Class Presentation: Microplastics — Where Does Our Plastic Go?

Okay, everyone, eyes to the front, please.

好了，大家，请看前面。

Maya is presenting her science project today!

今天 Maya 要展示她的科学项目！

Um, thanks, Ms. Lopez. Okay... here goes.

呃，谢谢 Lopez 老师。好……我开始了。

So, today I'm going to talk about microplastics.

那么，今天我要讲的是微塑料。

Let me start with this plastic bottle.

我先从这个塑料瓶说起。

We only use it for ten minutes, right?

我们只用它10分钟，对吧？

But it can stay around for hundreds of years.

但它可能会存在好几百年。

It doesn't really disappear. It just breaks into smaller pieces.

它并不会真的消失，只是碎成更小的碎片。

Pieces smaller than five millimeters are called microplastics.

小于5毫米的碎片就叫微塑料。

Now, look at this jar of sand from our local beach.

现在，大家看看这罐沙子，是从我们这里的海滩带来的。

It looks clean, doesn't it?

看起来很干净，对吧？

Well, I found tiny blue and white bits in it!

可是，我在里面发现了蓝色和白色的小碎片！

Wait, seriously? That's from our beach?

等等，真的假的？那是我们这儿的海滩？

Yep! I collected it myself last weekend.

对！是我上周末亲自去装的。

So, where does all this plastic go?

那么，这些塑料都去哪儿了呢？

Some of it washes into rivers and then the ocean.

有一部分会被冲进河里，然后流进大海。

Sadly, fish and other sea animals eat it by mistake.

可惜的是，鱼和其他海洋动物会误吃下去。

And scientists have even found them in our drinking water.

科学家甚至在我们的饮用水里也发现了它们。

Hmm, can I ask something?

嗯，我能问个问题吗？

If it's everywhere already, is recycling pointless?

如果它已经到处都是了，那回收还有意义吗？

Good question! No, it's not pointless at all.

好问题！不，一点也不是没意义。

Actually, only about nine percent of plastic ever gets recycled.

其实，只有大约9%的塑料被回收过。

So recycling helps, but using less plastic helps more.

所以回收有用，但少用塑料更有用。

Huh, that low? I had no idea.

啊，这么低？我完全不知道。

So, here's the good news!

好，接下来是好消息！

Bring a reusable bottle, like this one.

带一个可重复使用的水瓶，就像这个。

Say no to plastic straws and bags.

对塑料吸管和塑料袋说不。

And if you do use plastic, recycle it properly.

如果真的要用塑料，就好好回收。

Small changes really add up. Thank you!

小小的改变积累起来就很可观。谢谢大家！

Wow, great job, Maya!

哇，讲得太好了，Maya！

Bringing the jar of sand was such a smart idea.

带那罐沙子来真是个聪明的主意。

Next time, just slow down a little at the start.

下次开头的时候稍微放慢一点就好。

Ha, I will. I was so nervous!

哈，我会的。我刚才好紧张！