From supermarket bags to CDs, man-made waste has become a very serious problem. Recently, scientists may have found an unusual way to solve the problem. They say the waxworm (蜡虫), who eats beeswax as food, also appears to eat polyethylene, one of the strongest kinds of plastic.

Scientists have described the tiny worm’s ability as “very exciting”. Federica is a beekeeper. She put the waxworms into a plastic shopping bag which became full of holes a few minutes later. Then Federica did many more experiments. When 100 waxworms were put into a normal plastic bag, the holes began to appear in just 10 minutes.

According to the scientists, a kind of enzyme (酶) produced by the waxworm is the key. They also say that the waxworm turns the plastic into a different thing. It is used in making a material for cars. It is not clear if (是否) the waxworm can produce a large number of such things. Plastic is not a kind of natural food for the waxworm. “Wax is a kind of natural plastic. It is similar to polyethylene,” Federica said.

Scientists say they still need to know how wax is digested (被消化) in the waxworm. Federica said they would use the result to find a way to make the plastic waste disappear. “But we should not throw plastic bags into the environment, just because we now know how to break them down,” she added.

1.What makes the waxworm special?

A. Feeding on beeswax for a living.

B. Leading to a serious problem.

C. Being a kind of man-made insect.

D. Helping break down a kind of plastic.

2.What do the numbers mentioned in Paragraph 2 mainly show?

A. The waxworm dislikes being put into a shopping bag.

B. The waxworm makes the holes in order to take a breath.

C. The waxworm eats the plastic at an amazing high speed.

D. The waxworm is practising making holes in a plastic bag.

3.What is the relationship (关系) between plastic and the waxworm?

A. The waxworm likes to eat plastic because there is nothing else to eat.

B. The waxworm likes eating plastic because the wax is a kind of natural plastic.

C. People use special experiments to make the waxworm become interested in eating plastic.

D. The plastic is a kind of natural food for the waxworm to eat.

4.What will the scientists study next?

A. How they can make the plastic waste disappear.

B. How wax is different from polyethylene.

C. How wax is digested in the body of the waxworm.

D. How they can ask people not to produce plastic waste.

5.Who may be interested in reading this passage?

A. Insect lovers.

B. Environment protectors.

C. Shopping bag users.

D. Animal keepers.

Little Mike's grandma died weeks ago. He missed her very much. One afternoon Mike went to the city park where his grandma used to go. There he saw an old lady, She looked very kind. She was sitting there, watching pigeons. Little Mike went up and sat next to her. He took out his food and drinks and gave some to her. She smiled at him. Her smile was so sweet that Mike wanted to see it again. She seemed to understand him, so once again she smiled. Mike was very glad.

They sat there all the afternoon, eating and talking. As it grew dark, Mike got up to leave. Before he left, he hugged the old lady and she gave him her sweetest smile.

When Mike got home, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. "I met a granny in the park. Her smile was like the kind of smile I had seen on grandma's face."

The old lady also returned to her home happily. She told her son that she had food and drinks with a little boy. "He was as lovely as Brittany." she said. Her son was surprised, because he had never seen her so happy since Brittany, her grandson, died weeks ago.

1.Little Mike went to the park and _________.

A. played with some pigeons B. fed the pigeons

C. met an old granny D. saw a friend of his grandma's

2.The old lady's smile showed that _________.

A. she had hoped to meet the boy B. she wanted to get some drinks

C. she missed her grandson D. she liked the little boy

3.Mike felt very glad because _________.

A. he gave the granny food and drinks B. the old lady was as kind as grandma

C. he had seen his grandma D. the old lady liked him

4.What can we learn from the story? ________.

A. When one feels unhappy, he must go to a park.

B. Old people are always kind and happy.

C. Children and old people should get on well with each other.

D. When people are kind to each other, they will feel happy.

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