“One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” That’s a common expression, but the next time you throw something away, think about a twist on the old saying. What if your trash could become your own treasure? Many creative, thrifty, and environmentally minded people have come up with a way to make that happen. It’s called upcycling. Our world would be a better place if everyone would begin upcycling.
Upcycling is the practice of taking an unwanted item and turning it into something useful. For example, how about that pair of jeans with a hole in one knee? It could become a new pillow for your bedroom.
Upcycling is not the same as recycling. Upcycling is actually much better for the environment. Recycling takes an item made of glass, paper, metal, or plastic, breaks it down to its base material, and then uses that material to make another product. This requires a great deal of energy. On the other hand, when you choose to upcycle, the only energy you use is your own. And upcycling not only reduces the amount of trash that goes into our landfills, but it also protects natural resources, such as oil and gas. Recycling is good for the environment, but upcycling is even better.
Upcycling also makes a family’s budget stretch further. Of course, the idea of reusing items to save money is not new. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, many families lived on a tight budget. People had to use what they already had in order to meet their needs.
As responsible citizens, we should all be concerned with protecting our environment and budgeting our resources. Upcycling is a fun and creative way to help. The next time you go to toss something into the trash can, stop and think about what it could become. Chances are, there’s a brand-new item in your hand just waiting to be upcycled.
【小题1】Why does the author mention an old saying in the first paragraph?| A．To arise reader’s awareness of upcycling. |
| B．To stress the importance of upcycling. |
| C．To lead in the topic of upcycling. |
| D．To show the idea of upcycling. |
| A．An old ladder is transformed into a bookshelf. |
| B．Old tin cans are transported to landfill. |
| C．A broken wooden door is chopped up. |
| D．Old cloth is made into a paper bed. |
| A．Upcycling is much more creative. |
| B．Recycling is much easier to achieve. |
| C．Recycling is much more cost-saving. |
| D．Upcycling is much more energy-efficient. |
| A．Upcycling is popular at present. |
| B．Upcycling is replacing recycling. |
| C．Upcycling is worth recommending. |
| D．Upcycling is a tradition in daily life. |
