Reducing plastic waste isn't easy because the...

Reducing plastic waste isn't easy because the cheap material is found in almost every household item. Now, a delicious and nutritious solution has come up to help reduce our dependence on this environmental hazard.

David Christian, the co-founder of Evoware, says the idea of creating the biodegradable (生物降解的) products came from concern at the country’s high pollution rate. Indonesia is home to four of the world's worst polluted rivers. Since single-use packaging is a large contributor to the problem, Evoware decided to deal with that first.

After investigating various materials, the company settled on seaweed. Unlike corn, commonly used for biodegradable containers, seaweed does not require resources like water or large amounts of space. Since Indonesian farmers already harvest more seaweed than they can sell, it's easy for the company to find the material.

Though they will not reveal their production process, Evoware says the seaweed packaging contains no chemicals and is safe to consume. The company has also invented single-use cups, which can break down 30 days after they're thrown away.

While replacing plastic with the seaweed products may seem appealing to most of us, it is a hard-sell in Indonesia. According to Christian, ''The awareness to reduce single-use plastic is still very low. This makes our bioplastic unnecessary.” Also a factor is the cost, which is higher than using plastic. Hopefully, Evoware will succeed in convincing Indonesians and people worldwide that switching to their products will be helpful to protecting our beautiful planet.

1.What problem did Evoware decide to deal with first?

A.Ways to clean the four worst polluted rivers.

B.What nutritious materials for people to use.

C.How to deal with single-use packaging.

D.Means to contribute to the country's economy.

2.Why did Evoware choose seaweed?

A.It didn't require much space and was easy to get.

B.It could be found everywhere in his country.

C.It was most commonly used for packaging.

D.It grew thickly in most of the polluted rivers.

3.What can we infer from Christian's words?

A.Their seaweed products have won government support.

B.Sometimes it's hard to get people to reduce the use of plastics.

C.Their new products have received worldwide popularity.

D.The cost of making seaweed products will be lowered soon.

4.What does the underlined word ''hard-sell'' in Paragraph 5 refer to?

A.Something lasting long. B.Something hard to accept.

C.Something easy to get. D.Something commonly seen.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Plastic is everywhere because plastic is an extremely useful material．It is cheap, strong and lightweight．What’s more, it can take on nearly any form or shape, from soft and stretchy （有弹性的） to hard and glasslike.

Plastic, however, is far from perfect．It may even be bad for us．Studies now suggest that poisonous chemicals can get out of some types of plastic, get into our bodies, and cause a variety of health problems, including cancer, birth defects and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder （注意缺陷障碍）.

Two types of chemicals in particular have raised special concern lately．They are called phthalates （邻苯二甲酸盐） and Bisphenol-A （二酚基丙烷）, BPA for short． Not all plastic products contain them．But the ones that do are surrounded by controversy （争议）．That’s because experts disagree on how dangerous these chemicals are.

Plastic is a single word, but plastic isn’t just one thing．What all plastics share in common are plasticizers -- special chemicals that allow the material to be changed into nearly any shape or texture．Plasticizers （塑化剂） are added to plastic during the manufacturing process.

Phthalates and BPA are two types of plasticizers that work in different ways．Phthalates add softness to things like shampoo bottles, raincoats and rubber．They are also used in perfumes and makeup．BPA, on the other hand, gives a hard, clear, almost glasslike feel to products such as infant bottles．BPA also appears in food and soda cans, DVDs and other unexpected places.

How do these chemicals get into us? When plastic is heated in the microwave or dishwasher, chewed on or scratched, the chemicals can seep （渗透） out of the plastic．Even though we can’t see them, we eat them, drink them and breathe them in.

Scientists and parents are especially worried about young children, who tend to chew on everything, including plastic．Dozens of countries, including the European Union, Japan, Canada and Mexico have already banned phthalates from products made for children younger than three．California and Washington have done the same．And a number of other states are considering similar rules．As for BPA, Canada became the first country to ban the chemical from baby bottles．A dozen states are considering it.

1.What can we know about the plastic from the first paragraph?

A．Its characters and effects．

B．Its wide use and bad points.

C．Its importance and chemicals．

D．Its popularity and advantages.

