VOA慢速：微塑料有害吗

Are Microplastics Harmful?

慢速 | 高考 偏难 | 425词 | 4min39s

刘立军供稿

Part I. QUESTIONS

Listen to the news and choose the best answer to each question you hear.

Q1. What are microplastics and where can they be found, according to the text?

A. They are natural sea organisms found only in oceans.

B. They are tiny plastic pieces found in oceans, air, food, and human body tissues.

C. They are a type of food additive used in processed foods.

D. They are synthetic materials found only in manufactured products.

Q2. What do some researchers believe about microplastics and human health?

A. There is definitive evidence that microplastics harm human health.

B. There are no concerns about microplastics and human health.

C. There are concerns about potential health effects, but no clear evidence yet.

D. Microplastics are beneficial to human health.

Q3. What can be inferred about the current state of research on microplastics?

A. It is in its early stages, and comprehensive conclusions about health effects are yet to be reached.

B. It has definitively proved that microplastics are harmless.

C. It has been extensively studied for decades with clear guidelines established.

D. It shows that microplastics are beneficial for improving heart health.

Q4. What is the primary focus of the text?

A. The benefits of microplastics in daily life.

B. The manufacturing process of microplastics.

C. The presence and potential health effects of microplastics.

D. Scientific advancements in plastic recycling.

Q5. According to the text, how can people reduce their exposure to microplastics?

A. By taking vitamins that reduce microplastics.

B. By using plastic bottles and containers.

C. By eating out frequently.

D. By taking off shoes before entering the home and not heating food in plastic containers.

Part II. TRANSCRIPT

Are Microplastics Harmful?

(Q1) Extremely small pieces of plastic called microplastics are in the ocean and the air, as well as in our food and water. Scientific study has discovered microplastics in human body tissues also, including the heart, liver and kidneys.

(Q2/4) Some researchers worry that microplastics harm human health, although they say that science has not found clear evidence of that. Still, they say questions remain about the possible health effects of microplastics.

Manufacturers mostly use oil or other petroleum products to make plastic. The material is used to make a huge number of different products: water bottles, car parts, children’s playthings, clothing, electronics and more. Heat, weather, and even animal digestion break down plastic into smaller and smaller pieces.

Microplastics can be 5 millimeters long at most or as small as one micrometer. A micrometer is one-one thousandth of a millimeter. Microplastics have been found in salt, sugar, honey, rice and seafood. They have also been found in milk, soil, and drinking water.

micrometer n. 微米

Researchers disagree about how much plastic people might be breathing in or taking in as food and drink. Still, many studies find evidence of plastics in body tissues.

Tracey Woodruff is a researcher at the University of California at San Francisco. She said, “Microplastics have been measured in pretty much all of the body tissues that have been evaluated.”

Scientists are still trying to answer the question of how harmful microplastics might be. In 2022, a World Health Organization report found no clear risk to human health, based on the available evidence.

There is also not clear evidence of widespread public health effects.

(Q3) However, researchers only recently began to measure plastic levels in the human body and learn about their possible effects. Woodruff of U.C. San Francisco said it makes sense that microplastics are harmful because they contain poisonous chemicals. The researcher was part of an investigative team that examined nearly 2,000 studies about microplastics at the request of California state lawmakers.

Some evidence suggests plastics can increase inflammation and other changes in the body. Such changes could increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

inflammation n. 炎症

Researchers say there are ways to reduce possible contact with microplastics.

(Q5) Take off your shoes before you go into your home. This helps prevent the spread of microplastics inside. Eat foods ― especially fresh fruits and vegetables ― that you prepare at home. Do not heat foods in plastic containers, Woodruff said. And, she added, use metal or glass water bottles, instead of plastic.

I’m Andrew Smith.

Part III. KEY

Q1. B. 细节题。题目出处为：“Extremely small pieces of plastic called microplastics are in the ocean and the air, as well as in our food and water. Scientific study has discovered microplastics in human body tissues also, including the heart, liver and kidneys.” 意为：“极小的塑料碎片被称为微塑料，它们存在于海洋和空气以及我们的食物和水中。科学研究还发现，微塑料存在于人体组织中，包括心脏、肝脏和肾脏。”因此答案为B。

Q2. C. 细节题。题目出处为：“Some researchers worry that microplastics harm human health, although they say that science has not found clear evidence of that. Still, they say questions remain about the possible health effects of microplastics.” 意为：“一些研究人员担心微塑料会危害人类健康，尽管他们表示科学尚未发现明确证据。不过，他们表示，关于微塑料可能对健康造成的影响，仍有许多问题有待解答。”因此答案为C。

Q3. A. 推理题。题目出处为：“However, researchers only recently began to measure plastic levels in the human body and learn about their possible effects.”意为：但是，研究人员最近才开始测量人体内的塑料水平并了解其可能的影响。”因此可以推断出，对于微塑料对健康影响的研究还处于早期阶段，尚未得出全面结论。因此答案为A。

Q4. C. 主旨题。本文主要讨论了微塑料的存在以及它可能对健康产生的影响。题目出处为：“Scientific study has discovered microplastics in human body tissues also, including the heart, liver and kidneys.” 和“Still, they say questions remain about the possible health effects of microplastics.”意为：“科学研究还发现，微塑料存在于人体组织中，包括心脏、肝脏和肾脏。”以及“不过，他们表示，关于微塑料可能对健康产生的影响，仍然有问题尚待解答。”因此答案为C。

Q5. D. 细节题。题目出处为：“Take off your shoes before you go into your home. This helps prevent the spread of microplastics inside... Do not heat foods in plastic containers… use metal or glass water bottles, instead of plastic.”意为：“进家门之前脱鞋，这有助于防止微塑料在室内扩散……不要在塑料容器中加热食物……使用金属或玻璃水瓶，而不是塑料。”因此答案为D。

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