Unit 6 The Real “Price” of Plastic

Read About It
1 Plastic is cheap and convenient. In fact, people today use lots of plastic items every day. Many of
them are used just once and then become trash. For example, every week Americans throw away
350 million plastic bottles. Those are enough to circle the earth five times.
塑膠既便宜又便利。事實上，現代人每天使用很多的塑膠物品。其中大多數只被使用一次 ，
然後就變成垃圾。舉例來說，美國人每星期會丟棄三億五千萬個塑膠瓶，它們足以環繞地球
五圈。
2 What’s worse, more and more plastic trash is ending up in the ocean, and this has caused an
environmental disaster. Here’s how this happens: Rainwater carries plastic litter from streets into
rivers. The rivers then run into the sea. Tides also take plastic trash from the shores into the ocean.
更糟糕的是，越來越多塑膠垃圾最後進入海洋中，而這造成了環境災害。以下是這種災害
如何發生的過程：雨水將塑膠垃圾從街道上帶入河裡，河川接著流入海洋，潮水也將塑膠垃
圾由岸邊帶入海洋中。
3 Moreover, plastic is also fed into the ocean by drains. Plastic is contained in common
household products, such as toothpaste and face scrubs. Microplastics, the tiny plastic beads, can
be found in these products. There are many plastic fibers in clothes too. When people wash their
clothes, these substances go into the water. The polluted water then goes down the drains. From
there, it will finally enter the ocean.
此外，塑膠也經由下水道被帶進海洋裡。塑膠包含於常見的家庭用品內，像是牙膏和臉部
磨砂膏。微塑膠，也就是塑膠微粒，可以在這些產品中被發現。衣服裡也有許多塑膠纖維。當
人們洗衣服時，這些物質就進入水中。被汙染的水接著就進入了下水道。從那裡為起點，這
些汙水最後會進入海洋。
4 According to the UN, about 80 percent of ocean garbage is plastic. Thus, biologists now even
call the ocean “plastic soup” due to the plastic everywhere. This pollution is having a terrible effect
on marine life. Millions of plastic items are floating in the ocean, and this may lead birds to mistake
them for food. The birds pick up these pieces of trash and feed them to their young. As a result,
many chicks aren’t getting enough real food, and some may even starve to death. Experts have
found many dead animals’ stomachs full of plastic trash. They died because their digestive systems
were blocked. Besides, many fish consume microplastics that contain many harmful chemicals
which kill the fish.
據聯合國指出，大約有百分之八十的海洋垃圾是塑膠。因此，生物學家現在甚至因為無所
不在的塑膠，而把海洋稱為「塑膠湯」。這種汙染對海洋生物正產生可怕的影響。無數的塑膠
物品漂浮在海洋上，而這可能使鳥類將它們誤認為食物。鳥兒們會拾起這些塑膠碎片，並用
以餵食牠們的幼雛。因此，許多幼鳥無法吃到足夠真正的食物，而且有些可能甚至會挨餓致
死。專家已經發現許多死亡動物的胃裡有滿滿的塑膠垃圾。牠們是因為消化系統被阻塞而死。
除此之外，許多魚類吃下了微塑膠，而它含有許多會殺死魚類的有害化學物質。
5 Both the ocean and marine life around the world are now paying a terrible price for our overuse
of plastic. However, it is not too late to take action. For instance, we can reuse bags or bring our
own bags when we shop. We can also stop buying bottled water and start using reusable containers
instead. Of course, we should recycle all plastic items. It is also important not to use products that
contain microplastics. In addition, we can support environmental organizations and volunteer to
help these groups. These groups are asking manufacturers to use less plastic in their products and
packaging. They are also calling on governments to start programs to clean the ocean. Therefore, it
is possible for everyone to make a difference, and the time to start is now.
今日，大海以及世界各地的海洋生物正因我們過度使用塑膠而付出可怕的代價。然而，要
採取行動還不算太晚。舉例來說，在購物時，我們可以重複使用袋子或帶著我們自己的袋子 。
我們也可以停止購買瓶裝水並開始用可重複使用的容器來作替代。當然，我們應該回收所有
的塑膠物品。不使用含微塑膠的產品也很重要。此外，我們可以支持環保組織並自願幫忙這
些團體。這些團體正在要求製造商減少使用塑膠在他們的商品及包裝上。他們也鄭重要求政
府發起清潔海洋的方案。因此，每個人都有可能做出改變，而開始改變的時刻就是現在。
—Ian Fletcher

