Question

In the United States alone, over 100 million cell-phones are thrown away each year. Cell-phones are part of a growing mountain of electronic waste like computers and personal digital assistants. The electronic waste stream is increasing three times faster than traditional garbage as a whole.

Electronic devices contain valuable metals such as gold and silver. A Swiss study reported that while the weight of electronic goods represented by precious metals was relatively small in comparison to total waste, the concentration (含量) of gold and other precious metals was higher in  So-called e-waste than in naturally occurring minerals.

Electronic wastes also contain many poisonous metals. Even when the machines are recycled and the harmful metals removed, the recycling process often is carried out in poor countries, in practically uncontrolled ways which allow many poisonous substances to escape into the environment.

Creating products out of raw materials creates much more waste material, up to 100 times more, than the material contained in the finished products. Consider again the cell-phone, and imagine the mines that produced those metals, the factories needed to make the box and packaging(包装) it came in. Many wastes produced in the producing process are harmful as well.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that most waste is dangerous in that “the production, distribution, and use of products — as well as management of the resulting waste — all result in greenhouse gas release.” Individuals can reduce their contribution by creating less waste at the start — for instance, buying reusable products and recycling.

In many countries the concept of extended producer responsibility is being considered or has been put in place as an incentive (动机) for reducing waste. If producers are required to take back packaging they use to sell their products, would they reduce the packaging in the first place?

Governments’ incentive to require producers to take responsibility for the packaging they produce is usually based on money. Why, they ask, should cities or towns be responsible for paying to deal with the bubble wrap (气泡垫) that encased your television?

From the governments’ point of view, a primary goal of laws requiring extended producer responsibility is to transfer both the costs and the physical responsibility of waste management from the government and tax-payers back to the producers.

1.By mentioning the Swiss study, the author intends to tell us that __________.

A. the weight of e-goods is rather small

B. natural minerals contain more precious metals

C. E-waste deserves to be made good use of

D. the percentage of precious metals is heavy in e-waste

2.The responsibility of e-waste treatment should be extended __________.

A. from producers to governments    B. from distributors to governments

C. from individuals to distributors    D. from governments to producers

3.What does the passage mainly talk about?

A. The increase in e-waste.    B. The management of e-waste.

C. The seriousness of e-waste.    D. The creation of e-waste.

Answer

1. C

2. D

3. B

【解析】

本文是一篇科普说明文。文章主要介绍了电子垃圾的产生、危害以及相关解决措施。

1.推理判断题。文章第一句“In the United States alone, over 100 million cell-phones are thrown away each year.”告诉我们，每年有大量废弃电子产品被随意丢弃。紧接着第二段首句指出：电子设备中含有有用的金属，如金和银，并用Swiss study佐证这一观点，因此可以推知电子垃圾值得充分利用。故C项正确。

2.细节理解题。文章第六、七、八三段围绕“生产者责任延伸”展开的，最后一段做了总结， 根据“a primary goal of laws requiring extended producer responsibility is to transfer both the costs and the physical responsibility of waste management from the government and tax-payers back to the producers ”可知电子垃圾的处理责任要从政府承担延伸到生产者的身上。故选D项。

3.主旨大意题。纵观全文，文章先描述了废弃电子产品被随意丢弃这一现象，接着指出电子垃圾的可以用价值和潜在风险，主要是由于对废弃电子产品的管理不善造成的，最后呼吁政府和生产商对此承担一定的责任。故选B项。