2022年考研英語（一）真題及答案

2022年全國碩士研究生考試考研英語(一)試題及答

案SectionIUseofEnglishDirections:TranslatethefollowingtextintoChinese.WriteyourtranslationontheANSWERSHEET.(15points)Theideathatplantshavesomedegreeofconsciousnessfirsttookrootintheearly2000s;theterm"plantneurobiology"was1aroundthenotionthatsomeaspectsofplantbehaviorcouldbe2tointelligenceinanimals.3plantslackbrains,thefiringofelectricalsignalsintheirstemsandleavesnonethelesstriggeredresponsesthat4consciousness,researcherspreviouslyreported.Butsuchanideaisuntrue,accordingtoanewopinionarticle.Plantbiologyiscomplexandfascinating,butit5sogreatlyfromthatofanimalsthatso-called6ofplants'intelligenceisinconclusive,theauthorswrote.Beginningin2006,somescientistshave7thatplantspossessneuron-likecellsthatinteractwithhormonesandneurotransmitters,8〃aplantnervoussystem,9tothatinanimals/7saidleadstudyauthorLincolnTaizz"They10claimedthatplantshave'brain-likecommandcenters7attheirroottips.”schoolleaversarewillingtobesk川edworkersemployersaretakingarealisticattitudetodegreesparentsarechangingtheirmindsabouteducationItisadvisedinParagraph5thatthosewithonedegreeshouldmakeanearlydecisionontheircareerattendonthejobtrainingprogramsteamupwithhigh-paidpostgraduatesfurthertheirstudiesinaspecificfieldWhatcanbeconcludedaboutGenerationZfromthelasttwoparagraphs?Lifelonglearningwilldefinethem.Theywillmakequalifiededucators.Degreeswillnolongerappealthem.Theywillhavealimitedchoiceofjobs.Text3Enlightening,challenging,stimulating,fun.TheseweresomeofthewordsthatNaturereadersusedtodescribetheirexperienceofart-sciencecollaborationsinaseriesofarticlesonpartnershipsbetweenartistsandresearchers.Nearly40%oftheroughly350peoplewhorespondedtoanaccompanyingpollsaidtheyhadcollaboratedwithartists;andalmostallsaidtheywouldconsiderdoingsoinfuture.Suchanencouragingresultisnotsurprising.Scientistsareincreasinglyseekingoutvisualartiststohelpthemcommunicatetheirworktonewaudiences."Artistshelpscientistsreachabroaderaudienceandmakeemotionalconnectionsthatenhancelearning/1Onerespondentsaid.OneexampleofhowartistsandscientistshavetogetherrockedthesensescamelastmonthwhentheSydneySymphonyOrchestraperformedareworkedversionofAntonioVivaldi'sTheFourSeasons.Theyreimaginedthe300-year-oldscorebyinjectingthelatestclimatepredictiondataforeachseason-providedbyMonashUniversity,sClimateChangeCommunicationResearchHub.TheperformancewasacreativecalltoactionaheadofNovember7sUnitedNationsClimateChangeConferenceinGlasgow,UK.Butagenuinepartnershipmustbeatwo-waystreet.FewerartiststhanscientistsrespondedtotheNaturepoll;however,severalrespondentsnotedthatartistsdonotsimplyassistscientistswiththeircommunicationrequirements.Norshouldtheirworkbeconsideredonlyasanobjectofstudy.Thealliancesaremostvaluablewhenscientistsandartistshaveasharedstakeinaproject,areabletojointlydesignitandcancritiqueeachother'swork.Suchanapproachcanbothpromptnewresearchaswellasresultinpowerfulart.Morethanhalfacenturyago,theMassachusettsInstituteofTechnologyopeneditsCenterforAdvancedVisualStudies(CAVS)toexploretheroleoftechnologyinculture.Thefoundersdeliberatelyfocusedtheirprojectsaroundlight-hencethe"visualstudies"inthename.Lightwasasomethingthatbothartistsandscientistshadaninterestin,andthereforecouldformthebasisofcollaboration.Asscienceandtechnologyprogressed