文章大意:本文是说明文。文章主要介绍伊凡·布尔尼翁创建了“海洋清洁者”协会,并成立了一个中心,致力于建造一艘开拓性的船只:曼塔号。这艘高科技船舶采用特殊设计、混合动力推进系统和可再生能源供电,不仅可以收集海洋垃圾,还可以对其进行处理。
About 9 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean annually, that is, about 17 tons every minute. The United Nations(UN) reported that if ambitious actions are not taken, then the ocean will contain more plastic than fish by 2050.
Therefore, Yvan Bourgnon decided to do something. He created the association The SeaCleaners and set up a center devoted to the construction of a pioneering ship: the Manta. Using a special design, a hybrid propulsion (混合推进) system and a power supply from renewable energy sources, the high-tech ship will not only collect ocean waste but process it.
Ready to be launched in 2024, the Manta will operate autonomously 75% of the time without the use of coal or oil, and it will have the ability to extract between 5,000 and 10,000 tons of floating plastic each year as well as microplastics from 10mm deep to 1 meter deep. Even more impressively, its hybrid design means that this ship can operate for up to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The ship is equipped with various systems, including a set of waste-collecting conveyor belts to bring the plastic from the ocean to the ship, three floatable systems to pick up waste on the surface, two smaller multipurpose collection rubber boats for parts of the ocean that the larger ship can’t access, and two cranes (吊车) to pull larger pieces from the water.
According to the designers, the first task of the Manta will take place in Southeast Asia. After that the Manta will operate in Africa and South America but will also appear in temporarily polluted areas following climatic or natural disasters.
After three weeks at sea, the Manta will be directed towards coastal ports in the area to give lectures and welcome the public aboard for activities or events regarding plastic pollution. An area of 200m and a conference room for 80 people are on board to accommodate these events.
8. What does the first paragraph serve as?
A.A warning. | B.An explanation. |
C.An argument. | D.A background. |
9. What does the underlined word “extract” mean in paragraph 3?
A.Remove. | B.Destroy. |
C.Restore. | D.Deliver. |
10. Why are rubber boats included in the Manta?
A.To convey plastic to the ship. |
B.To reach narrow areas. |
C.To pull plastic from deep water. |
D.To pick up surface waste. |
11. Which aspect of the ship is talked about in the last paragraph?
A.Its popularity among the public. |
B.Its role as an educational platform. |
C.Its diverse applications in real life. |
D.Its long-term effects on the environment. |