2.Which of the following products contains BPA?

A．A soft plastic cup．　　　　　　　 B．A pencil eraser.

C．A baby milk bottle．　　　　　　　 D．A new perfume.

3.Phthalates and BPA can get into us __________．

A．through mouth or nose

B．through blood transfusion

C．by feeling plastic products

D．by heating in the microwave

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A．A new ban on plastic products．

B．Problems caused by the plastic．

C．Good points of the plastic．

D．The use of plasticizers.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Plastic is everywhere because plastic is an extremely useful material．It is cheap, strong and lightweight．What’s more, it can take on nearly any form or shape, from soft and stretchy （有弹性的） to hard and glasslike.

Plastic, however, is far from perfect．It may even be bad for us．Studies now suggest that poisonous chemicals can get out of some types of plastic, get into our bodies, and cause a variety of health problems, including cancer, birth defects and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder （注意缺陷障碍）.

Two types of chemicals in particular have raised special concern lately．They are called phthalates （邻苯二甲酸盐） and Bisphenol-A （二酚基丙烷）, BPA for short． Not all plastic products contain them．But the ones that do are surrounded by controversy （争议）．That’s because experts disagree on how dangerous these chemicals are.

Plastic is a single word, but plastic isn’t just one thing．What all plastics share in common are plasticizers -- special chemicals that allow the material to be changed into nearly any shape or texture．Plasticizers （塑化剂） are added to plastic during the manufacturing process.

Phthalates and BPA are two types of plasticizers that work in different ways．Phthalates add softness to things like shampoo bottles, raincoats and rubber．They are also used in perfumes and makeup．BPA, on the other hand, gives a hard, clear, almost glasslike feel to products such as infant bottles．BPA also appears in food and soda cans, DVDs and other unexpected places.

How do these chemicals get into us? When plastic is heated in the microwave or dishwasher, chewed on or scratched, the chemicals can seep （渗透） out of the plastic．Even though we can’t see them, we eat them, drink them and breathe them in.

Scientists and parents are especially worried about young children, who tend to chew on everything, including plastic．Dozens of countries, including the European Union, Japan, Canada and Mexico have already banned phthalates from products made for children younger than three．California and Washington have done the same．And a number of other states are considering similar rules．As for BPA, Canada became the first country to ban the chemical from baby bottles．A dozen states are considering it.

1.What can we know about the plastic from the first paragraph?

A．Its characters and effects．　　　　 B．Its wide use and bad points.

C．Its importance and chemicals．　　 D．Its popularity and advantages.

2.Which of the following products contains BPA?

A．A soft plastic cup．　　　　　　　　　 B．A pencil eraser.

C．A baby milk bottle．　　　　　　　 D．A new perfume.

3.Phthalates and BPA can get into us __________．

A．through mouth or nose

B．through blood transfusion

C．by feeling plastic products

D．by heating in the microwave

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A．A new ban on plastic products．

B．Problems caused by the plastic．

C．Good points of the plastic．

D．The use of plasticizers.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Plastic is everywhere because plastic is an extremely useful material. It is cheap, strong and lightweight. What’s more, it can take on nearly any form or shape, from soft and stretchy (有弹性的) to hard and glasslike.

Plastic, however, is far from perfect. It may even be bad for us. Studies now suggest that poisonous chemicals can get out of some types of plastic, get into our bodies, and cause a variety of health problems, including cancer, birth defects and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (注意缺陷障碍).

Two types of chemicals in particular have raised special concern lately. They are called phthalates (邻苯二甲酸盐) and Bisphenol-A (二酚基丙烷), BPA for short. Not all plastic products contain them. But the ones that do are surrounded by controversy (争议). That’s because experts disagree on how dangerous these chemicals are.

Plastic is a single word, but plastic isn’t just one thing. What all plastics share in common are plasticizers -- special chemicals that allow the material to be changed into nearly any shape or texture. Plasticizers (塑化剂) are added to plastic during the manufacturing process.

Phthalates and BPA are two types of plasticizers that work in different ways. Phthalates add softness to things like shampoo bottles, raincoats and rubber. They are also used in perfumes and makeup. BPA, on the other hand, gives a hard, clear, almost glasslike feel to products such as infant bottles. BPA also appears in food and soda cans, DVDs and other unexpected places.