,anddividedintomoresub-disciplines,thecentrewassimultaneouslylookingtoatimewhenleadingresearcherscouldalsobeartists,writersandpoets,andviceversa.Nature7spollfindingssuggestthatthistrendisasstrongasever,but,tomakeacollaborationwork,bothsidesneedtoinvesttime,andembracesurpriseandchallenge.Thereachofart-sciencetie-upsneedtogobeyondthenecessarypurposeofresearchcommunication,andparticipantsmustnotfallintothetrapofstereotypingeachother.Artistsandscientistsalikeareimmersedindiscoveryandinvention,andchallengeandcritiquearecoretoboth,too.AccordingtoParagraph1,art-sciencecollaborationshave.caughttheattentionofcriticsreceivedfavorableresponsespromotedacademicpublishingsparkedheatedpublicdisputesThereworkedversionofTheFourSeasonsismentionedtoshowthatartcanofferaudienceseasyaccesstosciencesciencecanhelpwiththeexpressionofemotionspublicparticipationinsciencehasapromisingfutureartiseffectiveinfacilitatingscientificinnovationsSomeartistsseemtoworryaboutintheart-sciencepartnershiptheirrolemaybeunderestimatedtheirreputationmaybeimpairedtheircreativitymaybeinhibitedtheirworkmaybemisguidedWhatdoestheauthorsayaboutCAVS?Itwasheadedalternatelybyartistsandscientists.Itexemplifiedvaluableart-sciencealliances.Itsprojectsaimedatadvancingvisualstudies.Itsfounderssoughttoraisethestatusofartists.Inthelastparagraph,theauthorholdsthatart-sciencecollaborationsarelikelytogobeyondpublicexpectationswillintensifyinterdisciplinarycompetitionshoulddomorethancommunicatingsciencearebecomingmorepopularthanbeforeText4ThepersonalgrievanceprovisionsofNewZealand'sEmploymentRelationsAct2000(ERA)preventanemployerfromfiringanemployeewithoutgoodcause.Instead,dismissalsmustbejustified.Employersmustbothshowcauseandactinaprocedurallyfairway.Personalgrievanceproceduresweredesignedtoguardthejobsofordinaryworkersfrom"unjustifieddismissals7'.Thepremisewasthatthecommonlawofcontractlackedsufficientsafeguardsforworkersagainstarbitraryconductbymanagement.Longgonearethedayswhenabosscouldsimplygiveanemployeecontractualnotice.Buttheseprovisionscreatedifficultiesforbusinesseswhenappliedtohighlypaidmanagersandexecutives.Ascountlessboardsandbusinessownerswillattest,constrainingfirmsfromfiringpoorlyperforming,high-earningmanagersisahandbrakeonboostingproductivityandoverallperformance.ThedifferencebetweenC-gradeandA-grademanagersmayverywellbethedifferencebetweenbusinesssuccessorfailure.Betweenpreservingthejobsofordinaryworkersorlosingthem.Yetmediocrityisnolongerenoughtojustifyadismissal.Consequently一andparadoxically一lawsintroducedtoprotectthejobsofordinaryworkersmaybeplacingthosejobsatrisk.Ifnotplacingjobsatrisk,totheextentemploymentprotectionlawsconstrainbusinessownersfromdismissingunder-performingmanagers,thoselawsactasaconstraintonfirmproductivityandthereforeonworkers7wages.Indeed,in“AnInternationalPerspectiveonNewZealand,sProductivityParadox"(2014),theProductivityCommissionsingledoutthelowqualityofmanagerialcapabilitiesasacauseofthecountry7spoorproductivitygrowthrecord.NorarehighlypaidmanagersthemselvesimmunefromtheharmcausedbytheERAZsunjustifieddismissalprocedures.Becauseemploymentprotectionlawsmakeitcostliertofireanemployee,employersaremorecautiousabouthiringnewstaff.Thismakesitharderforthemarginalmanagertogainemployment.Andfirmspaystafflessbecausefirmscarrytheburdenoftheemploymentarrangementgoingwrong.Societyalsosuffersfromexcessiveemploymentprotections.Stringentjobdismissalregulationsadverselyaffectproductivitygrowthandhamperbothprosperityandoverallwell-being.AcrosstheTasmanSea,Australiadealswiththeunjustifieddismissalparadoxbyexcludingemployeesearningaboveaspecified“high-incomethreshold”fromtheprotectionofitsunfairdismissallaws.InNewZealand,a2016privatemembers7Billtriedtopermitfirmsandhigh-incomeemployeestocontractoutoftheunjustifieddismissalregime.However,themechanismsproposedwereunwieldyandtheBillwasvoteddownfollowingthechangeingovernmentlaterthatyear.ThepersonalgrievanceprovisionsoftheERAareintendedto.punishdubiouscorporatepracticesimprovetraditionalhiringproceduresexemptemployersfromcertaindutiesprotecttherightsofordinaryworkersItcanbelearnedfromparagraph3thattheprovisionsmay.hinderbusinessdevelopmentunderminemanagers'authorityaffectthepublicimageofthefirmsworsenlabor-managementrelationsWhichofthefollowingmeasureswouldtheProductivityCommissionsupport?Imposingreasonablewagerestraints.Enforcingemploymentprotectionlaws.Limitingthepowersofbusinessowners.Dismissingpoorlyperformingmanagers.WhatmightbeaneffectofERA'sunjustifieddismissalprocedures?Highlypaidmanagerslosetheirjobs.Employeessufferfromsalarycuts.Societyseesariseinoverallwell-being.Employersneedtohirenewstaff.Itcanbeinferredthatthe/zhigh-incomethreshold"inAustralia.hassecuredmanagers'earningshasproducedundesiredresultsisbeneficialtobusinessownersisdifficulttoputintopracticePartB題目要求暫無，需要考生總結(jié)人物觀點(diǎn)然后選擇正確選項(xiàng)，類似英語二信息匹配題。(41)TeriByrdIamaveterinarianwhowasazooandwildlifeparkemployeeforyearsbeforeobtainingmyveterinarydegree.Boththewildlifeparkandzooclaimedtobeoperatingforthebenefitoftheanimalsandforconservationpurposes.Thisclaimwasfalse.Neitheroneofthemactuallyparticipatedinanycontributionstoanimalresearchorconservation.Theyareprofitableinstitutionswhosebottomlineismuchmoreimportantthantheconditionoftheanimals.Animalsdespisebeingcaptivesinzoos.Nomatterhowyou"enhance”enclosures,theydonotallowforfreedom,anaturaldietoradequateexercise.Animalsendupstressedandunhealthyordead.Itspasttimefortransparencywiththeseinstitutions,andit'spasttimetoeliminatezoosfromourculture.(42)KarenR.SimeAsazoologyprofessorand,thankstomykids,afrequentzoovisitor,IagreewithEmmaMarristhatzoodisplayscanbesadandcruel.Butsheunderestimatestheeducationalvalueofzoos.ThezoologyprogramatmyStateUniversityofNewYorkcampusattractsstudentsforwhomzoovisitswerethecrucialformativeexperiencethatledthemtomajorinbiologicalsciences.Thesearemostlystudentswhohadnoopportunityaschildrentotraveltowildernessareas,wildliferefugesornationalparks.AlthoughgoodTVshowscanhelpstirchildren'sinterestinconservation,theycannotreplacetheexcitementofazoovisitasanintense,immersiveandinteractiveexperience.Theyalsogettomeetadultswhohaveturnedtheirloveforanimalsintoacareer,andwithwhomtheycanidentify.Surelytheremustbesomemiddlegroundthatbalanceszoos'treatmentofanimalswiththeireducationalpotential.