These days it’s cheaper to throw that broken DVD player, cell-phone or TV out and buy a new one. This “ replace-rather-than-repair” mentality is polluting the planet with electronic waste. According to the UN Environment Program, we are throwing away an estimated 50 million metric tonnes of electronics waste (e-waste) per year. But this is not ordinary garbage. Our electronics leak harmful heavy metals — such as mercury and arsenic — along with equally poisonous chemicals that end up in our soil and eventually our water.
You’ve probably participated in a munity recycling event and left feeling good about shipping off that old puter to be recycled. Chances are it was shipped overseas where it’s polluting someone else’munity.
Guiyu city in Southeastern China has bee known as the e-waste city where low-paid workers use whatever means available to remove electronics in hopes of recovering the copper, microchips, aluminum, gold and silver and plastic that can be resold. Any leftover waste is simply thrown into the nearby river or piled up high in the streets, poisoning the children growing up here.
So what can you do with your e-waste? Robert Houghton, President and founder of Redemtech, an asset management and recovery firm, remends you vote with your dollar. Buy from panies who have a take-back program that guarantees your discarde electronics are handled proper.
“ Consumers want to do business with panies who are demonstrably good with corporate responsibility and dealing with e-waste, ” said Houghton.
There are plenty of charitable organizations that will take your used electronics and donate them for charitable causes:
? Electronic Recycling Association (Canada) (ERA) collects old puters for donation to libraries and other organizations across Canada.
? eBay’s Rethink Initiative pairs up consumers with businesses that refurbish (再磨光)old puters for donation.
? TechSoup has a thorough listing of resources for those who would like to donate or recycle hardware，buy recycled hardware or find a refurbisher.
? The Charitable Recycling Program accepts all cell-phones and has a listing of charities it helps with its program.
? Call2 Recycle has set up drop off points across Canada in a number of stores. You can drop off your cell-phone and also your rechargeable batteries from handheld electronic products.
【小题1】When there is something wrong with electronics, what is a popular trend among people nowadays?A．To keep a DIY way.B．To put them away themselves.C．To purchase what they like.D．To donate them to charities.【小题2】Guiyu city in Southeastern China is mentioned here to show us .A．there is an ideal place in the world for e-wasteB．there is a good example in the world for recyclingC．the recycling events in Canada benefit people overseasD．people should find a scientific and thorough way to recycle【小题3】In the writer’s opinion, who can first shoulder the great responsibility to guarantee e-waste is handled proper in the future?A．The UN Environment Program.B．Consumers who buy electronics.C．President and founder of Redemtech.D．Guiyu city in Southeastern China.【小题4】In Canada, which charity organization will most possibly take all your unwanted electronics?A．Call2 Recycle.B．TechSoup.C．eBay’s Rethink Initiative.D．Electronic Recycling Association.C
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(答案→)C
解析： 随着科技越来越发达，我们更倾向于更换而不是维修，在不知不觉之间我们污染了地球也浪费了许多资源。
【小题1】细节理解题。由“These days it’s cheaper to throw that broken DVD player, cell-phone or TV out and buy a new one.”可知人们会选择买一个新的。故选C。
【小题2】细节理解题。由“Any leftover waste is simply thrown into the nearby river or piled up high in the streets, poisoning the children growing up here.”可知贵屿城的做法破坏了当地的环境，并危及了当地人尤其是孩子们的生活和成长，这不是一个有效回收的做法。故选D。
【小题3】推理判断题。文章讲了我们滥用、随意丢弃电子垃圾已经严重污染破坏了我们的环境。我们未来的生活污染有很大一部分来自这里。故选B.
【小题4】细节理解题。由“TechSoup has a thorough listing of resources for those who would like to donate or recycle hardware，buy recycled hardware or find a refurbisher.”可知TechSoup愿意出钱回收你不想要的电子器件。故选B。