How do these chemicals get into us? When plastic is heated in the microwave or dishwasher, chewed on or scratched, the chemicals can seep (渗透) out of the plastic. Even though we can’t see them, we eat them, drink them and breathe them in.

Scientists and parents are especially worried about young children, who tend to chew on everything, including plastic. Dozens of countries, including the European Union, Japan, Canada and Mexico have already banned phthalates from products made for children younger than three. California and Washington have done the same. And a number of other states are considering similar rules. As for BPA, Canada became the first country to ban the chemical from baby bottles. A dozen states are considering it.

1.What can we know about the plastic from the first paragraph?

A. Its characters and effects.                   B. Its wide use and bad points.

C. Its importance and chemicals.               D. Its popularity and advantages.

2.Which of the following products contains BPA?

A. A soft plastic cup.                           B. A pencil eraser.

C. A baby milk bottle.                            D. A new perfume.

3.Phthalates and BPA can get into us __________.

A. through mouth or nose                          B. through blood transfusion

C. by feeling plastic products                  D. by heating in the microwave

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A. A new ban on plastic products.             B. Problems caused by the plastic.

C. Good points of the plastic.            D. The use of plasticizers.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Plastic is everywhere because plastic is an extremely useful material. It is cheap, strong and lightweight. What’s more, it can take on nearly any form or shape, from soft and stretchy (有弹性的) to hard and glasslike.

Plastic, however, is far from perfect. It may even be bad for us. Studies now suggest that poisonous chemicals can get out of some types of plastic, get into our bodies, and cause a variety of health problems, including cancer, birth defects and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (注意缺陷障碍).

Two types of chemicals in particular have raised special concern lately. They are called phthalates (邻苯二甲酸盐) and Bisphenol-A (二酚基丙烷), BPA for short. Not all plastic products contain them. But the ones that do are surrounded by controversy (争议). That’s because experts disagree on how dangerous these chemicals are.

Plastic is a single word, but plastic isn’t just one thing. What all plastics share in common are plasticizers -- special chemicals that allow the material to be changed into nearly any shape or texture. Plasticizers (塑化剂) are added to plastic during the manufacturing process.

Phthalates and BPA are two types of plasticizers that work in different ways. Phthalates add softness to things like shampoo bottles, raincoats and rubber. They are also used in perfumes and makeup. BPA, on the other hand, gives a hard, clear, almost glasslike feel to products such as infant bottles. BPA also appears in food and soda cans, DVDs and other unexpected places.

How do these chemicals get into us? When plastic is heated in the microwave or dishwasher, chewed on or scratched, the chemicals can seep (渗透) out of the plastic. Even though we can’t see them, we eat them, drink them and breathe them in.

Scientists and parents are especially worried about young children, who tend to chew on everything, including plastic. Dozens of countries, including the European Union, Japan, Canada and Mexico have already banned phthalates from products made for children younger than three. California and Washington have done the same. And a number of other states are considering similar rules. As for BPA, Canada became the first country to ban the chemical from baby bottles. A dozen states are considering it.

1.What can we know about the plastic from the first paragraph?

A. Its characters and effects.                   B. Its wide use and bad points.

C. Its importance and chemicals.               D. Its popularity and advantages.

2.Which of the following products contains BPA?

A. A soft plastic cup.                           B. A pencil eraser.

C. A baby milk bottle.                            D. A new perfume.

3.Phthalates and BPA can get into us __________.

A. through mouth or nose                          B. through blood transfusion

C. by feeling plastic products                  D. by heating in the microwave

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A. A new ban on plastic products.             B. Problems caused by the plastic.

C. Good points of the plastic.            D. The use of plasticizers.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Going Zero Waste means more than just managing the rubbish we create．It means reducing it too．While it might seem like a difficult thing to do, it's well worth it．And what better time to start than Christmas?

