Shopping green can make an important contribution to protecting the planet and conserving its resources.

  Today’s consumers face a wider range of choices than ever before. Add to that the steady stream of sales campaigns,and shopping smart only gets harder. To buy economically and reduce waste,safeguard health and protect the environment,you’ll need to follow some basic principles and have a clear idea of what you want.

  1. Do your homework Before making any major purchase,take the time to research it. Plentiful resources are usually available online. Avoid buying in a hurry,and don’t be persuaded by over-enthusiastic salespeople. Sleep on it if necessary—you won’t regret giving yourself some extra time to think.

  2. Take the long view Consider the running costs as well as the initial price of any item you buy. Many environmentally friendly products cost more to buy,but save you money in the long run. Choose items that are made to last. For example,pick a sofa that has a hardwood or steel frame rather than one made of softwood,which may break easily.

  3. Skip the disposable option Buy reusable products like washable cloth towels,handkerchiefs,serviettes (餐巾) and cleaning cloths rather than paper,single-use varieties. Avoid other disposable supplies like cups,glasses,and chopsticks,too.

  4. Take the local route Buy local products that are in season. It’s usually cheaper and fresher and has less harm to the environment. Markets and roadside stands are good sources. Some supermarkets also buy from local producers. Support it if you have one.

5. Avoid wasteful packaging Better not buy products that have too much packaging. It’s estimated that approximately 10        per cent of every shopping bill is actually paying for packaging—which you normally just throw away!Moreover,significant amounts of energy are used in the production of packaging. Purchasing refillable and renewable containers can also help cut this kind of waste.

(   ) 1. What could be the best title for this passage?

   A. Protection of the planet

   B. Green shopping principles

   C. Environmentally friendly products

   D. Resource conservation

(   ) 2. The underlined phrase “Sleep on it” has the similar meaning with “     ”.

   A. think it over   B. forget about it

   C. set it aside   D. put it into action

(   ) 3. Why does the author advise us to buy lasting prod ucts?

   A. Because they are less expensive to buy.

   B. Because they save money in the long run.

   C. Because they will never break.

   D. Because they are local products.

(   ) 4. Which of the following can be considered green shopping?

   A. Following the stream of sales campaigns.

   B. Buying disposable chopsticks.

   C. Focusing on packaging.

   D. Purchasing from local markets.

  The United States Environmental Protection Agency says only seven per cent of plastic waste in the United States is recycled each year. A new compa?ny in northern New York says it can increase that percentage. It also says it can help the United States reduce the amount of oil it imports.

  The company has a machine named the "plastic-eating monster". Every hour,thousands of kilograms of milk jugs,water bottles,and grocery bags are fed into the machine. The plastic waste comes from landfills across the United States. John Bordnyniuk runs the company,called JBI.

  Mr Bordnyniuk has invented a new process for turning plastic into fuel. First,many different kinds of unwashed plastics are melted together.

Mr Bordnyniuk uses a special chemical to turn the liquid into a vapour. This reduces the plastic to its most basic elements.

  "Plastics are just long hydrocarbon chains. What we're doing is reforming them into links and chains that we want so they have a high fuel value.” Eight per cent of the recycled plastic is used to run the system. Independ?ent testers say eighty-six per cent of what goes in comes out as fuel.

  Bob Molodynia helps run the company. He watches as the plastic-eating machine pours a thin,brown liquid into an oil barrel.

  JBI produces several thousand liters of fuel a day. It creates different grades of fuel for different industries. It sells the fuel for up to one hundred dollars a barrel. Each barrel costs about ten dollars to produce.

  Scientists say plastic-to-oil technology is still new and developing. They say it is not yet known if the process is environmentally friendly. And some questions whether turning plastic into oil can even be considered "recycling".

  Carson Maxted is with the publication Resource Recycling,a magazine that reports on the plastic recycling industry. He says because there is a lot of plastic waste and a great demand for oil,JBFs recycling technology may create great changes in both industries.

1. What should be the best title of the passage?

   A. Could waste plastic reduce our need for oil?

   B. How can waste plastic be changed into oil?

   C. What should we do to reduce the import of oil?

   D. What is the "plastic-eating monster"?

2. What is the purpose of using a special chemical?

   A. To melt the unwanted plastic.

   B. To turn liquid plastic into vapour.

   C. To turn plastic into fuel.

   D. To make the machine use more plastic.

3. From the passage,we know      .

   A. there is a great profit for JBI to turn waste plastic to oil

   B. plastic-to-oil technology is very developed in America

   C. the process of turning plastic into fuel is environmentally friendly

   D. JBI's recycling technology must create great changes in the plastic re?cycling industry

4. Who is the boss of JBI?

   A. Carson Maxted.

   B. John Bordnyniuk.

   C. Bob Molodynia.

   D. Machiel Smiths.

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