The weight of plastic waste clogging the world’s oceans threatens to exceed all fish by 2050 if the world’s seemingly insatiable appetite for the material continues at the current explosive rate, warned a new report presented on Tuesday.
In fact, according to the study by the Ellen MeaArthur Foundation along with the World Economic Forum, “plastics production has surged over the past 50 years, from 15 million tonnes in 1964 to 311 million tonnes in 2014, and is expected to double again over the next 20 years.”
The study—The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking The Future of Plastics—introduced at the opening day of the WEF’s annual summit in Davos, Switzerland is the first of its kind to comprehensively assess global plastic packaging flows. The report makes an economic case for what it calls the “New Plastics Economy”, described as “a new approach based on creating effective after-use pathways for plastics; drastically reducing leakage of plastics into natural systems, in particular oceans; and decoupling plastics from fossil feedstocks”.
Among the findings, which are based on interviews with over 180 experts and on analysis of over 200 reports, the study estimates that roughly 8 million tonnes of plastics leak into the ocean each year—“which is equivalent to dumping the contents of one garbage truck into ocean every minute”, This amount is expected to double by 2030.
“In a business-as-usual scenario, the ocean is expected to contain/tonne of plastic for every 3 tonnes of fish by 2025, and by 2050, more plastics than fish (by weight)” the report continues.
What’s more, the report estimates that only 14 percent of plastic packaging is collected for recycling and even less for plastics in general. After sorting, only 5 percent is ultimately retained for subsequent use, which is far below global recycling rates for paper (58 per cent) and iron and steel (70-90 percent).
Further, the report examines the carbon impact of plastics production, given that over 90 percent are derived from “virgin fossil feedstocks”. Plastics production represents roughly 6 percent of global oil consumption and “If the current strong growth of plastics usage continues as expected, the plastics sector will account for 20% of total oil consumption and 15% of the global annual carbon budget by 2050.”
The report argues that single-use plastics, and plastic packaging specifically, represents a net loss for the economy, as its limited value is outweighed by these negative impacts. It states:
After a short first-use cycle, 95% of plastic packaging material value, or USD 80-120 billion annually, is lost to the economy. A staggering 32% of plastic packaging escapes collection systems, generating significant economic costs by reducing urban infrastructure. The cost of such after-use externalities for plastic packaging, plus the cost associated with greenhouse gas emissions from its production, is exceeding the plastic packaging industry’s profit pool.
“Linear models of production and consumption are increasingly challenged by the context within which they operate, and this is particularly true for high-volume, low-value materials such as plastic packaging,” said Ellen MacArthur, an accomplished British yachtswoman turned foundation chair.
The researchers conclude that in order to get closer to the goal of a “circular economy” —where “consumption happens only in effective bio-cycles; elsewhere use replaces consumption” — both the public and private sector must work towards the goal of creating plastics that can be both recycled and composted.
1.Which of the following is CORRECT about New Plastics Economy according to the passage?
2.All EXCEPT （ ） can be found from the findings of The New Plastics Economy.
3.Which of the following is INCORRECT according to the passage?
4.How to get closer to the goal of circular economy according to the researchers?
问题1选项
A.It is an approach based on creating evasive after-use pathways for plastics.
B.It is an approach reducing leakage of plastics into natural systems, in particular lands.
C.It is an approach decoupling plastics from iron feedstocks.
D.It comes from a study introduced at the opening day of the WEF's annual summit in Davos, Switzerland.
问题2选项
A.It is estimated that about 8 million tonnes of plastics leak into the ocean each year.
B.Plastics production represents roughly 6 percent of global oil consumption.
C.Plastics production will be 311 million tonnes and account for 20% of total oil consumption by 2050.
D.The ocean is expected to contain/tonne of plastic for every 3 tonnes of fish by 2025 in a business-as-usual scenario.
问题3选项
A.Only 14 percent of the plastic packaging is ultimately retained for subsequent use after sorting.
