In the United States alone, over 100 million cell-phones are thrown away each year. Cell-phones are part of a growing mountain of electronic waste like computers and personal digital assistants. The electronic waste stream is increasing three times faster than traditional garbage as a whole.

Electronic devices contain valuable metals such as gold and silver. A Swiss study reported that while the weight of electronic goods represented by precious metals was relatively small in comparison to total waste, the concentration (含量) of gold and other precious metals was higher in so-called e-waste than in naturally happening minerals.

Electronic wastes also contain many poisonous metals. Even when the machines are recycled and the harmful metals removed, the recycling process often is carried out in poor countries, in practically uncontrolled ways which allow many poisonous substances (物质)to escape into the environment.

Creating products out of materials creates much more waste material, up to 100 times more, than the material contained in the finished products. Consider again the cell-phone, and imagine the mines that produced those metals, the factories needed to make the box and packaging it came in. Many wastes produced in the producing process are harmful as well.

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that most waste is dangerous in that "the production, distribution, and use of products-as well as management of the resulting waste-all result in greenhouse gas release." Individuals can reduce their contribution by creating less waste at the start-for example, buying reusable products and recycling.

In many countries the concept of extended producer responsibility is being considered or has been put in place as an incentive (动机) for reducing waste. If producers are required to take back packaging they use to sell their products, would they reduce the packaging in the first place?

Governments' incentive to require producers to take responsibility for the packaging they produce is usually based on money. Why, they ask, should cities or towns be responsible for paying to deal with the bubble wrap (气泡垫) that encased your television?

From the governments' point of view, a primary goal of laws requiring extended(扩大的) producer responsibility is to transfer both the costs and the physical responsibility of waste management from the government and tax-payers back to the producers.

1.By mentioning the Swiss study, the author wants to tell us that ____.

A.the weight of e-goods is rather small

B.E-waste deserves to be made good use of

C.natural minerals contain more precious metals

D.the percentage of precious metals is heavy in e-waste

2.The responsibility of e-waste treatment should be extended _____.

A.from producers to governments B.from governments to producers

C.from individuals to distributors D.from distributors to governments

3.What is the passage mainly about?

A.The increase in e-waste. B.The creation of e-waste.

C.The seriousness of e-waste. D.The management of e-waste.

Choose the words or expressions and complete the passage

There is a saying in England which goes; ‘the rain in Spain(西班牙. falls mainly on the plain’. I can tell you now that it is a_______The rain in Spain seems to fall mostly on me. I am spending a year in Galicia and, although it is certainly a beautiful part of the world, I think it rains more than in England.

There are no plains here. It is a coastal area, and clouds and storms directly get pushed in from over the ocean with force. As I write, there is a heavy rain outside. I have three umbrellas. Two big ones and a little one which I keep on me_______, just in case. Believe me what I tell you is all true.

The problem is that very often, umbrellas offer no help at all. The wind is so strong that even the best umbrella in the world becomes useless._______, I often arrive at work with a dry head and shoulders (protected by my umbrella., but with wet feet and legs. The rain falls hard and fast, and there is no escaping it.

When people from England think of Spain, they imagine beaches and sunshine. Those things are a world away from my experiences here in Galicia. But I’m not_______. It is because of all this rain that the countryside here is so green and beautiful. In the town a very nice white wine is made. And there are beautiful beaches here in Galicia, although there probably is_______on them at the moment.

And most important of all is the people. They are very friendly here. Most people I have spoken to are helpful. So I think that’s worth having a bit of_______for. Anyway, I love my life here in Galicia.

1.A.story B.warning C.lie D.tradition

2.A.at all times B.in the future C.for the time being D.in time

3.A.In addition B.After all C.In all D.As a result

4.A.studying B.complaining C.dreaming D.questioning

5.A.somebody B.anybody C.everybody D.nobody

6.A.money B.wine C.rain D.work

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