Recycling Electronic Waste
When Alex Lin was 11 years old, he read an alarming article in the newspaper which said that people were burying old computers in backyards, throwing TVs into streams, and dumping ( 丢弃 ) cell phones in the garbage. This was dangerous because e-waste contains harmful chemicals that can leak into the environment, getting into crops, animals, water supplies—and people.
Alex was really worried and decided to make it next project for WIN—the Westerly Innovations Network. Alex and six of his friends had formed this organization to help solve community problems two years before.
But what could they do about this project with e-waste? The team spent several weeks gathering information about the harmful chemicals in e-waste and their effects on humans. They learned how to dispose ( 处置 ) of e-waste properly and how it could be recycled. Then, they sent out a survey and found only one in eight knew what e-waste was, let alone how to properly dispose of it.
Alex and his friends went into action. They advertised in the local newspaper and distributed notices to students, asking residents to bring their unwanted electronics to the school parking lot. The drive lasted two days, and they collected over 9, 500 kilograms of e-waste.
The next step was to set up a long-term e-waste drop-off center for the town. After some research, they’d learned that reusing is the best way to deal with electronic devices and it is seven times more efficient than recycling. So, they began learning to refurbish ( 翻新 ) computers themselves and distributed them to students who didn’t have their own. In this way, they could help students in the area and protect the environment at the same time.
For a lasting solution to e-waste, the drop-off center wasn’t enough. Laws would have to be passed. In 2016, WIN helped push for an e-waste bill in their town, which required companies that manufactured or sold electronics to take back e-waste. The bill clearly forbids the dumping of e-waste.
Because of the work of WIN, more and more people, like Alex and his team, are getting the message about safe disposal of e-waste. As Alex says, “Today’s technology should not become tomorrow’s harmful garbage.”
1 . What was Alex’s worry after he read the article?
A . The littering of e-waste. B . The recycling of plastic.
C . The change of environment. D . The overuse of old computers.
2 . What did Alex do to start the project?
A . Set up WIN. B . Collect information.
C . Ask friends for help. D . Carry out a survey.
3 . Which can best describe the way Alex and his team did their work?
A . Traditional. B . Competitive.
C . Scientific. D . Convenient.
4 . What message does the story convey?
A . There is no end to perfection.
B . Success comes through failure.
C . Every positive attitude has a reward.
D . Young people can make a big difference.
1 . A
2 . B
3 . C
4 . D
【分析】
这是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了几个十几岁的年轻人为了避免电子垃圾对环境造成的影响,想办法循环利用电子垃圾的事情。
1 .细节理解题。根据文章第一段内容 “When Alex Lin was 11 years old, he read an alarming article in the newspaper which said that people were burying old computers in backyards, throwing TVs into streams, and dumping ( 丢弃 ) cell phones in the garbage. This was dangerous because e-waste contains harmful chemicals that can leak into the environment, getting into crops, animals, water supplies—and people.” (当 Alex Lin 11 岁时,他在报纸上读到一篇令人震惊的文章,人们把旧电脑埋在后院,把电视扔到河里,把手机扔到垃圾堆里。这是危险的,因为电子垃圾中含有有害的化学物质,可能会泄漏到环境中,进入农作物、动物、水源和人类。)和第二段第一句话 “Alex was really worried” ( Alex 真的很担心)可知, Alex 看到报纸上的文章,得知随意丢弃电子垃圾是危险的,会危害环境、农作物、动物、水源和人类,这让他很担心。由此可知, Alex 看完这篇文章后担心的是乱扔电子垃圾的现象。故选 A 项。
2 .细节理解题。根据文章第三段关键句 “But what could they do about this project with e-waste? The team spent several weeks gathering information about the harmful chemicals in e-waste and their effects on humans.” (但是他们能对这个电子垃圾项目做些什么呢?小组花了几周时间收集有关电子垃圾中有害化学物质及其对人类影响的信息。)可知,为了开展这个项目,小组首先花了几周时间收集有关电子垃圾中有害化学物质及其对人类影响的信息。由此可知, Alex 通过收集信息的方式来开始这个项目。故选 B 项。
3 .推理判断题。根据文章第三段关键句 “But what could they do about this project with e-waste? The team spent several weeks gathering information about the harmful chemicals in e-waste and their effects on humans.” (但是他们能对这个电子垃圾项目做些什么呢?小组花了几周时间收集有关电子垃圾中有害化学物质及其对人类影响的信息。)、第四段关键句 “Alex and his friends went into action. They advertised in the local newspaper and distributed notices to students, asking residents to bring their unwanted electronics to the school parking lot.” ( Alex 和他的朋友们开始行动了。他们在当地报纸上登广告,向学生们分发通知,要求居民们把不需要的电子产品带到学校停车场。)和第五段关键句 “The next step was to set up a long-term e-waste drop-off center for the town.” (下一步是为该镇建立一个长期的电子垃圾投放中心。)可知, Alex 和他的朋友们为了开展这个项目,首先收集信息,然后通过登报和分发通知等方式进行宣传,接下来建立一个长期的电子垃圾投放中心,这种做法是科学的,再结合最后一段关键句 “Because of the work of WIN, more and more people, like Alex and his team, are getting the message about safe disposal of e-waste.” (由于 WIN 的工作,越来越多的人,像 Alex 和他的团队一样,正在得到关于安全处理电子垃圾的信息。)可知,他们的工作获得了成功。由此可推断出, Alex 和他的团队的工作方式是科学的。故选 C 项。