Expand Your Vocabulary

Words for Production
1. plastic
The spaghetti in the window display is not real. It is made of plastic.
櫥窗裡的義大利麵不是真的。它是塑膠製的。
2. disaster
A large earthquake hit Italy in 2016, and more than 200 people died in the terrible disaster.
2016 年一場大地震侵襲義大利，超過兩百人在這場可怕的災難中死亡。
3. litter
If you drop any litter in a national park, you will be fined NT$3,000.
如果你在國家公園丟任何垃圾，你將會被罰鍰新臺幣三千元。
4. tide
The road to that island disappears when the tide rises. At such times, visitors must take a boat to
reach the island.
這條通往那座小島的道路在漲潮時會消失。在這種時候，遊客必須乘船才能抵達島上。
5. moreover
Exercising can help people keep in shape. Moreover, it can make people sleep well.
運動可以幫助人保持身體健康。除此之外，它也可讓人睡得好。
6. drain
The floor of the bathroom was flooded because the drain was blocked.
浴室地板因為排水管堵塞而積水了。
drain
Once a week, the swimming pool is drained and filled with clean water again.
游泳池每週被排空一次，並再次注滿乾淨的水。
7. contain
 Darcy is on a diet. He has quit fried chicken and any drink that contains sugar.
Darcy 正在節食。他已經戒掉炸雞和任何含糖的飲料。
container
Airtight containers are useful for storing food because they don’t allow any outside air to enter.
密封容器用來儲存食物很有用，因為它們不會讓外面的空氣進入。
8. household
Today, most people believe that household work should be shared by every family member.
現在，大部分人相信家務應該讓每位家庭成員分擔。
household
After his parents passed away, Ted became the head of the household and had to take care of his
younger brothers.
在他的雙親過世後，Ted 成為一家之主並且必須照顧他的弟弟們。
9. product
This supermarket offers thousands of products at low prices to its members.
這間超市以低價提供數千種商品給它的會員。
produce
The cows on this farm produce milk of high quality every day.
這個農場的乳牛每天都生產高品質的牛奶。
production
Some German companies have long been famous for the production of high-end cars.
有些德國公司長久以來以生產高檔汽車聞名。
10. substance
Water, ice, and snow are actually the same substance in different forms.
水、冰和雪事實上是不同形態的同一物質。
11. pollute
Industrial waste from the factory has polluted the river and killed a lot of fish.
從這間工廠排出的工業廢物已經汙染了這條河川並且殺死了很多魚。
pollution
The air pollution in that industrial town is very serious, so it is better to wear a mask if you visit
it.
那個工業小鎮的空氣汙染非常嚴重，所以若是你要造訪那裡，最好戴上口罩。
12. float
Oil floats on water. You can’t mix these two things together.
油浮於水面上。你無法將兩者混合在一起。
13. starve
The wolf almost starved to death because it couldn’t find enough food to eat in the cold winter.
這匹狼因為在寒冬裡無法找到足夠的食物吃，幾乎快餓死了。
14. consume
People who consume too much red meat are more likely to develop heart disease and high blood
pressure.
 攝取過多紅肉的人較可能罹患心臟病與高血壓。
This car doesn’t consume as much gasoline as most other cars. In other words, it is very green.　
這輛車不像其他大部分的車子消耗一樣多的油。換句話說，它非常環保。
consumer
In Taiwan, wine companies are required to warn consumers of the danger of drinking too much.
在臺灣，酒商被要求告誡消費者關於飲酒過多的危險。
15. harmful
Eating fast food too often can be harmful to our health.
太常吃速食可能對我們的健康有害。
harm
Swimming without warming up first may cause harm to your body.
未先暖身就游泳可能對你的身體造成傷害。
harm
