Question

    Roughly 8. 5 billion plastic straws are used in the United Kingdom each year, but as a new ban takes effect next April, that number will decrease to zero. One startup (初创企业) is hoping to capture the chance to make a kind of straws as an alternative by using an unlikely material: pasta (意大利面食).

“It has all the function of a plastic straw that everyone has been using,” says Maxim Gelmann, founder of Stroodles, the startup. The straws, made by an Italian company that also produces regular pasta, are the same shape and size as a standard plastic straw.

Unlike a paper straw, they don’t taste like wet paper; they don’t change the flavor of the drink. They last at least an hour, and longer in colder drinks. If you’re nursing a drink for hours and the pasta eventually softens, you can choose to eat it. The raw straw is also eatable, and Gelmann says that some people snack on them.

A handful of other pasta-straw startups also exist, though Stroodles is hoping to feature itself with a smoother, more plastic-like material and its branding.

It’s more expensive to make than a plastic straw, but at large volumes, it can compete with the cost of paper straws. Because of the coming ban, “No one really compares us with plastic anymore,” Gelmann says. “They compare us with paper straw prices, which makes my argument much easier and my expectation brighter.”

Other alternatives, like bamboo or stainless steel, are more expensive and a less elegant solution; some bars say that customers don’t trust the idea that stainless steel straws can be fully sanitized (消毒). Another option—a plastic-like eatable straw made from seaweed—may be more of a competitor.

1.What’s the startup’s main purpose of producing the pasta straws?

A.To reduce the consumption of energy.

B.To take over the market.

C.To answer the call for the ban.

D.To compete with paper straws.

2.What advantage do the pasta straws have compared with other straws?

A.They are cheaper. B.They can be used longer.

C.They can be treated as snacks. D.They are suitable for mass production.

3.What attitude does Gelmann have towards the pasta straws’ future?

A.Controversial. B.Doubtful.

C.Cautious. D.Positive.

4.What can be inferred from the text?

A.The government disagrees with Gelmann.

B.The startup will become a very big company.

C.The pasta straws face fierce competition.

D.The pasta straws can improve drinks’ flavor.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.D

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章作者介绍了在明年4月禁令产生后，替代塑料吸管的以意大利面为材质的吸管。

1.

推理判断题。根据第一段Roughly 8. 5 billion plastic straws are used in the United Kingdom each year, but as a new ban takes effect next April, that number will decrease to zero. One startup is hoping to capture the chance to make a kind of straws as an alternative by using an unlikely material: pasta（英国每年大约使用80.5亿根塑料吸管，但随着明年4月一项新禁令生效，这一数字将降至零。一家初创公司希望抓住这个机会，利用一种不太可能的材料——意大利面，制造一种吸管作为替代品）可知，明年4月禁令生效后就不能再使用塑料吸管了。所以一家初创公司想抓住这次机会生产意大利面为材料的吸管占领市场。故选B项。

2.

细节理解题。根据文章第三段They last at least an hour, and longer in colder drinks. If you’re nursing a drink for hours and the pasta eventually softens, you can choose to eat it. The raw straw is also eatable, and Gelmann says that some people snack on them(它们至少能维持一个小时，在较冷的饮料中可以维持更长时间。如果你喝了几个小时的饮料，最终意大利面变软了，你可以选择吃它。这种吸管也是可以吃的，Gelmann说有些人把它们当零食吃)可知，由意大利面做成的吸管可以被当作零食吃。故选C项。

3.

推理判断题。根据文章倒数第二段It’s more expensive to make than a plastic straw, but at large volumes, it can compete with the cost of paper straws. Because of the coming ban, “No one really compares us with plastic anymore,” Gelmann says. “They compare us with paper straw prices, which makes my argument much easier and my expectation brighter.”（它比塑料吸管更贵，但批量生产的话，它可以与纸吸管的成本竞争。由于即将出台的禁令，“没有人真的把我们和塑料相提并论，” Gelmann说。“他们把我们和纸吸管的价格作比较，这使我的观点更容易理解，我的预期也更光明）可知，Gelmann觉得这种新型吸管它具有竞争力，前途是很光明的。因此可推断，Gelmann对意大利面吸管的态度是积极的。A. Controversial 有争议的；B. Doubtful 值得怀疑的；C. Cautious 小心的；D. Positive 积极的。故选D项。

4.

推理判断题。根据文章最后一段Another option—a plastic-like eatable straw made from seaweed—may be more of a competitor（另一种选择——一种用海藻制成的类似塑料的可食用吸管——可能更有竞争力）可知，一种用海藻制成的类似塑料的可食用吸管会是意大利面吸管的比较大竞争者。故选C项。