Question

    Environmental experts warn that our planet is drowning in plastic.

The world’s cities produce 2 billion tons of trash every year. By the year 2050 that number is expected to rise to 3 billion tons. The World Bank estimates that the largest amount of trash today, about 44 percent, is plastic. But we often have to buy packaged goods. And often that packaging is made of plastic.

Now, that may be changing. A new environmentally-friendly shopping model was recently launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This shopping model, called Loop, aims to replace throwaway containers with reusable ones.

Loop is the idea of Terra Cycle, an American-based recycling company. Its chief, Tom Szaky. told the Associated Press (AP) that “removing plastics from the ocean is not enough.” He said the point is to get away from single-use packages. Szaky said that Loop is the future of shopping. But it comes from an idea of the past.

He compared it to the “milkman model” of the 1950s in the United States. Back then, someone brought milk to your doorstep in glass bottles and then left with empty bottles. These could be cleaned and used again. The result is zero-waste.

Jennifer Morgan from the environmental non-profit organization Greenpeace also joined in the discussion about Loop at Davos. She said that “Greenpeace welcomes the aim of the Loop Alliance to move away from throwaway culture and disposability.” But Morgan questioned whether companies worldwide are ready to change their business models.

Loop is set to launch later this year in three eastern U.S. states, and also in Paris, France and some of the surrounding area. Then Loop plans to expand to the U.S. West Coast, Toronto, Canada and Britain by the end of this year or 2020.

1.What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 2?

A.Provide background information. B.Advocate zero-waste lifestyle.

C.Explain the reason for trash. D.Introduce a new topic.

2.Where does the idea “Loop” come from?

A.The World Economic Forum. B.Demand of some companies.

C.Zero-waste model. D.The milkman model.

3.Which countries is Loop expected to expand to by 2020?

A.United States and Switzerland. B.Switzerland and Britain.

C.Canada and Britain. D.France and Canada.

4.What is the text mainly about?

A.A new shopping model. B.The development of future city.

C.The world’s environmental issue. D.The concerns of future shopping.

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.C

4.A

【解析】

本文是一篇环境保护类短文阅读。文章主要介绍美国一家公司推出一种新的“零浪费”购物模式。

1.推理判断题。根据文章第二段The world’s cities produce 2 billion tons of trash every year. By the year 2050 that number is expected to rise to 3 billion tons. The World Bank estimates that the largest amount of trash today, about 44 percent, is plastic. But we often have to buy packaged goods. And often that packaging is made of plastic.可知，世界上的城市每年产生大量的垃圾，并且其中最大的垃圾量是塑料，结合下文可知，作者写本段目的是为下文提出新的购物模式提供背景信息。故选A。

2.细节理解题。根据文章第四段Szaky said that Loop is the future of shopping. But it comes from an idea of the past.和第五段He compared it to the “milkman model” of the 1950s in the United States. Back then, someone brought milk to your doorstep in glass bottles and then left with empty bottles. These could be cleaned and used again. The result is zero-waste.可知，Loop购物模式的想法来自于过去“送奶工模式”，那时候，有人把牛奶装在玻璃瓶里送到你家门口，然后把空瓶子带走了。这些东西可以清洗后再使用。结果是零浪费。所以Loop模式是一种可以杜绝零浪费的模式。故选C。

3.细节理解题。根据文章最后一段Loop is set to launch later this year in three eastern U.S. states, and also in Paris, France and some of the surrounding area. Then Loop plans to expand to the U.S. West Coast, Toronto, Canada and Britain by the end of this year or 2020.可知，Loop计划在2020年前将业务扩大到加拿大多伦多、美国西海岸和英国。故选C。

4.主旨大意题。根据文章第三段A new environmentally-friendly shopping model was recently launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.及全文内容可知，文章主要介绍美国一家公司推出一种新的“零浪费”购物模式。故选A。