(43)GregNewberryEmmaManis'articleisaninsultandadisservicetothethousandsofpassionate,dedicatedpeoplewhoworktirelesslytoimprovethelivesofanimalsandprotectourplanet.Ms.Marrisusesoutdatedresearchanddecades-oldexamplestounderminethenoblemissionoforganizationscommittedtoconnectingchildrentoaworldbeyondtheirown.Zoosareattheforefrontofconservationandconstantlyevolvingtoimprovehowtheycareforanimalsandprotecteachspeciesinitsnaturalhabitat.Aretheretragedies?Ofcourse.Buttheyaretheexception,notthenormthatMs.Marrisimplies.Adistressedanimalinazoowillgetasgoodorbettertreatmentthanmostofusatourlocalhospital.(44)DeanGalleaAsafellowenvironmentalist,animal-protectionadvocateandlongtimevegetarian,IcouldproperlybeinthesamecampasEmmaMarrisontheissueofzoos.ButIbelievethatwell-runzoos,andtheheroicanimalsthatsuffertheircaptivity,doserveahigherpurpose.Wereitnotforopportunitiestoobservethesebeautiful,wildcreaturesclosetohome,manymorepeoplewouldbedrivenbytheirfascinationtotraveltowildareastoseekout,disturbandevenhuntthemdown.This11makessenseifyousimplifytheworkingsofacomplexbrain,12ittoanarrayofelectricalpulses;cellsinplantsalsocommunicatethroughelectricalsignals.13zthesignalinginaplantisonly14similartothefiringinacomplexanimalbrain,whichismorethan“amassofcellsthatcommunicatebyelectricity/1Taizsaid."Forconsciousnesstoevolve,abrainwithathreshold15ofcomplexityandcapacityisrequired/'he16Sinceplantsdon'thavenervoussystems,the17thattheyhaveconsciousnessareeffectivelyzero."Andwhat'ssogreataboutconsciousness,anyway?Plantscan'trunawayfrom18,soinvestingenergyinabodysystemwhich19athreatandcanfeelpainwouldbeavery20evolutionarystrategy,accordingtothearticle.[A]coined[B]discovered[C]collected[D]issued[A]attributed[B]directed[C]compared[D]confined[A]Unless[B]When[C]Once[D]Though[A]copedwith[B]consistedof[C]hintedat[D]extendedto[A]suffers[B]benefits[C]develops[D]differs[A]acceptance[B]evidence[C]cultivation[D]creation[A]doubted[B]denied[C]argued[D]requestedZoosare,inthatsense,similartonaturalhistoryandarchaeologymuseums,servingtosatisfyourneedforcontactwiththeselivingcreatureswhileleavingthevastmajorityundisturbedintheirnaturalenvironments.(45)JohnFraserEmmaMarrisselectivelydescribesandmisrepresentsthefindingsofourresearch.Ourstudiesfocusedontheimpactofzooexperiencesonhowpeoplethinkaboutthemselvesandnature,andthedatapointsextractedfromourstudiesdonot,inanyway,discountwhatislearnedinazoovisit.Zoosaretoolsforthinking.Ourresearchprovidesstrongsupportforthevalueofzoosinconnectingpeoplewithanimalsandwithnature.Zoosprovideacriticalvoiceforconservationandenvironmentalprotection.Theyaffordanopportunityforpeoplefromallbackgroundstoencounterarangeofanimals,fromdronebeestospringbokorsalmon,tobetterunderstandthenaturalworldwelivein.Zoos,whichsparenoefforttotakecareofanimals,shouldnotbesubjectedtounfaircriticism.Topressurezoostospendlessontheiranimalswouldleadtoinhumaneoutcomesforthepreciouscreaturesintheircare.Whileanimalsincaptivitydeservesympathy,zoosplaysignificantroleinstartingyoungpeopledownthepathofrelatedsciences.Zoossavepeopletripstowildernessareasandthuscontributetowildlifeconservation.Forwildanimalsthatcannotbereturnedtotheirnaturalhabitats,zoosofferthebestalternative.Zoosshouldhavebeencloseddownastheyprioritizemoneymakingoveranimals'well-being.Marrisdistortsourfindingswhichactuallyprovethatzoosserveasanindispensablelinkbetweenmanandnature.SectionIIReadingComprehensionPartCDirections:ReadthefollowingtextcarefullyandthentranslatetheunderlinedsegmentsintoChinese.YourtranslationshouldbewrittenneatlyontheANSWERSHEET.