Tiny Plastic, Big Problem

What is the central idea of the article?

• Microplastics only affect small animals in the ocean.

• Plastic pollution in the ocean is a global issue that affects marine life and humans.

• Cleaning up the ocean is the easiest solution to plastic pollution.

• Microbeads are the main source of ocean pollution.

Microplastics are a type of plastic pollution that primarily affects large animals in the ocean.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Why do animals eat or ingest plastic?

• They enjoy the texture of plastic.

• Plastic often looks or smells like food.

• They are forced to eat it by their environment.

• Plastic has nutritional value for some species.

Zooplankton ingesting microplastics has no effect on the food chain.

• TRUE

• FALSE

What is a surprising finding researchers discovered about ocean trash?

• Trash mainly collects on beaches.

• The amount of trash found is much higher than expected.

• Most trash sinks immediately to the ocean floor.

• Trash only affects specific regions of the ocean.

Improving waste management can help reduce plastic pollution entering the ocean.

• TRUE

• FALSE

What is one reason why it’s hard to track how much plastic is in the ocean?

• Most plastic floats near the surface.

• Plastic breaks into tiny pieces and spreads widely.

• Researchers lack the technology to measure plastic.

• Plastic rarely enters the water.

Reducing plastic production is the only solution to the problem of plastic pollution.

• TRUE

• FALSE

How do microplastics affect large animals and humans?

• They cause animals to stop eating entirely.

• Microplastics accumulate in tissues, harming health.

• They have no effect on larger species.

• Large animals use plastic for shelter.

The author believes prevention is more effective than cleaning up plastic pollution.

• TRUE

• FALSE