The Plastic Problem

1. What is the main idea of the text?

• A. No one but scientists knows how to fix the problem with single-use plastics.
• B. Plastics are very easy to use but cause a lot of harm to the environment.
• C. There are better ways to make plastic than the way we make it now.
• D. Everyone should use plastics because they are so convenient.

2. How does the author introduce the topic of the article?

• A. by showing how people can make a difference by not using plastic
• B. by giving a real life example of how people use single-use plastics
• C. by telling how scientists use less plastic than other people
• D. by describing why using plastic to store food is bad

3. Why is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch a problem for sea animals?

• A. People who try to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch often hurt the sea animals' homes by accident.
• B. When sea animals eat plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch they can get very sick and die.
• C. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch sucks sea animals inside of it so they cannot get out.
• D. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is so big that it can be seen from outer space.

4. In paragraph 8, the word "estimate" means that researchers —

• A. know how many sea turtles have eaten plastic.
• B. guess how many sea turtles have eaten plastic.
• C. want to find out which sea turtles have eaten plastic.
• D. think they know which sea turtles have eaten plastic.

5. How does the selection’s problem-solution organizational structure most contribute to the author’s purpose?

• A By emphasizing possible ocean-related solutions for general global trash problem
• B By explaining how marine life are negatively impacted and what humans can do to stop a growing plastic problem
• C By detailing how the plastic problem is ultimately affecting humans beyond the oceans
• D By showing reasons why researchers are unable to solve the plastic problem