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.

阅读短文,根据短文内容回答问题。

Music and Behavior

Where did you go yesterday? Did you hear music at any of those places? Today most stores and restaurants play music. You might even hear music in an office or on a farm. Scientists believe that music changes the way people behave.

According to some scientists, the sound of western classical (古典的) music makes people feel richer. When a restaurant plays classical music, people spend more money on food and drinks. When the restaurant plays modern music, people spend less money. Without background music, people spend even less. Scientists also believe that loud, fast music makes people eat faster. In fact, people chew (咀嚼) their food faster when the music gets faster. Some restaurants play fast music during busy hours. This gets people to eat faster and leave more quickly. In this way, restaurants can make more money.

Some scientists think that music makes students think and learn better. They say that music helps students to be more active. It is true that students learn better when they are relaxed and listening to music can help them relax.

The next time you hear music somewhere, be careful. It might change the way you behave.

1.Do scientists believe that music changes the way people behave?

___________________________________________________________

2.How do people feel when they listen to the classical music?

___________________________________________________________

3.Do restaurants play fast music or slow music to make more money?

___________________________________________________________

4.Why can music make students learn better?

___________________________________________________________

5.What’s the passage mainly about?

___________________________________________________________

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