B.The global recycling rates for paper are 58% .
C.32% of plastic packaging gets away from collection systems, generating significant economic costs.
D.95% of plastic packaging material value is lost to the economy after a short first-use cycle.
问题4选项
A.To make a linear model of production and consumption of high-volume, low-value plastic packaging.
B.To make the public and private sector work together to create plastics that can be both recycled and composted.
C.To make use replace consumption when required.
D.To make consumption happen in sustainable bio-cycles.
第1题:
1.【选项释义】
1. Which of the following is CORRECT about New Plastics Economy according to the passage? 1. 根据文章，关于《新塑料经济》，下列哪个选项是正确的？
A. It is an approach based on creating evasive after-use pathways for plastics. A. 这是一种基于为塑料创造回避使用后路径的方法。
B. It is an approach reducing leakage of plastics into natural systems, in particular lands. B. 这是一种减少塑料泄漏到自然系统，特别是土地的方法。
C. It is an approach decoupling plastics from iron feedstocks. C. 这是一种从铁原料中分离塑料的方法。
D. It comes from a study introduced at the opening day of the WEF’s annual summit in Davos, Switzerland. D. 它来自于在瑞士达沃斯举行的世界经济论坛年度峰会开幕日推出的一项研究。
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据第三段第一句“这项名为《新塑料经济：重新思考塑料的未来》的研究报告是在瑞士达沃斯世界经济论坛年度峰会开幕日推出的，这是首个全面评估全球塑料包装流动的此类研究”，理解可知，《新塑料经济》来自于在瑞士达沃斯举行的世界经济论坛年度峰会开幕日推出的一项研究，D项正确。
【干扰项排除】A选项“这是一种基于为塑料创造回避使用后路径的方法”、B选项“这是一种减少塑料泄漏到自然系统，特别是土地的方法”和C选项“这是一种从铁原料中分离塑料的方法”定位至第三段第二句“该报告为其所谓的《新塑料经济》提出了经济理由，称其为‘一种基于为塑料创造有效的使用后路径的新方法；大幅减少塑料泄漏到自然系统，特别是海洋；以及将塑料与化石原料分离’。”可知，都与原文不符，曲解原文。
第2题:
2.【选项释义】
2. All EXCEPT ______ can be found from the findings of The New Plastics Economy. 2. 除了______，其他都可以在《新塑料经济》的调查结果中找到。
A. It is estimated that about 8 million tonnes of plastics leak into the ocean each year. A. 据估计，每年约有800万吨塑料泄漏到海洋中。
B. Plastics production represents roughly 6 percent of global oil consumption. B. 塑料生产约占全球石油消耗的6%。
C. Plastics production will be 311 million tonnes and account for 20% of total oil consumption by 2050. C. 到2050年，塑料产量将达到3.11亿吨，占石油总消费量的20%。
D. The ocean is expected to contain/tonne of plastic for every 3 tonnes of fish by 2025 in a business-as-usual scenario. D. 在一切照旧的情况下，到2025年，海洋中每3吨鱼将含有1吨塑料。
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据第七段最后一句“……到2050年，塑料行业将占石油消费总量的20%，占全球年度碳预算的15%”可知，C选项“到2050年，塑料产量将达到3.11亿吨，占石油总消费量的20%”中的“3.11亿吨”并没有提到；而在第二段最后一句有提到“塑料产量在过去50年里激增，从1964年的1500万吨增至2014年的3.11亿吨，预计未来20年还将翻番”，可知，3.11亿吨是2014年的塑料产量，C项属于张冠李戴，不符合原文但符合题意。该题选择C项正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“据估计，每年约有800万吨塑料泄漏到海洋中”定位至第四段第一句“……大约每年800万吨塑料泄漏到海洋中……”，可知A项正确，属于反向干扰；
