Plastic is everywhere because plastic is an extremely useful material. It is cheap, strong and lightweight. What’s more, it can take on nearly any form or shape, from soft and stretchy (有弹性的) to hard and glasslike.
Plastic, however, is far from perfect. It may even be bad for us. Studies now suggest that poisonous chemicals can get out of some types of plastic, get into our bodies, and cause a variety of health problems, including cancer, birth defects and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (注意缺陷障碍).
Two types of chemicals in particular have raised special concern lately. They are called phthalates (邻苯二甲酸盐) and Bisphenol-A (二酚基丙烷), BPA for short. Not all plastic products contain them. But the ones that do are surrounded by controversy (争议). That’s because experts disagree on how dangerous these chemicals are.
Plastic is a single word, but plastic isn’t just one thing. What all plastics share in mon are plasticizers -- special chemicals that allow the material to be changed into nearly any shape or texture. Plasticizers (塑化剂) are added to plastic during the manufacturing process.
Phthalates and BPA are two types of plasticizers that work in different ways. Phthalates add softness to things like shampoo bottles, raincoats and rubber. They are also used in perfumes and makeup. BPA, on the other hand, gives a hard, clear, almost glasslike feel to products such as infant bottles. BPA also appears in food and soda cans, DVDs and other unexpected places.
How do these chemicals get into us? When plastic is heated in the microwave or dishwasher, chewed on or scratched, the chemicals can seep (渗透) out of the plastic. Even though we can’t see them, we eat them, drink them and breathe them in.
Scientists and parents are especially worried about young children, who tend to chew on everything, including plastic. Dozens of countries, including the European Union, Japan, Canada and Mexico have already banned phthalates from products made for children younger than three. California and Washington have done the same. And a number of other states are considering similar rules. As for BPA, Canada became the first country to ban the chemical from baby bottles. A dozen states are considering it.
【小题1】What can we know about the plastic from the first paragraph?A．Its characters and effects.B．Its wide use and bad points.C．Its importance and chemicals.D．Its popularity and advantages.【小题2】Which of the following products contains BPA?A．A soft plastic cup.B．A pencil eraser.C．A baby milk bottle.D．A new perfume.【小题3】Phthalates and BPA can get into us . A．through mouth or noseB．through blood transfusionC．by feeling plastic productsD．by heating in the microwave【小题4】 What is the passage mainly about?A．A new ban on plastic products.B．Problems caused by the plastic.C．Good points of the plastic.D．The use of plasticizers.D
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(答案→)D
解析：文章介绍虽然塑料很受欢迎也有很多好处，但是塑料里面的物质有可能进入人体照成对身体的伤害，特别是一些婴儿的塑料制品可能对孩子的健康造成危害。
【小题1】细节题：从第一段的句子：Plastic is everywhere because plastic is an extremely useful material.可知塑料很受欢迎，从第二句话It is cheap, strong and lightweight. What’s more, it can take on nearly any form or shape, from soft and stretchy (有弹性的) to hard and glasslike.可知讲的是塑料的好处，选 D
【小题2】细节题：从第五段的句子：BPA, on the other hand, gives a hard, clear, almost glasslike feel to products such as infant bottles. 可知婴儿牛奶瓶中有BPA，选C
【小题3】推理题：从倒数第二段的句子：Even though we can’t see them, we eat them, drink them and breathe them in.可知 Phthalates和BPA是经过口鼻进入人体的，选A
【小题4】主旨题：从第二段的句子：Plastic, however, is far from perfect. It may even be bad for us. Studies now suggest that poisonous chemicals can get out of some types of plastic, get into our bodies, and cause a variety of health problems, 可知这篇文章讲的是塑料的问题，选B