The word “plastic” comes from the Greek word “Platicos” and is used to describe_1_which can be easily shaped.
The history of plastics is longer than you might_2_.In fact _3_ manmade plastics ever to appear on the market was made over a hundred years ago. It was called “celluloid(赛璐璐)”.It was discovered by both an Englishman and an American in the same year._4_it was the Americans who first produced it on a large scale during the year 1860.Everybody was _5_by this new material which could be moulded (用模子做) into shapes and _6_so cheap to buy.
Poor young men _7_in cities with lots of smoke and dirt were_8_ to buy white celluloid collars(领子).The collars were hard and uncomfortable. But they did not have to be sent to wash. The poor young men _9_ rub them clean every evening with soap and water! Poor mothers,
_10_ had not been able to afford playthings _11_their children, were now able to buy them playthings _12_ of celluloid. But celluloid had one very serious fault. It caught fire very easily. In fact it burned even more quickly than wood or cloth. There were many terrible accidents, particularly _13_ children. For years scientists worked hard to find a better plastic material than celluloid. They had _14_ success. Then in 1932 an American scientist called Baekeland produced a hard plastic material which did not burn. _15_ became known _16_ bakelite(酚醛塑料).Other plastic materials like bakelite were _17_ produced. They _18_ to make electrical fittings and plates and cups. Poor people liked them because they were both cheap and safe, but rich people _19_ them because they were cheap, and because they could only be made _20_dark colours.
1. A. something B. everything C. thing D. anything
2. A. wish B. think C. want D. hope
3. A. first B. at first C. for the first D. the first
4. A. So B. But C. And D. As
5. A. surprised B. excited C. told D. frightened
6. A. be B. were C. was D. is
7. A. waiting B. running C. walking D. working
8. A. going B. sure C. about D. able
9. A. could B. ought to C. must D. should
10. A. which B. who C. whom D. that
11. A. for B. like C. in D. of
12. A. done B. produced C. worked D. made
13. A. between B. on C. among D. about
14. A. much B. great. C. never D. little
15. A. The man B. He C. It D. The scientist
16. A. as B. with C. by D. to
17. A. already B. still C. also D. yet
18. A. used B. hoped C. were used D. had
19. A. took B. loved C. enjoyed D. disliked
20. A. in B. by C. from D. of
