Question

    Historians and archaeologists have defined periods of human history for centuries by the technologies or materials that made the greatest impact on society. This includes the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. But what age are we in now? That question can be answered with one word for some researchers. Plastics.

“Plastic has redefined our material culture and the artifacts we leave behind. It will be found in stratified(分层的) layers in our trash deposits(沉积层). ” That’s according to John Marston, an archaeologist.

The wide variety of synthetic polymers(合成聚合物) would not exist if it weren’t for human action. About six billion tons of plastics have been made and spread around the planet. They have been spread from forests to oceans ever since the first plastic polymers were invented.

Plastics are one of the most significant changes that humans have made to the Earth’s makeup. Most plastics don’t easily degrade. This only adds to the problem. Recycling isn’t an adequate solution. Not all types of plastic are easily recyclable. And there are only a few recycling plants that can process all varieties of plastic.

According to Debra Winter, writer for The Atlantic, this means that many of the materials thrown into recycling bins can cross the planet several times before they are processed. They are made into rugs, sweaters, or they are used to make other bottles. Millions of tons of plastics are recycled every year, but millions more end up in landfills or the ocean. The problem has reached the point where it’s possible that in just a few decades there might be more plastic in the world’s oceans than fishes.

“Plastics have a supposed lifespan of over 500 years, so it’s safe to say that every plastic bottle you have used exists somewhere on this planet, in some form or another，” Winter writes.

The damage may already be done. It may be too late for human populations worldwide to change their plastic using ways. So the Plastic Age might soon take its place next to the Bronze Age and the Iron Age in the history of human civilization.

1.Why do people call our age the Plastic Age?

A.Because plastics are not naturally made.

B.Because humans create plastics.

C.Because plastics influence the world greatly.

D.Because historians and archaeologists think so.

2.According to the passage, how are most plastics dealt with currently?

A.They are recycled.

B.They are degraded.

C.They are thrown away.

D.They are made into bottles.

3.What is the author’s attitude to the Plastic Age?

A.Negative. B.Ambiguous.

C.Favorable. D.Unconcerned.

4.What is the main idea of this passage?

A.Plastics have ruined our environment.

B.We must stop using plastics altogether.

C.Human beings are in the Plastic Age.

D.Plastics are significant to human development.

Answer

1.C

2.C

3.A

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。在我们所处的时代，塑料给我们的生活带来了很大便利，但是也对环境造成了巨大损害

1.

推理判断题。根据第一段第一句“Historians and archaeologists have defined periods of human history for centuries by the technologies or materials that made the greatest impact on society.”可知，历史学家和考古学家是使用对社会造成最大影响的技术或材料来界定人类历史时期的，第一段第二句“But what age are we in now? That question can be answered with one word for some researchers. Plastics.”可知，这个时代被称为塑料时代，由此可推知，我们称现在这个时代为塑料时代的原因是塑料极大地影响了世界，故选C。

2.

细节理解题。根据第五段中的“Millions of tons of plastics are recycled every year, but millions more end up in landfills or the ocean.”可知，可回收的塑料垃圾较少，更多的塑料垃圾最终被扔到垃圾场或海洋中了，由此可知，大部分垃圾被扔了，故选C。

3.

推理判断题。根据第四段 “Plastics are one of the most significant changes that humans have made to the Earth’s makeup. Most plastics don’t easily degrade.This only adds to the problem. ”可知，塑料是人类对地球构成做出的最显著的改变之一。大多数塑料不易降解。这只会加剧问题。说明塑料带来严重问题；根据文章内容可知，作者在文章中描述了塑料垃圾对社会造成的巨大负面影响，尤其在最后一段中 “The damage may already be done. It may be too late for human populations worldwide to change their plastic using ways.”可知，塑料垃圾对社会可能已经造成了损害，人们改变使用塑料的方式可能太晚了。由此可推知，作者对塑料时代持消极态度。故选A。

4.

主旨大意题。由第一段话第一句 “Historians and archaeologists have defined periods of human history for centuries by the technologies or materials that made the greatest impact on society.”可知，历史学家和考古学家是使用对社会造成最大影响的技术或材料来界定人类历史时期的， 第一段第二句“But what age are we in now? That question can be answered with one word for some researchers. Plastics.”可知，这个时代被称为塑料时代，由此可推知，我们称现在这个时代为塑料时代的原因是塑料极大地影响了世界，所以本文主要讲述的是我们人类现在处于塑料时代并解释了我们这个时代被称为塑料时代的原因。因此C项“人类处于塑料时代”是文章主旨。易错项为A项，A 项的 “Plastics have ruined our environment”只是在说明塑料毁坏环境，既没有说明成为塑料时代，也没有点名对世界的严重影响，范围比较小。故选C。