4 .主旨大意题。分析文章内容,结合最后一段关键句 “Because of the work of WIN, more and more people, like Alex and his team, are getting the message about safe disposal of e-waste.” (由于 WIN 的工作,越来越多的人,像 Alex 和他的团队一样,正在得到关于安全处理电子垃圾的信息。)可知,文章主要讲述了几个十几岁的年轻人为了避免电子垃圾对环境造成的影响,想办法循环利用电子垃圾的事情,并最终获得了成功,越来越多的人知道了关于安全处理电子垃圾的信息。 “Young people can make a big difference.” 意为 “ 年轻人可以有所作为。 ” 能够概括这个故事传达的信息。故选 D 项。
请认真阅读下列短文,并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。注意:每个空格只填1个单词。
Feeling extreme loneliness can increase an older person’s risk of premature (过早的)death by 14 percent, according to research by John Cacioppo, professor of psychology at the University of Chicago.
Cacioppo and his colleagues’ work shows that the impact of loneliness on premature death is nearly as strong as the impact of disadvantaged socioeconomic status, which they found increases the chances of dying early by 19 percent. A 2010 meta﹣analysis showed that loneliness has twice as much impact on early death as obesity does, he said.
The researchers looked at dramatic differences in the rate of decline in physical and mental health as people aged. Cacioppo and his colleagues have examined the role of satisfying relationships on older people to develop their resilience ([rɪˈzɪliəns] 快速恢复的能力;适应力), the ability to feel better quickly after something unpleasant, and grow from stresses in life.
The consequences for health are dramatic, as feeling isolated or separated from others can disturb sleep, elevate blood pressure, increase morning rises in the stress hormone cortisol ([‘kɔ:tɪsɒl] 皮质醇), change the gene expression in immune cells, increase depression and lower overall subjective well﹣being, Cacioppo pointed out in a talk, “ Rewarding Social Connections Promote Successful Aging.”
Cacioppo, one of the nation’s leading experts on loneliness, said older people can avoid the consequences of loneliness by staying in touch with former co﹣workers, taking part in family traditions, and sharing good times with family and friends ﹣ all of which give older adults a chance to connect with others about whom they care and who care about them.
”Retiring to Florida to live in a warmer climate among strangers isn’t necessarily a good idea if it means you are disconnected from the people who mean much to you,” said Cacioppo. Population changes make understanding the role of loneliness and health all the more important,he explained. “People have to think about how to protect themselves from depression, low subjective well﹣being and early death. “
Although some people are happy to be alone, most people develop from social situations in which they provide mutual support and establish a strong bond. Evolution encourages people to work together to survive and accordingly most people enjoy companionship compared to be alone.
It is not solitude (独处)or physical isolation itself, but rather the subjective sense of isolation that Cacioppo’s work shows to be so destructive. Older people living alone are not necessarily lonely if they remain actively engaged in social life and enjoy the company of those around them. Some aspects of aging, such as blindness and loss of hearing, however, place people at special risk of becoming isolated and lonely, he said.
Passage outline | Supporting details |
The main idea | Chances are that older people will die early if they feel extremely 51.. |
52. with loneliness | • Like disadvantaged socioeconomic status and obesity, loneliness can 53. old men’s premature death. • When 54. from others, one will find physical health impacted and tend to feel depressive and unhappy. |
Suggestions | • Keep in touch with others and take part in 55. activities. • Choosing to live in a pleasant climate don’t necessarily make sense if the elder are disconnected from people who are 56. to them. • Think about how to57. depression, low subjective well﹣being and early death. • Work together with others to 58., to gain mutual support and establish a strong bond. |
Conclusions | • The sense of isolation, rather than solitude or physical isolation itself, isn’t 59.to elders. • Living alone doesn’t mean loneliness if older people live an 60. social life. |