Ask someone what they have done to help the environment recently and they will almost mention recycling. Recycling in the homes is very important. However, having to recycle often means we already have more products than we need. We are just dealing with the results of that over-consumption in the greenest way, but it would be much better if we did not bring so many goods home.
The total amount of packaging（外包装） has increased by 12% between 1999 and 2005. It is 1/3 of a home’s waste in the UK. In many supermarkets, food products are packaged twice with plastic and paper. Too much packaging is doing serious damage to the environment. The UK, for example, is running out of land because of this unnecessary waste. If such packaging is burnt, it gives off greenhouse gases which go on to cause the greenhouse effect. Besides, the plastic from the package puts some creatures in danger, especially birds and fish.
Recycling helps, but the recycling itself uses energy. The solution is not to produce such waste in the first place. Food waste is a serious problem, too. Too many supermarkets encourage customers to buy more than they need. However, few of them have the idea that this cannot continue. For example, supermarkets should encourage customers to reuse their plastic bags.
But this is not just about supermarkets. It is about all of us. We have been used to the idea that packaging means excellence while anything unpackaged is of poor condition. This is especially true of food. But this idea has spread to other products, which often have far more packaging than necessary.
There are signs of hope. As more of us recycle, we are beginning to realize just how many unnecessary goods are collected. We need to face the waste of our consumer culture, but we have a mountain to climb.
What does the underlined word “over-consumption” in Paragraph 1 refer to?

A．Using too much packaging.

B．Recycling too many wastes.

C．Buying more products than needed.

D．Making more products than necessary.

Which of the following damage of over packaging is NOT mentioned?

A．It may waste land.

B．It may pollute the food.

C．It may do harm to the living things.

D．It may make the green house effect worse.

According to the passage, which of the following is true about recycling?

A．It leads to a waste of land.

B．It means burning packaging for energy.

C．It is the only solution to the greenhouse effect.

D．It helps reduce the harm caused by too much packaging.

Why do people prefer packaged products?

A．Supermarkets encourage them.

B．People care more about packaging.

C．It is necessary for all the products to have package.

D．People think unpackaged products are of poor condition.

What does the writer tell us in the last paragraph?

A．Fighting waste is difficult.

B．People don’t waste any more.

C．People only recycle necessary goods now.

D．We should continue our consumer culture.

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