Engineers have launched a huge garbage collection device to gather plastic material floating in the Pacific Ocean between California and Hawaii.

The plastic makes up what is called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It is the world's largest spread of garbage, at twice the size of the state of Texas.

The organization Ocean Cleanup created the collection device, whose founder is Boyan Slat, a 24-year-old inventor from the Netherlands.

Slat was just 16 years old when he was moved to clean up the oceans. Last Saturday, a ship pulling the pipe-shaped floating barrier left San Francisco for the Garbage Patch. The barrier, called the floater, is 600 meters across. Attached to it is a screening skirt that hangs three meters down in the water.

The screen is designed to collect the plastic as it moves through the water. Sea animals can safely swim under the barrier.

The cleanup system also comes with lights powered by the sun, cameras, and other special devices. So the system can communicate its position at all times. That way a support ship can find it every few months to remove the plastic it has collected.

“The free-floating barriers are made to survive extreme weather conditions and damage from continual use. They will stay in the water for twenty years and in that time collect 90 percent of the garbage in the patch,” Slat added.

George Leonard is the chief scientist. He expressed concern about the cleaning project. He said even if plastic garbage can be taken out of the oceans, more continues to enter the water each year. He also raised concern that animals might be captured by the net hung below the surface.

But, Boyan Slat said he did not think that would happen. The system will act as a “big boat that stands still in the water”, with nothing for sea creatures to get caught in.

【小题1】What is the function of the screening skirt in the floater?

A．To gather plastic.	B．To catch sea animals.
C．To protect the floater.	D．To give the floater power.

【小题2】Where is the Garbage Patch?

A．In Texas.	B．In San Francisco.
C．In the Netherlands.	D．In the Pacific Ocean.

【小题3】What is not the advantage of the cleanup system?

A．It's easy to locate.	B．It is not affected by bad weather.
C．It can last and work for a long time.	D．It is convenient to operate.

【小题4】Where does this text probably come from?

A．An advertisement.	B．A science experiment.
C．An environmental protection report.	D．A biology textbook.