Following efforts to limit plastic bags, the push by environmentalists against straws (吸管), has gained attention in recent months, partly because they're seen as unnecessary for most. Companies including Starbucks and Disney are promising to get rid of plastic straws which can be difficult to recycle because of their size and often end up as trash in the ocean. A handful of U.S. cities recently passed or are considering bans. And the push may bring attention to other items people may not have considered — like festive balloons.
“The issue of balloons has really broadened the marine debris (海洋垃圾) issue,” says Emma Tonge of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “People might not realize balloons are a danger”, she says, “because of their ‘light’ image”. Balloons are not among the top 10 kinds of debris found in coastal cleanups, but Tonge says they're common and especially dangerous to marine animals.
Already, a few states restrict balloon releases to some extent, according to the Balloon Council, which represents the industry and advocates for the responsible handling of its products. That means never releasing them into the air, and ensuring the strings have a weight tied to them so the balloons don't accidentally float away. Lorna O'Hara, executive director of the Balloon Council, agrees that marine creatures might mistake balloons for jellyfish and eat them. But she says that doesn't mean balloons are necessarily causing their deaths.
Some states such as California ban balloon releases for other reasons. Pacific Gas & Electric, which serves northern and central California, says metallic balloons often get caught in power lines and have caused 203 power cuts in the first five months of this year, up 22 percent from a year ago.
【小题1】Why does the author mention plastic bags and straws in Paragraph 1?| A．To investigate the cause of plastic pollution. |
| B．To bring up the topic of balloon pollution. |
| C．To call on people to use less plastic products. |
| D．To make a comparison between balloons and straws. |
| A．They are a threat to land animals. |
| B．They are too light-colored to be noticed. |
| C．They can be a cause of coastal pollution. |
| D．They rank among the top 10 kinds of marine debris. |
| A．Balloons do little harm to fishes. |
| B．Balloons should be made stronger. |
| C．The sale of balloons should be banned. |
| D．It is irresponsible to release balloons into the air. |
| A．Balloons waste electric power. |
| B．Balloons contribute to air pollution. |
| C．Balloons affect people's normal lives. |
| D．Balloons do more harm than plastic bags. |
