🪄 11A 词汇表
📖 课文原文 · THE PROBLEM WITH PLASTIC
On a boat near Costa Rica, a team of marine biologists is helping a turtle. The animal is having trouble breathing, and the team discovers why—there is something inside its nose. A scientist tries to extract the object, but the turtle cries in pain. Finally, after eight long minutes, a long object is pulled out: It is a 10-centimeter plastic straw.
The video of the turtle’s rescue has been viewed millions of times on YouTube. It has helped raise awareness of a growing problem: The world’s seas are full of plastic. Since 2000, there has been a huge increase in worldwide plastic production, but we recycle less than one-fifth of it. A lot of this plastic waste ends up in the ocean. Today, scientists think about 8.1 billion kilograms goes into the sea every year from coastal regions. Most of this plastic will never biodegrade.
This ocean plastic hurts millions of sea animals every year. Some fish eat plastic because it is covered with sea plants, and it looks and smells like food. Typically, eating plastic leads to constant hunger. “Imagine you ate lunch and then just felt weak … and hungry all day,” says marine biologist Matthew Savoca. “That would be very confusing.” In some cases, eating sharp pieces of plastic can seriously hurt sea animals and even result in death.
Plastic is useful to people because it is strong and lasts a long time—but this is bad news for sea creatures who eat or get stuck in it. According to Savoca, “Single-use plastics are the worst.” These are items that are used only once before we throw them away. Some common examples include straws, water bottles, and plastic bags. About 700 sea species (including the turtle from the video) have been caught in or have eaten this kind of plastic. Luckily, the turtle survived and was released back into the ocean.
How will plastic affect sea animals in the long term? “I think we’ll know the answers in 5 to 10 years’ time,” says Debra Lee Magadini from Columbia University. But by then, another 25 million tons of plastic will already be in the ocean.
按课本完整原题作答，点击图片可查看大图。字母选项对应原题；填空输入原词。开放讨论与圈画题写在笔记中，不计入客观题得分。
Before You Read
Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension A
Reading Comprehension B
Reading Skill & Critical Thinking
Reading Skill & Critical Thinking B
🎯 1. 目标词汇发音跟读与掌握度自测
按课本完整原题作答，点击图片可查看大图。字母选项对应原题；填空输入原词。开放讨论与圈画题写在笔记中，不计入客观题得分。
Vocabulary Practice
Vocabulary Practice A
Vocabulary Practice B
Vocabulary Practice C
🏆 Unit 11A 课后荣誉通关证书
