1 . Microplastics are tiny bits or threads of plastic, often too small to be seen. In recent years, microplastics have been found almost everywhere, from the North pole to Antarctica, from the top of Mount Qomolangma to the deepest point in the sea.
In a recent study led by a group called Ocean Wise, researchers made four trips across the Arctic Ocean. They took 71 samples from between 10 and 26 feet below the ocean’s surface, and 26 more samples from more than 0.6 miles below. They found microplastics in all but one, with an average of about 40 microplastic particles in every cubic meter. To identify the particles they found, the scientists used a tool based on infrared (红外的) light. Over 92% of the microplastics found were small threads, called microfibers. About 73% of these fibers were made of a plastic known as polyester(聚酯), which exactly matched polyester used in clothing.
The study also found far more microfibers near the Atlantic side of the Arctic Ocean than near the Pacific side. The fibers on the Atlantic side were also newer. The team believes this suggests that the fibers come from Europe and North America. Peter Ross, who led the research, said, “With these polyester fibers, we’ve created a cloud throughout the world’s oceans.”
Most samples were taken from an ocean layer where lots of sea life finds food. The scientists believe this means that many kinds of sea life, from the smallest to the largest, are likely to be affected by the pollution.
So how do these microfibers get into the sea? They break off when clothes are washed and emptied by washing machines into underground pipes. One recent study suggested that laundry from the US and Canada carries around 7,716,000 pounds of plastic microfibers into the sea every year.
1. Which is true about the study according to paragraph 2?| A．All the samples taken contained microplastics. |
| B．Polyester accounted for most of the microfibers. |
| C．The head of the research group is called Ocean Wise. |
| D．Most samples were collected from over 0.6 miles below. |
| A．These polyester fibers look like clouds. |
| B．The world’s oceans are linked together. |
| C．The pollution has reached a serious level. |
| D．The food chain of the sea has been damaged. |
| A．Plastics. | B．Ocean layers. |
| C．Washing machines. | D．Laundry. |
| A．Efforts Made to Protect the Arctic Ocean |
| B．Reduction in the Consumption of Plastic Products |
| C．Microplastics Found All Through the Arctic Ocean |
| D．Reasons Behind the Pollution of the Arctic Ocean |
