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There was a time when a trip to
the supermarket in the United States often ended with a simple question from
the cashier:"Paper or plastic?" Well, which type of bag would you
choose?
Although all types of bags have some influences on the environment, it
has long been thought that paper bags are kinder. They are made from a
renewable source, break down esily, bum without giving off thick smoke and can
be recycled. However, the producing process behind paper bags uses more energy
than that of plastic ones.
How
can this be true?
Studies show that paper bag production requires four times as much
energy as plastic bag production. And the amount of water used to make them is
twenty times higher. Besides, the influence on forests is very serious. It
takes about fourteen million trees to produce ten billion paper bags, which
happens to be the number of bags used in the United States yearly. In terms of
recycling, the idea that paper bags are more environment- friendly than plastic
ones can be quickly given up. Research shows it requires about 98% less energy
to recycle plastic than it does paper.
Even
though paper bags might be more harmful than plastic ones, plastic still seems
to be considered by governments as the more harmful of the two. In Ireland, for
example, a tax has been introduced to discourage the use of plastic bags.
People have to pay 22 cents for every plastic bag, and as a result, their use
has dropped quickly.
There's no doubt that it makes more sense to reuse these bags. However,
we don't seem to be doing that at present. That may be because they fall apart
quickly. If so,cloth bags are a better choice, but still, their production also
has a bad influence on the environment. So what to do? How should we answer the
question of"Paper or plastic?" It seems that we first need to ask
ourselves one more general question:"What can I do to help the
environment?"
(1)
What's commonly believed about paper bags?
A . They are convenient to use and recycle.
B . Producing paper bags doesn't cost much.
C . They are more environmentally friendly.
D . Paper bags can be used by people for free.
(2)
What can we learn from the studies?
A . Making plastic bags needs more water.
B . Plastic bags have a serious influence on forests.
C . Much less energy is needed when recycling plastic bags.
D . Making paper bags needs as equal energy as plastic ones.
(3)
How does the Ireland government discourage the use of plastic bags?
A . Appeal to consumers to USC paper bags.
B . Reduce the energy in the production of paper bags.
C . Raise people's awareness of environmental protection.
D . Ask consumcrs for extra money if they usc plastic bags.
(4)
What will be probably talked about in the following paragraph?
A . The measures the govemment will take.
B . The disadvantages caused by plastic bags.
C . The action we can take to protect the environment.
D . The differences between plastic bags and paper bags.
答案: C
C
D
C