(10points)Between1807and1814theIberianPeninsula(comprisingSpainandPortugal)wasthesceneofatitanicandmercilessstruggle.Ittookplaceonmanydifferentplanes:betweenNapoleon,sFrencharmyandtheangryinhabitants;betweentheBritish,everkeentoexacerbatetheemperor'sdifficulties,andthemarshalssentfromParistotrytokeepthemincheck;betweennewforcesofscienceandmeritocracyandoldonesofconservatismandbirth.(46)Itwasalso,andthisisunknowneventomanypeoplewellreadabouttheperiod,abattlebetweenthosewhomadecodesandthosewhobrokethem.IfirstdiscoveredtheNapoleoniccryptographicbattleafewyearsagowhenIwasreadingSirCharlesOman'sepicHistoryofthePeninsularWar.InvolumeVhehadattachedanappendix,"TheScovellCiphers/'(47)ItlistedmanydocumentsincodethathadbeencapturedfromtheFrencharmyofSpain,andwhosesecretshadbeenrevealedbytheworkofoneGeorgeScovell,anofficehnBritishheadquarters.OmanratedScovelTssignificancehighly,butatthesametime,thegeneralnatureofhisHistorymeantthat(48)hecouldnotanalyzecarefullywhatthisobscureofficermayormaynothavecontributedt。thatgreatstrugglebetweennationsorindeedtellusanythingmuchaboutthemanhimself.Iwaskeentoreadmore,butwassurprisedtofindthatOman'sappendix,publishedin1914,wastheonlyconsideredthingthathadbeenwrittenaboutthissecretwar.IbecameconvincedthatthisstorywaseverybitasexcitingandsignificantasthatofEnigmaandthebreakingofGermancodesintheSecondWorldWar.Thequestionwaszcoulditbetold?StudyingScovelTspapersatthePublicRecordOffice,London,Ifoundthathehadleftanextensivejournalandcopiousnotesabouthisworkinthepeninsula.Whatwasmore,manyoriginalFrenchdispatcheshadbeenpreservedinthiscollection.Irealizedatoncethatthiswaspriceless.(49)TheremayhavebeenmanyspiesandintelligenceofficersduringtheNapoleonicWars,butitisusuallyextremelydifficulttofindthematerialtheyactuallyprovidedorworkedon.Furthermore,ScovelTsstoryinvolvedmuchmorethanjustintelligencework.HisstatusinLordWellington,sheadquartersandtherecognitiongiventohimforhisworkwereallboundupwiththeclasspoliticsofthearmyatthetime.Histaleofself-improvementandhardworkwouldmakeafascinatingbiographyinitsownright,butrepresentssomethingmorethanthat.(50)JustasthecodebreakinghasitswiderrelevanceinthestruggleforSpain,sohisattemptstomakehiswayupthepromotionladderspeakvolumesaboutBritishsociety.51.【審題】應(yīng)用文類

型email書信類型收信人內(nèi)容要點(diǎn)邀請(qǐng)信，由關(guān)鍵詞inviting可判斷。書信類型收信人內(nèi)容要點(diǎn)aprofessorataBritishuniversity寫信背景+內(nèi)容：invitinghim/hertoorganizeateamfortheinternationalinnovationcontesttobeheldatyouuniversity署名署名署名LiMing52.【審題】署名到畫類型圖畫說明寓意一幅圖整體描述：兩個(gè)女生正看著校園講座的海報(bào)。細(xì)節(jié)描述：一個(gè)學(xué)生說〃不是我們專業(yè)的，聽了也沒多大用〃，而另一個(gè)學(xué)生回答〃聽聽總會(huì)有好處〃。重視廣泛學(xué)?【答案】[A]coined[C]compared[D]Though[C]hintedat[D]differs[B]evidence[C]argued[B]forming[A]analogous[D]even[C]perspective[B]reducing[A]However[C]superficially[B]level[D]added[A]chances[A]danger[D]recognizes[B]poor【答案】[A]maintainingtheirplasticitems[C]inherentlyflawed[D]preventthemfromfurtherdamage[D]challenging[B]hasprofoundhistoricalsignificance【答案】[C]reassessthenecessityofcollegeeducation[B]theshrinkingvalueofadegree[C]employersaretakingarealisticattitudetodegrees[D]furthertheirstudiesinaspecificfield[A]Lifelonglearningwilldefinethem.