Studies show that smoking harms people’s health and causes cancer.
研究顯示吸煙傷害人的健康並導致癌症。
16. chemical
That stall sells vegetables that are grown without the use of chemicals.
那家攤子販賣不使用任何化學藥劑栽種的蔬菜。
chemical
Chemical weapons, such as gas bombs, are very dangerous and can kill a lot of people at a time.
化學武器，像是瓦斯彈，是非常危險的並可能一次殺死很多人。
17. recycle
Those glass bottles can be recycled and should be separated from the trash.
那些玻璃瓶可以被回收再利用，應該跟垃圾分開來。
18. support
Paul liked our idea at first. However, he decided not to support it after he found it would cost a
lot.
Paul 一開始喜歡我們的構想。然而，在他發現這會花很多錢後，他決定不支持它。
support
Dan’s family members always give him their full support when he needs help.
Dan 的家人們在他需要幫助時，總是給他全力的支持。
19. organization
The WHO is a United Nations organization that deals with issues about international public
health.
世界衛生組織是處理關乎國際性公共衛生議題的聯合國組織。
The organization of such a big show needs a lot of people and their efforts.
這樣一場大型表演的組織工作需要許多人手以及他們的努力。
organize
Ms. Bush taught her students to organize their thoughts before they started writing.
Bush 老師教導她的學生在開始寫作之前，要先組織他們的想法。
20. volunteer
Rachel volunteered to clean up the garbage on the nearby beach yesterday, even though nobody
had asked her to do so.
Rachel 昨天自願去清理附近海灘的垃圾，雖然並沒有人要求她這麼做。
volunteer
Out of his love of paintings, Jason worked as a volunteer at the art museum on weekends.
出於他對畫作的熱愛，Jason 每週末在這間美術館當志工。
21. manufacturer
Lower labor costs in Southeast Asia have attracted many international manufacturers to set up
their factories there.
東南亞較低的人工成本已經吸引許多國際製造商在那裡設廠。
manufacture
This factory manufactures thousands of boxes of Lego bricks every day.
這間工廠每天大量製造數千盒的樂高積木。
manufacture
With the use of robots and computers, the manufacture of cars has become even more efficient.
使用機器人和電腦，大量製造汽車已經變得更有效率了。
22. government
In the United States, the party that wins the election in November will form a new government
in January.
在美國，十一月贏得選舉的政黨會在一月的時候組成新政府。
govern
Many European countries used to be governed by kings or queens a couple of centuries ago.
許多歐洲國家在幾世紀前是由國王或女王統治。

Idioms and Phrases

1. throw away something
I still want to read those old magazines, so please don’t throw them away.
我還想要看那些舊雜誌，所以請不要丟掉它們。
2. end up . . .
Patrick had planned to return to his desk to study after a short rest, but he ended up falling asleep
in bed for hours.
Patrick本來打算在稍事休息後回到書桌前學習，但結果他在床上睡了幾個小時。
3. mistake . . . for . . .
Jamie mistook sugar for salt when he was cooking the dish. That’s why it tasted so sweet.
Jamie在煮這道菜時把糖誤當作鹽。那就是為什麼它嚐起來這麼甜。
4. pay a/the price (for doing something)
Mr. Hunter is now paying the price for failing to spend enough time with his family—his
children don’t feel close to him.
Hunter先生現在為了沒有和他的家人一起度過足夠的時光而付出代價—他的孩子和他並不
 親近。
5. in addition (to . . . )
In addition to its high level of service, the hotel offers delicious food for breakfast.
除了高水準的服務之外，這間飯店還提供了美味的食物當早餐。
6. call on/upon . . .
The airline workers have called on the company to reduce their working hours.
這些航空公司的員工已經鄭重要求公司要減少工時。