We need to copy the way Nature wastes nothing．Many things are created by human society that we know will soon become useless and be thrown out．How many plastic bottles or even PCs end up in the rubbish bin? Instead，we should design products that can be more easily repaired，reused and recycled．

Kamikatsu, a Japanese village，has already gone Zero Waste．The 2，000 villagers compost their leftovers，and recycle everything else．There are 34 different boxes at the re-cycling centre! Residents grumble about the inconvenience，but they also see the benefits．

People who live Zero Waste lives are careful about what they do．They never take more than they need．Reusing plastic bags at supermarkets is a great way to reduce waste．And those who plan before they shop avoid having to throw food out later．Also，it’s best not to go food shopping when you’re hungry：You’ll be sure to buy too much!

Let’s think about how to enjoy a Zero Waste Christmas．By sending recyclable cards，we can help our friends and family reduce waste．And what better way to enjoy the spirit of Christmas than with a real tree that can be replanted in the spring?

Going Zero Waste requires us to think more about what happens before and after we act．It takes ambition，and it's not always easy．But just think how good it would be，both for ourselves and for the environment, if we never had to waste anything．

1.When is this passage probably written?

2.What should we do to reduce waste according to the passage?

3.If we want to live Zero Waste lives we should do the following except ________.

4.What’s the main purpose of this passage?

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Plastic is the workhorse material of the modern economy (经济). Lightweight and durable, it’s been used to make a vast number of products since its introduction over 100 years ago.

However, a study carried out by the World Economic Forum, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and McKinsey Company showed the status of the breakdown in the global plastic system. A full 32% of the 78 million tons of plastic packaging produced annually is left to flow into our oceans.

The Ocean Cleanup, a start-up founded in 2013, is the brainchild of Boyan Slat, who came up with the idea for the company when he was just 17 years old. Since then, it’s received more than $2 million in funding(基金). The company plans to use a large array (列阵) that will be fixed to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. This will have arms that spread out over 100 km, getting all of the plastic garbage pushed into its nets. This is then collected by a 10,000-metre-cube container that will be emptied monthly.

Most recently, the Ocean Cleanup launched a team of explorers aboard a specially refitted C-130 Hercules aircraft heavily loaded with specialized sensor equipment. It discovered that the problem was worse than expected with an abundance of plastics measuring up to 1.5 m across and at a higher density than previously thought. The organization will continue to pilot the array and will start cleaning the pile before the end of the decade.

Once the plastic is out, what should we do with it? The foundation (基金会) hopes that the plastic from the ocean will have a commercial value which can help to fund the project. Ocean plastic is not easy to use, it’s mixed by nature consisting of everything from intact PET bottles to micro plastics. However, some of the world's biggest companies also see the chance to market oceans plastic products.

Transforming today’s plastics economy from its present form (take-make-waste) to a zero waste circular economy (take-make-take-make) is a difficult challenge. However, with cooperative action from producers, recyclers, governments and consumers alike and continuing innovation (革新) it can be done.

1.What’s Boyan Slat’s idea about?

A.A way to collect ocean plastic waste.

B.A new product made of ocean plastic.

C.A machine to recycle plastic garbage.

D.An organization to research into plastic.

2.Which of the following can replace the underlined word “density” in Paragraph 4?

A.Flexibility. B.Thickness.

C.Width. D.Strength.

3.What do some biggest companies expect of the ocean plastic?

A.It’ll be turned into treasure. B.It’ll sponsor the foundation.

C.It’ll cooperate with the government. D.It’ll take the form of take-make-waste.

4.Where is this text most likely from?

A.A diary. B.A guidebook.

C.A novel. D.A magazine

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Wood has many great characteristics that make it the perfect building material. It is cheap, durable(耐用的), easily available, and most importantly, environmentally sustainable. The one thing it is not, is transparent(透明的).Now thanks to a team of scientists at Stockholm’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology, the material may even be able to add that feature to its already impressive list.

Lead researcher Dr. Lars Berglund said he was inspired to create the transparent wood after learning how Japanese researchers had developed a see-through paper for use in flexible display screens for electronic devices.

The team began by pulling out the wood’s lignin (木质素). The lignin-free wood was then dipped into a polymer (聚合物) and baked at a temperature of 158F for four hours. The result was a hybrid product that was not only stronger and lighter than the original wood but also, almost transparent. The researchers were able to adjust the level of transparency by varying the amount of the polymer injected and also by changing the thickness of the wood.

