by Nsikan Akpan
Why it matters: “We provide a better understanding on the distribution of plastics — on what they are, what size and how often we can find them,” Lebreton said. “That can help engineers to design solutions to collect the plastic.”
Not only can conservationists use this data to design the right nets for cleaning the patch, but these numbers create a baseline for tracking the progress of the cleanup. For instance, by comparing their data to prior studies, they learned the concentration of microplastics has rapidly grown — tripling in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch since the 1970s.
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Question
Use the passage below from “Great Pacific Garbage Patch weighs more than 43,000 cars and is much larger than we thought” to answer the question.
How does the text structure in this section effectively meet the author’s purpose?
(1 point)
Responses
By describing past procedures to set the context for a new approach to the problem.
By describing past procedures to set the context for a new approach to the problem.
By comparing prior research with the latest findings by international scientists.
By comparing prior research with the latest findings by international scientists.
By identifying the shortcomings of various types of research methods.
By identifying the shortcomings of various types of research methods.
By explaining the significance of plastic waste in major bodies of water.
By explaining the significance of plastic waste in major bodies of water.
1 answer
The most effective response that meets the author's purpose is:
By comparing prior research with the latest findings by international scientists.
This choice highlights how the author uses comparative analysis to emphasize the increasing concentration of microplastics in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, demonstrating the urgency and scale of the problem while providing a basis for future cleanup efforts.
