Should single?use plastics be banned? 一次性塑料用品应该被禁止吗？

孟洁

[难词探意]

1. outlaw /?a?tl??/ v. 宣布……为不合法;禁止

2. degradable /d??ɡre?d?bl/ adj. 可降解的

3. straw /str??/ n. 吸管

4. disposable /d??sp??z?bl/ adj. 一次性的;可任意处理的

5. remnant /?remn?nt/ n. 剩余物

6. mindset /?ma?ndset/ n. 心态;思维习惯

In early January 2020， China， the No. 1 producer of plastic waste in the world， joined the growing movement of more than 120 countries promising to ban single?use plastics. China announced it plans to outlaw the production and sale of non?degradable bags by the end of 2020 in major cities， as well as single?use straws by late 2020. Now increasing number of countries and companies are saying no to plastics by the dozens， and consumers are following along with them.

True to its name， a single?use plastic is disposable plastic thats designed to be used once and then thrown away or recycled. This includes everything from plastic water drink bottles to plastic bags—any plastic item you use and then immediately throw away. While these items can be recyclable， Megean Weldon of the blog says thats hardly the criterion.

“In reality， very few plastic items can be processed into new materials and products，” she says. “Take a plastic water bottle for example. Most bottles say they can be recycled—and based on their easily recyclable PET composition， they could be. But nearly 7 out of 10 bottles end up in landfills or being thrown away as litter. Meanwhile， humans produce almost 20，000 plastic bottles per second. Its no wonder that the world is overflowing with plastic waste.”

There are some very solid reasons why banning makes sense. First， plastic in landfills doesnt go away. According to Weldon， a plastic bag takes 10 to 20 years to degrade， while a plastic bottle takes almost 500 years. And， even when its “gone”， its remnants remain. Plastic never breaks down or goes away; it only breaks into smaller and smaller pieces.

Another reason why many countries are prohibiting single?use plastics is that they shouldnt be reused. Experts warn that people should take caution when it comes to plastic bottles or food containers. One study showed that all plastics used in food containers could release harmful chemicals if used repeatedly.

“The convenience culture has normalized this destructive behavior and as a result， we produce millions of tons of it every single year. If we change our mindset on what we consume， we will be more aware of the single?use plastic we use and how we can avoid it，” she says.

[阅读检测]

1. What information does the author convey in the first paragraph？

A. Customers are increasing along with companies.

B. Dozens of companies are saying no to the ban.

C. China as well as 120 countries promises to ban single?use plastics.

D. The production and sale of non?degradable bags will be forbidden by the end of 2020.

2. What is the present situation of the single?use plastic？

A. Few of plastic water drink bottles are recyclable.

B. Plastic bottles are being produced at a shocking speed.

C. Most plastic items are processed into new materials and products.

D. Plastic items are thrown away anywhere instead of being put in landfills.

3. Why cant we reuse the single?use plastics？

A. Its tough to deal with plastic wastes.

B. Its difficult for plastic to break down or go away.

C. Most bottles lack the easily recyclable PET composition.

D. All plastics used in food containers could release harmful chemicals if used repeatedly.

4. Where is the text most likely from？

A. A diary.     B. A guidebook.     C. A novel.     D. A magazine.

[语言学习]

写作推荐

If we change our mindset on what we consume， we will be more aware of the single?use plastic we use and how we can avoid it. 如果我们改变消费观念，我们会更注意一次性塑料制品的使用以及如何避免使用。

【信息提取】本句中，“the single?use plastic”与how引导的宾语从句均为介词短语be aware of 的宾语。be aware of意為“意识到……;注意到……”。

【句式仿写】很多人开始意识到求职者将要面临新的挑战。