A
With their pipes and lids to avoid spills，coffee cups have long been the substitute for adults.Now Starbucks is going all in on the concept by swearing to get rid of straws in the next few years—and it's all for a very good reason.This move is an answer to our own partners about what we can do to reduce the need for straws.Not using a straw is the best thing we can do for the environment.
In place of plastic straws，Starbucks plans to offer recyclable lids for all iced drinks and paper straws for coffee.The transition is already taking place in Starbucks' hometown of Seattle，where a ban on plastic straws went into place on July 1.By rolling this out in all 28，000 of their stores in the next few years，the company says they are annually removing more than one billion straws from going into circulation—and potentially the ocean.
Starbucks' decision to gradually stop using singleuse plastic straws is a shining example of the important role that companies can play in stopping the tide of ocean plastic.With eight million metric tons of plastic entering the ocean every year，we cannot afford to let industry sit on the sidelines.Marine life has a 50% death rate when it swallows plastic—yet researchers believe there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by the year 2050 if this rate of litter continues.That means there can be an immediate positive impact if we swap plastic straws for environmentally friendly alternatives.
The smart design on the cup for cold drinks comes from Starbucks' inhouse team of designers and has been in development for two years.However，the announcement comes as outcry(倒彩)increases over the dangers that plastic straws can cause to marine life.Other companies making the ecofriendly swap also announced plans last month to test alternatives to plastic straws.
【语篇解读】 本文是一篇说明文。文章讲述了Starbucks提出不使用塑料吸管来减少白色污染，保护地球的概念。
1．Why does Starbucks decide to get rid of plastic straws?
A．To reduce its cost.
B．To meet the customers' needs.
C．To create a greener planet.
D．To expand its business worldwide.
C [细节理解题。根据第一段最后一句“Not using a straw is the best thing we can do for the environment.”可知答案为C。]
2．What does the word “transition” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A．Dilemma. B．Change.
C．Response. D．Conflict.
B [词义猜测题。根据第二段第一句可知，这种变化已经在Starbucks的发生，故B项正确。]
3．What's the text mainly about?
A．Starbucks is throwing away plastic straws for a worthy cause.
B．Environmentally friendly material will replace plastic straws.
C．Scientists are making efforts to solve ocean plastic pollution.
D．A sales promotion of a new brand by Starbucks is being done.
A [主旨大意题。本文讲述了Starbucks提出不使用塑料吸管来减少白色污染，保护地球的概念。故A项为最佳答案。]
