文字稿

近日，英国国会议员发起了一个向外带咖啡杯征税的建议。议员们认为，对外带咖啡杯征税可以减少一次性纸杯的使用，并同时鼓励商家多使用可回收再利用的杯子。但英国政府对沾满咖啡泡沫的纸杯是否能真正被回收提出了质疑。

When MPs proposed a levy on throwaway coffee cups, it caught the public’s imagination. The MPs said the idea could radially cut the number of cups littering the streets and nudge coffee shops to providing recyclable cups.

The government said it wasn’t convinced that the recycling industry could handle supposedly recyclable cups that were actually covered in cold cappuccino froth. Ministers said shop owners could offer discounts for coffee drinkers carrying their own cups. But the MPs said taxes would prove much more effective than discounts and accused the government of not taking plastic waste seriously.

The government denied that and said the situation was too complex to rush into hasty solutions.

英国国会议员发起向外带咖啡杯征税的建议引起了民众的关注。议员们称这个计划可以大幅地减少外带杯被乱扔在街头的数量，并且能鼓励咖啡店给顾客提供可回收再利用的杯子。

英国政府表示，他们不相信回收行业可以处理这些所谓可回收的杯子，尤其是当杯中沾了一层冷卡布奇诺沫。大臣们说虽然咖啡店主可给自带杯子的顾客打折，但税收会比折扣更有效。他们同时指责政府没有认真对待塑料垃圾的问题。

英国政府否认了这一说法，并表示问题过于复杂而不应草率解决。

1. 词汇表

levy 税收额，征税
nudge 轻推，鼓励
handle 处理
recyclable 可回收再利用的
froth（液体表面的）白沫
hasty 草率的

2. 阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题 。

1. How did the public react when MPs proposed a levy on throwaway coffee cups?

2. What benefits did MPS believe it would have?

3. What problem did the government believe the recycling industry can’t handle?

4. What did MPs accuse the government of?

3. 答案

1. How did the public react when MPs proposed a levy on throwaway coffee cups?
When MPs proposed a levy on throwaway coffee cups, it caught the public’s imagination.

2. What benefits did MPS believe it would have?  
The MPs said the idea could radially cut the number of cups littering the streets and nudge coffee shops to providing recyclable cups.

3. What problem did the government believe the recycling industry can’t handle?
Recycling supposedly recyclable cups that were actually covered in cold cappuccino froth.

4. What did MPs accuse the government of?
MPs accused the government of not taking plastic waste seriously.