# Development and use of plastics - 科目：雅思听力真题（Part 4） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2023.9.2/2015.8.8 - 题目数：10 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/7be75565-e030-4559-a72b-613ec5f9588d（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 00:00:01,540 You will hear a lecture given to materials science undergraduates on the use of plastics in the home. 00:00:11,280 Good morning. In the second in my series of lectures, The Appliance of Science, I'm going to outline developments in plastics since the 1930s, focusing on the unique properties of the different discoveries and how they impact on so many aspects of our daily lives. 00:00:30,680 It's hard to imagine what we'd do without plastics in their domestic application, and also increasingly for leisure pursuits. Let's start with one of the earliest forms of plastics, polythene, which was invented in 1933. It essentially evolved into two forms. The first, low-density polyethylene, better known as LDPE, is very flexible, and indeed this is probably its most significant feature and one which its developers recognized as important. 00:01:07,990 This means that it's suitable for making things like film and also carrier bags and other packaging materials. 00:01:15,940 High-density HDPE is more robust, and it can be made more so by exposing it to a type of gas. It's particularly used for making rigid containers, for example, for milk or for household cleaners such as bleach. 00:01:33,000 But going back to the 1930s, another key development in plastics was polyurethane. It's still widely used in two forms. The first form is known as blown, and this type is used in the manufacture of furniture for the padded parts. 00:01:52,740 Blown polyurethane is also still widely used in the infrastructure of houses as a means of providing insulation in loft and roof spaces in particular. 00:02:04,220 Polyurethane is also useful in its non-blown form. It can be made into extremely comfortable and stretchy fiber, and nowadays it's widely used for sportswear. 00:02:18,440 Moving to the 1940s, there was another significant departure when polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, was developed. 00:02:28,660 Its first application was in fabric under the brand names of Dacron and Terylene. 00:02:35,680 In addition to being able to be made into fabric, PET has the valuable property of being particularly impermeable and is unaffected by carbonation, which tends to attack other plastics. So it's used in the manufacture of bottles for fizzy drinks and is therefore probably present in most of our fridges. 00:02:57,040 PET is also very resistant to abrasion, and for this reason, it is used in the home for trays and other items that are often heavily scratched. 00:03:08,500 Turning now to the 1950s, which for many people was when plastic really impacted on their lives for the first time with a large number of new inventions and applications. 00:03:21,300 One of the most visible parts of this plastics invasion was Earl Tupper's Tupperware, a line of sealable polyethylene food containers. 00:03:31,300 The products were well-designed and highly effective, greatly reducing spoilage of foods in storage. 00:03:38,340 However, what Tupperware is probably best known for is the revolutionary techniques its inventor developed for sales. 00:03:46,820 He set up through a network of housewives who sold Tupperware as a means of bringing in extra money. For many people, this method was the first encounter they had with the product. 00:03:59,660 Finally, the 1960s. 00:04:02,680 I'd like to finish by talking about a type of plastic which to my mind is one of the most versatile materials ever invented, polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE, better known as Teflon. 00:04:18,029 This is a non-stick material with hardly any friction, which can be deposited on metal surfaces as a protective coating. 00:04:27,080 It was initially discovered by accident as long ago as 1938, but it took until the 1960s for Teflon non-stick frying pans to become an indispensable consumer item. 00:04:41,500 Teflon was later used to synthesize the so-called miracle fabric, Gore-Tex. The best-known use of this is for making rainwear and outdoor gear that in principle breathes to keep the wearer's moisture from building up and so is particularly comfortable to wear for walking. 00:04:59,900 However, Gore-Tex has other uses which are less well known. It is increasingly being used for making materials used for a variety of medical applications. 00:05:11,140 Now, if anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. ## 题目与答案 ### 31. 1930s Polythene - two main forms: ·LDPE - distinguishing feature: it is highly 31_____ 1930s Polythene - two main forms: ·LDPE - distinguishing feature: it is highly 31_____ **答案**：flexible 原文定位：The first, low-density polyethylene, better known as LDPE, is very flexible, and indeed this is probably its most significant feature 同义替换：「distinguishing」↔「most significant」；「highly」↔「very」 ### 32. e.g. used to make 32_____ carrier bags and packaging materials e.g. used to make 32_____ carrier bags and packaging materials **答案**：film 原文定位：This means that it's suitable for making things like film and also carrier bags and other packaging materials 同义替换：「used to」↔「suitable for」 ### 33. ·HDPE - made tougher by exposure to a particular kind of 33_____ suitable for rigid container, e.g. for bleach ·HDPE - made tougher by exposure to a particular kind of 33_____ suitable for rigid container, e.g. for bleach **答案**：gas 原文定位：High-density HDPE is more robust, and it can be made more so by exposing it to a type of gas 同义替换：「made tougher」↔「made more so」；「kind」↔「type」 ### 34. Polyurethane - two main forms: ·blown form - used for making 34_____. (padding) Polyurethane - two main forms: ·blown form - used for making 34_____. (padding) **答案**：foam 原文定位：The first form is known as blown, and this type is used in the manufacture of furniture for the padded parts 同义替换：「making」↔「manufacture」 ### 35. widely used in housing infrastructure to give 35_____ ·non-blown form - used mainly for sportswear widely used in housing infrastructure to give 35_____ ·non-blown form - used mainly for sportswear **答案**：insulation 原文定位：Blown polyurethane is also still widely used in the infrastructure of houses as a means of providing insulation in loft and roof spaces in particular 同义替换：「give」↔「providing」 ### 36. 1940s - 1950s PET - used to make 36_____ e.g. Dacron and Terylene 1940s - 1950s PET - used to make 36_____ e.g. Dacron and Terylene **答案**：fabric 原文定位：Its first application was in fabric under the brand names of Dacron and Terylene 同义替换：「used to make」↔「application was in」 ### 37. - popular for making containers for fizzy drinks - used for household objects such as 37_____ because it resists abrasion - popular for making containers for fizzy drinks - used for household objects such as 37_____ because it resists abrasion **答案**：trays 原文定位：PET is also very resistant to abrasion, and for this reason, it is used in the home for trays and other items that are often heavily scratched 同义替换：「household objects」↔「used in the home for」 ### 38. Tupperware ·storage boxes ·revolution in 38_____ techniques Tupperware ·storage boxes ·revolution in 38_____ techniques **答案**：sales 原文定位：However, what Tupperware is probably best known for is the revolutionary techniques its inventor developed for sales ### 39. 1960s Teflon ·non-stick, almost no 39_____ ·used for protective coatings, e.g. for frying pans 1960s Teflon ·non-stick, almost no 39_____ ·used for protective coatings, e.g. for frying pans **答案**：friction 原文定位：This is a non-stick material with hardly any friction, which can be deposited on metal surfaces as a protective coating 同义替换：「almost no」↔「hardly any」 ### 40. Gore-Tex ·best known for outdoor wear ·also used for various 40_____ purposes Gore-Tex ·best known for outdoor wear ·also used for various 40_____ purposes **答案**：medical 原文定位：However, Gore-Tex has other uses which are less well known. It is increasingly being used for making materials used for a variety of medical applications 同义替换：「various」↔「variety」；「purposes」↔「applications」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。