B选项“塑料生产约占全球石油消耗的6%”定位至第六段第二句“塑料生产约占全球石油消费的6%……”，可知B项正确，属于反向干扰；
D选项“在一切照旧的情况下，到2025年，海洋中每3吨鱼将含有1吨塑料”定位至第五段第一句“在一切照旧的情况下，到2025年，海洋中每3吨鱼将含有1吨塑料……”，可知D项正确，属于反向干扰。
第3题:
3.【选项释义】
3. Which of the following is INCORRECT according to the passage? 3. 根据文章，下列哪个选项是错误的？
A. Only 14 percent of the plastic packaging is ultimately retained for subsequent use after sorting. A. 经过分类后，只有14%的塑料包装最终保留下来供后续使用。
B. The global recycling rates for paper are 58%. B. 全球纸张回收率为58%。
C. 32% of plastic packaging gets away from collection systems, generating significant economic costs. C. 32%的塑料包装从回收系统中流失，产生了巨大的经济成本。
D. 95% of plastic packaging material value is lost to the economy after a short first-use cycle. D. 在短暂的首次使用周期后，塑料包装材料的价值在经济上损失了95%。
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据第六段第二句“在分类后，只有5%最终被保留用于后续使用，这远远低于纸张（58%）和钢铁（70%- 90%）的全球回收率”，可知，经过分类后，只有5%的塑料包装最终保留下来供后续使用，而A项“经过分类后，只有14%的塑料包装最终保留下来供后续使用”与原文不符。故该题选择A项正确。
【干扰项排除】
B选项“全球纸张回收率为58%”根据解题思路可知，该项正确，属于反向干扰；
C选项“32%的塑料包装从回收系统中流失，产生了巨大的经济成本”定位倒数第三段第二句“令人震惊的是，32%的塑料包装逃过了回收系统，减少了城市基础设施，产生了巨大的经济成本”可知，该项符合原文，属于反向干扰；
D选项“在短暂的首次使用周期后，塑料包装材料的价值在经济上损失了95%”定位倒数第三段第一句“在短暂的首次使用周期后，95%的塑料包装材料价值，即每年800亿-1200亿美元，被浪费在经济上”可知，该项符合原文，属于反向干扰。
第4题:
4.【选项释义】
4. How to get closer to the goal of circular economy according to the researchers? 4. 如何更接近循环经济的目标？
A. To make a linear model of production and consumption of high-volume, low-value plastic packaging. A. 建立一个大容量、低价值的塑料包装的生产和消费的线性模型。
B. To make the public and private sector work together to create plastics that can be both recycled and composted. B. 让公共和私营部门共同努力，生产既可回收又可堆肥的塑料。
C. To make use replace consumption when required. C. 在需要时以使用代替消耗。
D. To make consumption happen in sustainable bio-cycles. D. 使消费在可持续的生物循环中发生。
【答案】B
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据关键词circular economy定位至最后一段“为了更接近循环经济的目标，即消费只发生在有效的生物循环中（consumption happens only in effective bio-cycles），或其他使用代替消费的地方（elsewhere use replaces consumption）；公共和私营部门都必须努力实现制造既可回收又可堆肥的塑料的目标”，可知，要更接近循环经济的目标，就要要求公众和个人要齐心协力共同生产出既能循环利用又能降解的塑料制品，B项“让公共和私营部门共同努力，生产既可回收又可堆肥的塑料”符合原文。该题选择B项正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“建立一个大容量、低价值的塑料包装的生产和消费的线性模型”定位倒数第二段“线性生产和消费模式正日益受到它们所处环境的挑战，对于塑料包装等大批量、低价值材料来说尤其如此”，从中可知，建立一个大容量、低价值的塑料包装的生产和消费的线性模型日益受到挑战，所以不是一个更接近循环经济的目标的好办法，该项属于反向干扰；
C选项“在需要时以使用代替消耗”根据解题思路可知，C选项中的“when required”并不符合原文的elsewhere，属于曲解原文；
D选项“使消费在可持续的生物循环中发生”根据解题思路可知，D选项中的“sustainable”并不符合原文的effective，属于曲解原文。