【答案】[B]receivedfavorableresponses[A]artcanofferaudienceseasyaccesstoscience[A]theirrolemaybeunderestimated[B]Itexemplifiedthevaluableart-sciencealliances.[C]shoulddomorethancommunicatingscience【答案】[D]protecttherightsofordinaryworkers[A]hinderbusinessdevelopment[D]Dismissingpoorlyperformingmanagers.[B]Employeessufferfromsalarycuts.[D]isdifficulttoputintopractice【答案】[F]Zoosshouldhavebeencloseddownastheyprioritizemoneymakingoveranimals'well-being.[C]Whileanimalsincaptivitydeservesympathy,zoosplaysignificantroleinstartingyoungpeopledownthepathofrelatedsciences.[A]Zoos,whichsparenoefforttotakecareofanimals,shouldnotbesubjectedtounfaircriticism.[D]Zoossavepeopletripstowildernessareasandthuscontributetowildlifeconservation.[G]Marrisdistortsourfindingswhichactuallyprovethatzoosserveasanindispensablelinkbetweenmanandnature.TranslationPartC【參考范文】.即使是對(duì)許多好好研讀過這段時(shí)期歷史的人來說，他們也不知道這也是一場創(chuàng)造密碼的人和破解密碼的人之間的較量。.它（書中）列出了許多從西班牙的法國軍隊(duì)那里繳獲的密碼文件，這些文件的秘密已經(jīng)被英軍指揮部的一位軍官喬治?斯科維爾揭露了出來。.他（阿曼）無法精細(xì)分析這位鮮為人知的軍官是否對(duì)那場國家間的大規(guī)模戰(zhàn)爭起到作用，也無法確切地告訴我們更多有關(guān)他本人的任何事情。.在拿破侖戰(zhàn)爭期間，可能有很多間諜和情報(bào)官員，但通常很難找到他們實(shí)際提供或研究過的資料。.正如密碼破譯在爭奪西班牙的斗爭中有其更廣泛的意義，他在晉升途徑上的嘗試也提供了很多關(guān)于英國社會(huì)的信息。Writing【參考范文】DearProfessor,IamastudentwhoisinchargeoftheStudents'Union.Iamwritingthisemailtoinviteyoutoorganizeateamtoparticipateintheinternationalinnovationcontestheldatmyuniversity.Therelevantdetailsareasfollows.Foronething,thecontestwillbeheldinthegymofmyuniversityfromMarch3toMarch5.Foranother,itisadvisableforyoutoknowthatthethemeofthecontestis"Internet+z/.Besides,wewillprovidefreeaccommodationsforyourteamduringthecontest.IsincerelyhopethatmyinvitationcandrawyourattentionandIamlookingforwardtohearingfromyousoon.Sincerelyyours,LiMing【參考范文】Whatcomesintoviewisthatinthepicture,twogirlsarelookingattheposterforalecture.Ifwetakeacloserlook,itcanbefoundthatonestudentsays,"Ithasnothingtodowithourmajor.Itisuselessforus!”whiletheotherreplies,“Therearealwayssomebenefits/'Obviously,theabovepicturehasshownanimplicationthatgreatemphasisshouldbeplacedonextensivelearning.Whatthecartoonisthasconveyedinthepicturecanbeclearlyandaccuratelysummarizedasthefollowing:thephenomenonwillmakeahugedifferencetoourlives.Thesupportingpointisthatextensivelearningcanexpandtheknowledgeofstudents,broadentheirhorizons,andarousetheirenthusiasmforstudy.Besides,itisnotraretofindthatextensivelearningishelpfultotheformationofstudents7goodcharacterbecausewhilelearningdifferentknowledge,peopleareinspiredtothinkabouttheworldandtheirownlives,graduallyrecognizethemselves,andactivelythinkabouttheirfuture.Insummary,itishightimethatwetookconcreteandefficientactions.Themassmedia,suchastelevisionandtheInternet,shouldmakeeveryeffortto[A]adapting[B]forming[C]repairing[D]testing[A]analogous[B]essential[C]suitable[D]sensitive[A]just[B]ever[C]still[D]even[A]restriction[B]experiment[C]perspective[D]demand[A]attaching[B]reducing[C]returning[D]exposing[A]However[B]Moreover[C]Therefore[D]Otherwise[A]temporarily[B]literally[C]superficially[D]imaginarily[A]list[B]level[C]label[D]load[A]recalled[B]agreed[C]questioned[D]added[A]chances[B]risks[C]excuses[D]assumptions[A]danger[B]failure[C]warning[D]control[A]represents[B]includes[C]reveals[D]recognizes[A]humble[B]poor[C]practical[D]easySectionIIReadingComprehensionPartADirections:advocatethephenomenon.Onlyinthiswaycanwemakeourlifemorecolorfulandvigorous.Readthefollowingfourtexts.AnswerthequestionsaftereachtextbychoosingA,B,CorD.MarkyouranswersontheANSWERSHEET.