A sunflower is a sunflower. A mobile phone is a mobile
phone. But can you combine the two to do something for your local environment?
As early as next year it may well be possible. When you have finished with your
mobile phone, you will be able to bury it in a garden or a plant pot and wait
for it to flower.
A biodegradable (生物所能分解的)
mobile phone was, this month, introduced by scientists. It is hoped that the
new type of phone will encourage consumers to recycle.
Scientists have come up with a new material over the
last five years. It looks like any other plastic and can be hard or soft, and
is able to change shape. Over time it can also break down into the soil without
giving out any poisonous chemicals. British researchers used the new material
to develop a phone cover that contains a sunflower seed. When this new type of
cover turns into waste, it forms fertilizers. These feed the seed and help the
flower grow.
Engineers have designed a small transparent (透明的) window to hold the seed. They have made sure it only
grows when the phone is thrown away. “We’ve only put sunflower seeds into the
covers so far. But we are working with plant experts to find out which flowers
would perform best. Maybe we could put roses in next time.” said one scientist.
As phone technology is developing so quickly, people
are constantly throwing their mobiles away. This means manufacturers are under
pressure to find ways of recycling them. Some 650 million mobile phones have
been sold this year. Most of them will be thrown away within two years, adding
plastic, heavy metal and chemical waste to the environment. A biodegradable
cover can offer some relief for nature, according to the scientists.
“The seed comes out and the flower grows in the pot so
you don’t have to concern yourself with the phone when you have finished using
it.” said Kerry Kirwan. She leads the research team, which is based at the
University of Warwick in Britain.
1.What is the purpose of this passage? _____
A．To tell the
popularity of biodegradable cell phones.
B．To persuade
the reader to buy the biodegradable cell phone.
C．To discuss
the development of phone technology
D．To introduce
an environment-friendly cell phone to readers.
2.People throw away their cell phones most probably
because ____
A．there is
something wrong with them
B．no sunflowers
can grow out of them
C．they are out
of fashion
D．they are
becoming cheaper and cheaper
3.It could be learned from the passage that ____.
A．developing
the new type of phone is mainly to protect the environment
B．phone-makers
will benefit much more from the new type of phone
C．the new type
of phone will certainly be popular with users all over the world.
D．the phones
that can be recycled are available only in Britain now
4.What might be the most suitable title for this
passage?
A．Sunflower and
Phone B．Plant Your
Phone
C．Protect Our
Environment D．NO Worry
about Phone
