Question

    Around 45% of plastic waste is recycled annually in the UK and is on the increase. However, one of the problems with present plastic recycling methods is that you end up with a lower-quality plastic with worse properties （特性）than the original. This means that plastic drink bottles cannot simply be recycled into new drink bottles continuously, but instead are used for other lower-grade products like park benches.

Now, British scientists have developed a new method of chemical recycling. They use lower temperatures and more environmentally-friendly starting chemicals than previous methods to turn plastics back into their constituent chemical molecules （分子）.In this way, they can be used to make new plastics of the same quality as the original.

"Most plastic is now recycled using mechanical methods, where they are transformed into liquids before being made into something new," said a professor named Matthew Jones. "The problem is, melting plastic changes its properties and reduces the quality. Out method of chemical recycling overcomes this problem. Then plastics can be used all over again without losing any properties?"

The researchers are recycling some kinds of plastics, including plant-based PLA, a plastic used for food packaging and PET, which is used for drink bottles. So far, the technology has only been demonstrated on a small range. However, scientists are now working to produce larger quantities of starting chemicals.

"There is no single solution to the problem of plastic waste — the approach has to be a combination of reducing, reusing and recycling. Our method of chemical recycling could allow carbon to be recycled endlessly rather than digging more up from the ground in the form of fossil fuels, or letting it into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas," said Dr. Paul McKeown from the University of Bath.

1.What is the problem with the present plastic recycling?

A.The quality of recycled plastics declines.

B.Plastic drink bottles cannot be recycled.

C.The amount of plastic waste is increasing.

D.Recycled lower-grade products sell badly.

2.How do scientists recycle plastic waste with the new method?

A.By transforming it into fuels.

B.By heating it into liquid state.

C.By keeping its original properties.

D.By changing its molecule structure.

3.What can we learn from what Dr. Paul McKeown said?

A.Fossil fuels are endless resources.

B.The plastic waste problem has no solution.

C.Recycled carbon leads to greenhouse gases.

D.The chemical recycling is environment-friendly.

4.In which part of the website can we find the text?

A.Business. B.Tech & Science.

C.Lifestyle. D.Arts & Culture

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.D

4.B

【解析】

本文是新闻报道。文章讲述了当前塑料回收方法的问题之一是最终会得到质量比原来低的劣质塑料。英国科学家已经开发出一种新的化学回收方法，可以用来制造质量与原始塑料相同的新塑料，而且对环境是有好处的。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段中的“This means that plastic drink bottles cannot simply be recycled into new drink bottles continuously, but instead are used for other lower-grade products like park benches.”可知，但是，当前塑料回收方法的问题之一是最终会得到质量比原来低的劣质塑料。即目前的塑料回收的问题在于再生塑料的质量下降了。故选A。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段中的“Most plastic is now recycled using mechanical methods, where they are transformed into liquids before being made into something new. The problem is, melting plastic changes its properties and reduces the quality. Out method of chemical recycling overcomes this problem.”可知，现在大多数塑料都是通过机械方法回收的，在将它们转变为液体之前，先制成新的东西。问题是，熔化塑料会改变其性能并降低质量。化学回收的方法克服了这个问题。因此判断出科学家通过保留塑料的原始属性的方法回收利用塑料废物。故选C。

3.推理判断题。根据最后一段中的“Our method of chemical recycling could allow carbon to be recycled endlessly rather than digging more up from the ground in the form of fossil fuels, or letting it into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas.”可知，我们的化学回收方法可以使碳无止境地得到回收，而不是从地下挖掘更多的矿物燃料或者将其作为温室气体排放到大气中。因此我们可以从Paul McKeown博士的讲话中判断出化学回收方法对环境是有好处的。故选D。

4.推理判断题。文章讲述了当前塑料回收方法的问题之一是最终会得到质量比原来低的劣质塑料。英国科学家已经开发出一种新的化学回收方法，可以用来制造质量与原始塑料相同的新塑料，这对环境是有好处的。由此判断出，我们可以在网站的技术与科学栏目找到这篇文章。故选B。