(40points)Text1Peopleoftencomplainthatplasticsaretoodurable.Waterbottles,shoppingbags,andothertrashlittertheplanet,fromMountEveresttotheMarianaTrench,becauseplasticsareeverywhereanddon'tbreakdowneasily.Butsomeplasticmaterialschangeovertime.Theycrackandfrizzle.They"weep"outadditives.Theymeltintosludge.Allofwhichcreateshugeheadachesforinstitutions,suchasmuseums,tryingtopreserveculturallyimportantobjects.Thevarietyofplasticobjectsatriskisdizzying:earlyradios,avant-gardesculptures,celluloidanimationstillsfromDisneyfilms,thefirstartificialheart.Certainartifactsareespeciallyvulnerablebecausesomepioneersinplasticartdidn'talwaysknowhowtomixingredientsproperly,saysTheavanOosten,apolymerchemistwho,untilretiringafewyearsago,workedfordecadesattheCulturalHeritageAgencyoftheNetherlands."It'slikebakingacake:Ifyoudon'thaveexactamounts,itgoeswrong,“shesays."Theobjectyoumakeisalreadyatimebomb.”Andsometimes,itzsnottheartist7sfault.Inthe1960sztheItalianartistPieroGilardibegantocreatehundredsofbright,colorfulfoampieces.Thosepiecesincludedsmallbedsofrosesandotheritemsaswellasafewdozen"naturecarpets”—largerectanglesdecoratedwithfoampumpkins,cabbages,andwatermelons.Hewantedviewerstowalkaroundonthecarpets-whichmeanttheyhadtobedurable.Unfortunately,thepolyurethanefoamheusedisinherentlyunstable.It'sespeciallyvulnerabletolightdamage,andbythemid-1990s,Gilardi7spumpkins,roses,andotherfiguresweresplittingandcrumbling.Museumslockedsomeofthemawayinthedark.SovanOostenandhercolleaguesworkedtopreserveGilardi7ssculptures.Theyinfusedsomewithstabilizingandconsolidatingchemicals.VanOostencallsthosechemicals"sunscreens"becausetheirgoalwastopreventfurtherlightdamageandrebuildwornpolymerfibers.Sheisproudthatseveralsculptureshaveevengoneondisplayagain,albeitsometimesbeneathprotectivecases.DespitesuccessstorieslikevanOosten,s,preservationofplasticswilllikelygetharder.Oldobjectscontinuetodeteriorate.Worse,biodegradableplastics,designedtodisintegrate,areincreasinglycommon.Andmoreisatstakeherethanindividualobjects.JoanaLiaFerreira,anassistantprofessorofconservationandrestorationattheNOVASchoolofScienceandTechnology,notesthatarchaeologistsfirstdefinedthegreatmaterialagesofhumanhistory一StoneAge,IronAge,andsoon一afterexaminingartifactsinmuseums.Wenowliveinanageofplastic,shesays,“andwhatwedecidetocollecttoday,whatwedecidetopreserve...willhaveastrongimpactonhowinthefuturewe'IIbeseen.”AccordingtoParagraph1,museumsarefacedwithdifficultiesinmaintainingtheirplasticitemsobtainingdurableplasticartifactshandlingoutdatedplasticexhibitsclassifyingtheirplasticcollectionsVanOostenbelievesthatcertainplasticobjectsareimmunetodecayimproperlyshapedinherentlyflawedcomplexinstructureMuseumsstoppedexhibitingsomeofGilardi'sartworkstokeepthemfromhurtingvisitorsduplicatethemforfuturedisplayhavetheiringredientsanalyzedpreventthemfromfurtherdamageTheauthorthinksthatpreservationofplasticsis[A]costly[B]unworthyunpopularchallengingInFerreira*sopinion,preservationofplasticartifacts.willinspirefuturescientificresearchhasprofoundhistoricalsignificancewillhelpusseparatethematerialageshasanimpactontoday'scult