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Turning Trash into Treasure 荷兰回收岛．垃圾变城堡

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For most people, trash floating in the ocean is considered pollution. But WHIM Architecture, a company based in the Netherlands, is turning this idea on its head. They are laying down plans to build an island from 44,000 tons of trash. The project, which has aptly been dubbed Recycled Island, could accommodate up to half a million people. Upon completion, it would be a fully sustainable, self-sufficient island that’s roughly the size of Hawaii.

对大多数人而言，漂浮于海中的垃圾是一种污染。但位于荷兰的WHIM建设公司正在颠覆这种想法。他们制定计划要建造一座由44,000公吨垃圾所构成的岛屿，此项计划被适切地命名为「再生岛」，此座小岛可容纳50万人。一旦计划完成后，这座跟夏威夷差不多大的岛屿将可以完全地自给自足。

WHIM has three vital goals for Recycled Island. Their primary motivation is to find a use for the enormous amount of plastic waste that is polluting our oceans. Secondly, they want to create new land for future generations to live on. And, last but not least, they want to construct a sustainable habitat which will set a precedent for others to follow. The proposed location for Recycled Island is the heart of the Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and San Francisco. This area was strategically chosen because the Pacific currently has the largest concentration of plastic waste. This would also keep transportation costs for materials at a minimum.

WHIM的再生岛计划有三个重要的目标。他们最主要的动机是替污染海洋的大量塑料废弃物找寻其他的用途。第二，他们想要为后代子孙开发新的土地以供居住。最后但也满重要的一点，就是他们想要建造一个永续发展的栖息地，当作他人遵循的典范。预定建造再生岛的地点位于太平洋中央，夏威夷与旧金山之间。由于太平洋目前是塑料废料最大的集中地，因此策略性地选择了这个区域，这也可以让运输建材的费用降到最低。

On Recycled Island, visitors and inhabitants will find everything that a regular island has, including beaches, residential housing, land for agriculture, and plenty of tourist activities. Although many people may consider Recycled Island to be little more than a pipe dream, its founders disagree. As the world moves towards a greener future, it seems like a logical step in the right direction for our planet.

在再生岛上，观光客跟居民将会发现一般的岛屿该有的这座小岛都有，包括海滩、住宅、耕种用地以及许多旅游活动。虽然很多人可能会认为再生岛的计划不过是白日梦，但此计划的创办者并不认同。当世界走向更环保的未来时，对我们的地球而言，此项计划似乎是朝正确的方向所迈进的一步。

－by Jamie Blackler

Vocabulary

单词发音

pollution [pəˋluʃən] n. 污染; 污染物

turn something on its head 颠覆或完全改变某事 to change something completely

lay down 规定, 制定; 开始建造 to specify

aptly [ˋæptlɪ] adv. 适当地; 适切地；巧妙地

recycled [riˋsaɪk!d] adj. 再生的

roughly [ˋrʌflɪ] adv. 粗略地; 大致上; 大约

primary [ˋpraɪ͵mɛrɪ] adj. 首要的; 主要的

generation [͵dʒɛnəˋreʃən] n. 世代，一代

habitat [ˋhæbə͵tæt] n. 栖息地, 居留地

transportation [͵trænspɚˋteʃən] n. 运输；输送

agriculture [ˋægrɪ͵kʌltʃɚ] n. 农业

logical [ˋlɑdʒɪk!] adj. 合逻辑的；合理的

More Information

单词发音

dub [dʌb] v. 把……叫做

last but not least 最后的但同样重要的; 最后但并非最不重要的（一点）last in sequence, but not last in importance

precedent [ˋprɛsədənt] n. 先例，前例

strategically [strəˋtidʒɪk!ɪ] adv. 战略上，战略性地

pipe dream【口】幻想；空想；白日梦  a fantastic notion or vain hope

Reading Questions

1.  Why did WHIM choose to build Recycled Island in the Pacific Ocean?

A.  It is the closest ocean to its headquarters.

B.  It has a large concentration of islands nearby.

C.  It contains more garbage than any other ocean.

D.  It has the highest temperature near the water’s surface.

2.  Which of the following is NOT one of WHIM’s main goals?

A.  Putting plastic waste in the ocean to good use.

B.  Creating a transportation system made from plastic.

C.  Setting an example that will influence others.

D.  Making a new area where people can live.

3.   What would be a good title for this article?

A.  Lost on an Island.

B.  Recycling Garbage for Charity.

C.  The Weird World of the WHIM.

D.  A Plastic Paradise Made From Trash.

Recycled island from plastic ocean 

Answer