While scientists have previously created a see-through wood for small-scale applications like computer chips, the transparent wood is the first one being considered for large scale applications. The researchers, who revealed their findings in Biomacromolecules on April 11, picture using the transparent wood in buildings to allow for more natural light, or to create windows that let in the desired amount of light without sacrificing privacy.

Wood that allows light to pass through could lead to a brighter future for homes and buildings. Berglund also thinks the wood could play a significant role in the design of solar panels. The semi-transparent material would be able to keep light longer and give it more time to interact with the conductor, thus resulting in better solar efficiency.

Additionally, substituting the currently used glass with this new product would help solar energy manufacturers improve their carbon footprint and lower the cost. They are now experimenting with ways to scale up the manufacturing process so that the transparent material is cost-effective to make and easy to use.

1.What does the underlined part "that feature" in Paragraph 1 refer to?

A.Cheapness. B.Durability.

C.Sustainability. D.Transparency.

2.Which of the following is not the process in which the transparent wood is made?

A.Dip the wood into a polymer. B.Reduce the amount of the polymer.

C.Make the wood lignin-free. D.Bake the wood for some time.

3.What’s the purpose of using the transparent wood in buildings?

A.To protect privacy. B.To scale out applications.

C.To get more natural light. D.To observe more clearly.

4.What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A.The bright future of the transparent wood.

B.The wood’s role in the design of solar panels.

C.The disadvantages of the currently used glass.

D.Solar energy manufacturers’ carbon footprint.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Wood has many great characteristics that make it the perfect building material.It is cheap，durable，easily available，and most importantly，environmentally sustainable.The one thing it is not，is transparent! Now thanks to a team of scientists at Stockholm’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology the material may even be able to add that feature to its already impressive list.

Lead researcher Dr，Lars Berglund said he was inspired to create the transparent wood after learning how Japanese researchers had developed　 a　 see-through paper for use in flexible display screens for electronic devices.The team began by pulling out the wood’s lignin(木质素).The lignin-free wood was then dipped into a polymer(聚合物)and baked at a temperature of 158°F for four hours.The result was a hybrid product that was not only stronger and lighter than the original wood but also，almost transparent.The researchers were able to adjust the level of transparency by varying the amount of the polymer injected and also by changing the thickness of the wood.

While scientists have previously created a see-through wood for small-scale applications like computer chips，the transparent wood is the first one being considered for large scale applications.The researchers，who revealed their findings in Biomacromolecules on April 11，picture using the transparent wood in buildings to allow for more natural light，or to create windows that let in the desired amount of light without sacrificing privacy.

Wood that allows light to pass through could lead to a brighter future for homes and buildings.Berglund also thinks the wood could play a significant role in the design of solar panels.The semitransparent material would be able to keep light longer and give it more time to interact with the conductor，thus resulting in better solar efficiency.Additionally，substituting the currently used glass with this new product would help solar energy manufacturers improve their carbon footprint and lower the cost.They are now experimenting with ways to scale up the manufacturing process so that the transparent material is cost-effective to make and easy to use.

1.What does the underlined part“that feature”in Paragraph 1 refer to?

A. Cheap.　　 B. Durable.　　 C. Sustainable.　　 D. Transparent.

2.Which of the following correctly shows the process in which the transparent wood is made?

①Dip the wood into a polymer.　　　 ②Adjust the amount of the polymer.

③Make the wood lignin-free.　　　 ④Bake the wood for some time.

A. ③→①→④→②　　 B. ③→①→②→④

C. ①→②→③→④　　 D. ④→③→②→①

3.Which of the following is true according to the text?

A. Berglund got the idea of transparent wood while making paper.

B. Varying the amount of the polymer changes the wood’s hardness.

C. The transparent wood would be used only for homes and buildings.

D. The cost of making the transparent wood still needs to be cut down.

4.What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A. The bright future of the transparent wood.

B. The wood’s role in the design of solar panels.

C. The disadvantages of the currently used glass.

D. Solar energy manufacturers’carbon footprint.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The manager of the company told us that very little_____  was made of the waste material in the past.

A. cost        B. value         C. use        D. matter

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析