Question

You can see a sea turtle named Herman, an octopus (章鱼) called Octavia, and a seal named Lidia at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Rather than real animals, they are actually artworks made out of plastic trash from the ocean.

These artworks are part of a traveling exhibit called “Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea”. The Washed Ashore project, led by the artist called Pozzi, works to raise awareness about plastic pollution in Earth’s oceans.

More than 315 billion pounds of plastic litter the world’s oceans today. Most of the plastic is garbage from towns and cities, as well as trash that people leave on beaches. Rainwater, winds, and high tides bring the trash into the ocean or into rivers that lead to the ocean. Once it is under the waves, the plastic begins to break up into smaller and smaller pieces.

Thousands of sea animals die each year from eating plastic bags and other things. Each year, millions more pounds of plastic end up in the ocean. A recent study found that if that continues, by 2050 the total weight of plastic will be more than that of all the fish in the ocean.

The Washed Ashore project is working to stop that from happening. Since 2010, Washed Ashore volunteers have collected 38,000 pounds of plastic trash from more than 300 miles of beaches. They helped Pozzi create more than 60 artworks of sea creatures harmed by plastic pollution.

“These artworks are a powerful reminder of our personal role and global responsibility in preserving biodiversity (生物多样性) on land and in the sea,” says Dennis Kelly, director of the National Zoo.

1.What is the purpose of the artworks shown at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo?

A. To let people know about animals in the ocean.

B. To introduce one way of recycling plastic trash.

C. To warn people of plastic pollution in the ocean.

D. To show Pozzi’s great gift for creating artworks.

2.According to the passage, what is the source of plastic pollution in the ocean?

A. Garbage from towns and cities.    B. Trash left on beaches by people.

C. Plastic bags broken up by waves.    D. Litter created by human activities.

3.The data in Paragraph 5 is given to prove that ______.

A. plastic pollution will be more serious in the ocean.

B. more and more artworks of sea creatures will be made.

C. the Washed Ashore project has made great achievements.

D. volunteers can solve the ocean pollution successfully by 2050.

4.What’s Dennis Kelly’s attitude towards the artworks?

A. worried.    B. supportive.

C. doubtful.    D. unconcerned.

Answer

1. C

2. D

3. C

4. B

【解析】

本文是环保类阅读，Washed Ashore project展览了一些海洋塑料垃圾制成的艺术品，提醒人们海洋中的塑料污染问题的严重性及保护环境的重要性。

1.推理判断题。根据第二段The Washed Ashore project, led by the artist called Pozzi, works to raise awareness about plastic pollution in Earth’s oceans.和最后一段These artworks are a powerful reminder of our personal role and global responsibility in preserving biodiversity (生物多样性) on land and in the sea.可知Smithsonian’s National Zoo展览这些垃圾制成的艺术品的目的是提醒人们海洋中的塑料污染问题的严重性，让人们引起重视。故选C.

2.细节理解题。根据第三段Most of the plastic is garbage from towns and cities, as well as trash that people leave on beaches.可知海洋中的塑料污染主要来自于城镇垃圾和人们留在沙滩上的垃圾，即人类活动产生的垃圾。A、B项只是其中一方面，故选D.

3.推理判断题。第五段的数据表明自2010年以来，被冲上岸的志愿者已经从300多英里的海滩上收集了3.8万磅的塑料垃圾。他们帮助Pozzi创作了60多幅受到塑料污染伤害的海洋生物作品。这些数字说明了Washed Ashore project取得了很大成就。故选C.

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段Dennis Kelly说的“These artworks are a powerful reminder of our personal role and global responsibility in preserving biodiversity (生物多样性) on land and in the sea,”可知她认为这些艺术品提醒我们，在保护生物多样性方面个人作用和全球责任。说明了这些艺术品的重要作用，可见Dennis Kelly对这些艺术品是支持的。故选B.