Question

    Seattle on Sunday became the first major US city to ban drinking straws(吸管), an environmentally friendly move that leaders hope will spark a nationwide conversation about small, everyday changes that people can make to protect the planet.

A decade ago, the city adopted a law requiring that all one-time-use food-service items be compostable(可分解的) or recyclable. But straws were exempted from that law because there were not many good alternatives. So the straws stayed, along with the environmental problems they cause.

Most plastic straws aren’t heavy enough to make it through industrial recycling sorters, and can ruin an otherwise good load of recycling. Or they end up getting blown out of trash cans and car windows and eventually wind up in the oceans, where they can hurt wildlife.

Strawless Ocean estimates that 71 percent of seabirds and 30 percent of turtles have some kind of plastic in their stomachs. The organization says plastic can increase the death rate of marine life by 50 percent.

Now customers at grocery stores, restaurants, food trucks, even institutional cafeterias have to find another way to get liquid into their mouths. Compostable paper straws are allowed under the ban. People who have a medical need to use a straw are not included. 

Failure to obey may result in a US$250 fine, although city leaders said that the purpose of the law is more about raising awareness. In September, 150 businesses participated in Strawless in Seattle, an attempt to reduce the use of plastic straws. In that month alone, Strawless Ocean estimates, 2.3 million plastic straws were removed from the city.

“When you get your iced drink, you’re going to get a straw. When you get your wine, you’re probably going to get a straw,” said Dune Ives, executive director of the Lonely Whale Foundation, which led the campaign. “Imagine a world where we could stop consuming 500 million straws a day, just in America!” the campaign says. “Imagine a world that is less dependent on plastic. That’s change we can start today!”

1.What does the underlined word “exempted” mean in the second paragraph？

A.To make something out of the list. B.To make something better than before.

C.To include something in a special list. D.To forgive someone who makes mistakes.

2.What the problem may the drinking straws cause according to the passage?

A.They may make the trash cans dirty. B.They may destroy American recycling system.

C.They may cause much ocean wildlife in danger. D.They may cause many companies get fined.

3.What is the attitude of the public towards the ban?

A.Many people are in favor of it. B.Many people pay no attention to it.

C.Some people are strongly against it. D.Only the government workers agree with it.

4.What is the best title for the passage?

A.Seattle becomes first major US city to ban straws.

B.Seattle successfully bans people from using straws.

C.Seattle has been working hard to protect the environment.

D.Imagine a world that is less dependent on plastic.

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.A

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了上周日，西雅图成为美国首个禁止使用吸管的大城市。美国领导人希望这一环保举措能引发一场全国性的讨论，让人们从日常生活中的点滴做起，保护我们的地球。文章还说明了塑料吸管对环境的影响，以及公众对此的态度。

1.词义猜测题。根据后文because there were not many good alternatives. So the straws stayed, along with the environmental problems they cause.可知但是，由于没有太多好的替代品，吸管被排除在这项法律之外。因此，这些吸管留下了，连同它们造成的环境问题。由此可知，划线单词“exempted”意思为“排除”。故选A。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段中Or they end up getting blown out of trash cans and car windows and eventually wind up in the oceans, where they can hurt wildlife.可知或者它们会被吹出垃圾桶和车窗，最终进入海洋，在那里它们会伤害到野生动物。由此可知，吸管可能会导致许多海洋野生动物处于危险之中。故选C。

3.推理判断题。根据倒数第二段中In September, 150 businesses participated in Strawless in Seattle, an attempt to reduce the use of plastic straws. In that month alone, Strawless Ocean estimates, 2.3 million plastic straws were removed from the city.可知9月，150家企业参加了西雅图的“无吸管”活动，该活动旨在减少塑料吸管的使用。据“无吸管海洋”组织估计，仅在那个月，就有230万根塑料吸管被从该市运走。由此可推知，公众对这一禁令做出了积极的响应，是赞成这项禁令的。故选A。

4.主旨大意题。根据第一段中Seattle on Sunday became the first major US city to ban drinking straws(吸管), an environmentally friendly move that leaders hope will spark a nationwide conversation about small, everyday changes that people can make to protect the planet.可知上周日，西雅图成为美国首个禁止使用吸管的大城市。美国领导人希望这一环保举措能引发一场全国性的讨论，让人们从日常生活中的点滴做起，保护我们的地球。结合文章主要说明了上周日，西雅图成为美国首个禁止使用吸管的大城市。美国领导人希望这一环保举措能引发一场全国性的讨论，让人们从日常生活中的点滴做起，保护我们的地球。文章还说明了塑料吸管对环境的影响，以及公众对此的态度。由此可知，A选项“西雅图成为美国第一个禁止使用吸管的大城市”最符合文章标题，故选A。