阅读理解
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 the garden or a plant pot and wait for it to
flower.
A biodegradable (生物可降解的) mobile phone was, this month, introduced by scientists. It is hoped
that the new type of phone will encourage consumers to recycle (再利用). Scientists have come up with
a new material over the last five years. It looks like any other plastic, but overtime it can 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 cover turns into waste, it forms nitrates (硝酸盐). These feed the seed and help the flower grow. "We've only put sunflower seeds into the cover so far.
But we are working with plant experts to find out which flowers will 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 producers 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 is released 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, the leader of the
research team.
1. After you have finished using the new type of mobile phone, _______.
A. the sunflower seed will come out and flower in the pot
B. the phone cover will break down very soon in the soil
C. it will be recycled by the producers
D. it can charge itself with electricity in a green way
2. This type of research is done because ________.
A. the technology of making phones is changing rapidly
B. too many waste mobile phones may lead to environmental problems
C. nobody has ever thought of recycling mobile phones
D. producing mobile phones uses a lot of energy
3. We can infer from the story ________.
A. the new type of mobile phones is already on the market
B. the new type of mobile phones will sell extremely well
C. the material of the new type of phones is harmful
D. other flowers may be used in the new type of mobile phones
