Question

    A survey in the Philippines has shown the country uses a “shocking” amount of single-use plastic, including nearly 60 billion sachets (小袋) a year, a new report said Friday. The report, produced by the non-governmental organization GAIA, is part of an effort to collect data on plastic consumption as environmentalists push for government action to reduce plastic waste.

It contains shocking figures: every day, almost 48 million shopping bags are used throughout the Philippines, adding up to more than 17 billion a year.  And that figure does not include the smaller, thinner and often transparent plastic bags known as “labo” bags—around 16.5 billion of those are used per year across the country, the report says. The figures are based on 21 waste assessments conducted in 13 cities across the Philippines, with the national figures produced by extrapolating(推断) from local results.

More than half of non-recyclable plastic analyzed in the survey came from sachets—small plastic packets often lined with aluminium or containing other materials that make them non-recyclable.  Small portions of products ranging from coffee to shampoo are often sold in sachets in the Philippines, and are seen as an affordable solution for consumers.

But Grate said the popularity appeared to be more a result of what is available, with wealthier consumers simply buying multiple sachets. “If you go to the supermarkets, it’ s rare for you to be able to buy coffee in bigger containers; it’s all in sachets,” he said.

The survey is the first time an organization has tried to quantify(确定数量) sachet use, and the NGO hopes to pressure both the government and industry to take action on controlling single-use plastic. The report found that where local-level plastic bag bans have been put in place and strictly enforced, usage has dropped dramatically.

It urged the government to “institute a comprehensive national plastic bag ban that promotes reusable bags”. And it wants regulations on other single-use plastic products and rules requiring companies to redesign products and packaging to minimize plastic waste.

1.What’ s the purpose of GAIA in carrying out the survey?

A. To show how shocking the amount of plastic waste can be.

B. To get people and the government know better about its final goal.

C. To collect accurate numbers of plastic bags used in the whole country.

D. To help make the government take measures to reduce plastic waste.

2.Why can’t many sachets be recycled?

A. They are not made of only plastic.

B. They won’ t last long after being buried.

C. They cost less to be made than recycled.

D. They can naturally change to a simpler chemical form.

3. Which is a reason for the popularity of sachets in the Philippines?

A. They can’ t be easily afforded. B. Big containers are rarely available.

C. Shopping bags are often transparent. D. They are more environmentally friendly.

4.How can companies help reduce plastic waste according to GAIA?

A. By producing fewer products.

B. By inventing new recycling machines.

C. By donating money to recycling companies.

D. By using as little plastic as possible on their products.

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.B

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章讲述了非政府组织GAIA在菲律宾的调查显示，菲律宾一年要使用600亿塑料袋。这一数据并不包括在全国范围内使用的165亿个labo袋，因为在菲律宾，咖啡或者洗发水都是以小袋装的形式售卖的。非政府组织希望给政府及企业施压，不要使用如此多的一次性塑料。同时也希望能制定一系列关于一次性塑料的规范及条例，以尽可能减少塑料污染。

1.推理判断题。文章第一段最后一句提到“is part of an effort to collect data on plastic consumption as environmentalists push for government action to reduce plastic waste”该研究的提出是为了环保主义者推动政府减少塑料浪费的一部分努力结果。故D项正确。

2.细节理解题。文中第三段提到“small plastic packets often lined with aluminium or containing other materials that make them non-recyclable.”这种小塑料袋是加了铝或其他物质，所以才会很难回收。如果成分仅仅是塑料，回收则相对容易。故A项正确。

3.推理判断题。文章第三段提到菲律宾的咖啡、洗发水等物都是使用小袋进行售卖的，这是相对消费者而言较为实惠的方法。第四段也引用了Grate的观点“If you go to the supermarkets, it’ s rare for you to be able to buy coffee in bigger containers; it’s all in sachets”，在菲律宾的超市里很少能见到用大的容器来贩卖咖啡的，都是用小袋子卖的。故B项正确。

4.细节理解题。文章倒数第二段提到“the NGO hopes to pressure both the government and industry to take action on controlling single-use plastic.”非政府组织希望向政府和企业施压，控制一次性塑料的使用。报告发现，在地方一级的塑料袋禁令已经实施并严格执行，使用量已大幅下降。故D项正确。