废“塑”艺术

吴永华

Leading：

塑料袋污染已经成为一大世界性环境难题。试看美国女艺术家Allita Irby如何另辟蹊径，用废弃的塑料袋打造艺术作品。

Making art with found materials is not a new idea. Recycled paper，cloth and metal goods can become important pictures and sculptures. Artist Allita Irbys colorful recycled artwork was on display at a museum near Washington，D.C. She uses a material found in every American home.

Plastic bags are not costly to produce. They are also strong and easy to carry. This is why they are a popular container in much of the world. But they are also a major source of pollution. It can take hundreds of years for plastic bags to break down. As they do，tiny pieces can poison soil，lakes，rivers and oceans. So，environmental experts urge people to reuse and recycle plastic bags.

Maryland artist Allita Irby does just that. It starts with the morning newspaper. Ms. Irby will read it later in the day. What is more important is getting that plastic bag in which the paper comes. The mixed media artist recognized its rich possibilities about three years ago.“As I was taking the newspaper out，I felt the texture of these bags，and they were soft. I just looked down and realized it takes three to make a braid.” Since then，Irby has been using plastic bags to create abstract① lines in her artwork. Before incorporating plastic bags in her pieces，Irby used natural materials like feathers，leather and dried plants. All those elements represent her native American ancestry and identity，like her piece called“Navaho Bundles”.

Ms. Irbys neighbors praise her ability to turn trash into treasure. Some，like Charlotte Hogan，asked the artist to teach them how to create art from used plastic bags.“I think its fascinating. I do plan to share with my seniors at my church.”Shirley Watts also lives in the neighborhood. She plans to show others her art. “I want to make a masterpiece② that I can put in a frame and put it up on my wall and then I know that I did it.”

Allita Irby says anyone can do it. “I think were all artists really，and there is beauty all around us.”The artist says all you have to do is open your eyes and bring the outside in.

Notes：

①abstract adj. 抽象的

②masterpiece n. 杰作

1. Plastic bags have become an environmental problem because ______.

A. they are commonly used by people over the world

B. they are poisonous and hard to break down

C. they exist in huge numbers

D. they block rivers，lakes and oceans

2. What does the underlined word“that” in Paragraph 3 refer to？

A. Creating pictures and sculptures.

B. Reading morning newspaper.

C. Recycling paper，cloth and metal goods.

D. Reusing and recycling plastic bags.

3. What special material does Allita Irby use for her artwork now？

A. The plastic bag containing the morning newspaper.

B. The morning newspaper in the plastic bag.

C. The hair from peoples braids.

D. The natural feathers and plants.

4. The materials Allita Irby has used before suggest that ______.

A. she doesnt like unnatural materials

B. she likes abstract artwork

C. she loves her native American culture

D. she is eager to find a new material

5. What do the last two paragraphs mainly talk about？

A. Irbys art form is an easy way to appreciate beauty.

B. Irbys artwork is copied by her neighbors.

C. Plastic bag is the best artwork material.

D. Plastic bag will be welcomed by all artists.

答案与解析

1.答案为B。细节理解题。由第二段的第五、六句可知，塑料袋污染环境是由于其不易分解且有毒。

2.答案为D。词义推断题。由第二段的末句和第三段的第一句可知，Allita Irby所做之事正是回收和重复使用塑料袋。

3.答案为A。细节理解题。由第三段可知，Allita Irby使用的特殊材料是用于装晨报的塑料袋。

4.答案为C。推理判断题。由第三段的最后一句可知，Allita Irby以前使用的材料都显示了她的美洲土著根源和身份，因此可以推断她热爱自己的美洲土著文化。

5.答案为A。主旨大意题。由最后两段邻居们对Allita Irby的艺术形式的推崇、模仿，以及Allita Irby对于美的论断可知，Allita Irby的艺术形式让人们能够更容易地创造美、享受美。

【长难句分析】

1. Since then，Irby has been using plastic bags to create abstract lines in her artwork.

分析：本句含现在完成进行时has been using，表示“从过去到现在一直在用，并有可能持续到将来”。

句意：从那时候起，Irby一直把塑料袋用在她的艺术作品中创作抽象线条。

2. I want to make a masterpiece that I can put in a frame and put it up on my wall and then I know that I did it.

分析：本句为并列主从复合句，主干为并列句“I want to make a masterpiece ... and put it ... and then I know ...”。第一个从句that I can put in a frame为定语从句，修饰先行词a masterpiece，第二个从句that I did it为宾语从句，作动词know的宾语。

句意：我想制作一幅放在框架中的杰作，把它挂在墙上，然后我就知道它是我创作的。

【语法点拨】

It can take hundreds of years for plastic bags to break down.

分析：本句由it作形式主语，to break down作真正的主语，构成句型“It takes（sb.）some time to do ...”。类似的以it作形式主语的句型还有“Its + adj./n.+ to do/doing/that ...”和“Its said/reported ... that ...”等。

句意：塑料袋可能需要成百上千年才能分解。

（作者单位：贵州遵义市四中）

（责任编校 彭益）