greater wax moth can break down polyethylene, which accounts for 40% of plastics. The team left 100 wax worms on a commercial polyethylene shopping bag for 12 hours, and the worms consumed and broke down about 92 milligrams, or almost 3% of it. To confirm that the worms' chewing alone was not responsible for the polyethylene breakdown, the researchers made some worms into paste(糊状物) and applied it to plastic films. 14 hours later the films had lost 13% of their mass--apparently broken down by enzymes(酶)from the worms' stomachs. Their findings were published in Current Biology in 2017.
Federica Bertocchini, co-author of the study, says the worms' ability to break down their everyday food-beeswax--also allows them to break down plastic "Wax is a complex mixture, but the basic bond in polyethylene, the carbon-carbon bond, is there as well, "she explains. "The wax worm evolved a method or system to break this bond. "
Jennifer Debruyn, a microbiologist at the University of Tennessee, who was not involved in the study, says it is not surprising that such worms can break down polyethylene. But compared with previous studies, she finds the speed of breaking down in this one exciting. The next step, DeBruyn says, will be to identify the cause of the breakdown. Is it an enzyme produced by the worm itself or by its gut microbes(肠道微生物)?
Bertocchini agrees and hopes her team’s findings might one day help employ the enzyme to break down plastics in landfills. But she expects using the chemical in some kind of industrial process-not simply "millions of worms thrown on top of the plastic.”
1. What can we learn about the worms in the study?| A．They take plastics as their everyday food. |
| B．They are newly evolved creatures. |
| C．They can consume plastics. |
| D．They wind up in landfills. |
| A．identify other means of the breakdown |
| B．find out the source of the enzyme |
| C．confirm the research findings |
| D．increase the breakdown speed |
| A．help to raise worms |
| B．help make plastic bags |
| C．be used to clean the oceans |
| D．be produced in factories in future |
10 . Imagine a mass of floating waste is two times the size of the state of Texas. Texas has a land area of more than 678,000 square kilometers. So it might be difficult to imagine anything twice as big. All together, this mass of waste flowing in the North Pacific Ocean is known as the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch (太平洋垃圾带). It weighs about 3,500,000 tons. The waste includes bags, bottles and containers-plastic products of all kinds.
The eastern part of the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch is about 1,600 kilometers west of California. The western part is west of the Hawaiian Islands and east of Japan. The area has been described as a kind of oceanic desert, with light winds and slow moving water currents (流，流动). The water moves so slow that garbage from all over the world collects there.
In recent years, there have been growing concerns about the floating garbage and its effect on sea creatures and human health. Scientists say thousands of animals get trapped in the floating waste, resulting in death or injury. Even more die from a lack of food or water after swallowing pieces of plastic. The trash can also make animals feel full, diminishing their desire to eat or drink.
The floating garbage also can have harmful effects on people. There is an increased threat of infection (感染) of disease from polluted waste, and from eating fish that swallowed waste. Divers can also get trapped in the plastic.
Its existence first gained public attention in 1997. That was when racing boat captain and oceanographer Charles Moore and his crew sailed into the garbage while returning from a racing event. Five years earlier, another oceanographer learnt of the trash after a shipment of rubber duckies got lost at sea. Many of those toys are now part of the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch.
In August, 2017, a team from the University of California, San Diego became the latest group to travel to it. They were shocked by the amount of waste they saw. They gathered hundreds of sea creatures and water samples to measure the garbage patch’s effect on ocean environment.
1. The first paragraph is written to ______.| A．lead in the topic of the text | B．inspire readers’ imagination |
| C．develop readers’ interest in Texas | D．talk about reasons for water pollution |
| A．Increasing. | B．Determining. | C．Weakening. | D．Reserving. |
| A．Sports and entertainment. | B．Media and culture. |
| C．Environment and society. | D．Science and technology. |
| A．warn people of the danger to travel in the pacific |
| B．analyze what caused the waste patch in the pacific |
| C．give advice on how to recycle waste in the ocean |
| D．introduce the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch |
