Question

Scenario 4: Medical Waste from Hospitals

As medical technology improves, hospitals perform more procedures and use more disposable equipment such as gloves, masks, plastic tubing, and syringes. These items help prevent infection and improve patient safety. However, the increased use of disposable materials also produces large amounts of medical waste. Some of this waste is placed in landfills, and in certain cases plastic materials can break down slowly and enter nearby ecosystems through wind or water runoff. Environmental groups are studying how this waste may affect soil and wildlife over time.

Question:
What claim can you make about the environmental effects of increased medical waste?

Claim:
State your argument.





Evidence:
Provide two pieces of evidence from the scenario.





Reasoning:
Explain how the evidence supports your claim about environmental impacts.





Scenario 5: Electronic Waste from Technology Upgrades

A city experiences rapid technological growth, and residents frequently replace their smartphones, laptops, and tablets with newer models. Many of the old electronic devices are thrown away and end up in landfills. Electronics contain materials such as metals, plastics, and small amounts of chemicals that can slowly leak into the soil and groundwater as the devices break down. Environmental scientists studying landfill sites are investigating how this growing amount of electronic waste may impact nearby ecosystems and water sources.

Question:
What argument could you make about the ecological effects of electronic waste?

Claim:
Write your argument about the environmental impact of e-waste.





Evidence:
Use two pieces of evidence from the scenario.





Reasoning:
Explain how the evidence supports your claim and why these matters for ecosystems.





Scenario 6: Industrial Shipping and Ocean Ecosystems

Global trade has increased dramatically due to improvements in transportation technology. Large cargo ships now transport products across oceans every day. While this system allows goods to reach markets around the world quickly, it also requires large amounts of fuel. Scientists have found that fuel emissions from ships contribute to air pollution, and accidental oil leaks can sometimes occur in marine environments. Marine biologists are studying how increased shipping traffic might affect ocean ecosystems, including fish populations and coral reefs.

Question:
What claim can you make about the environmental impact of industrial shipping?



Claim:
State your argument about shipping and ocean ecosystems.





Evidence:
Provide two pieces of evidence from the scenario.





Reasoning:
Explain how the evidence supports your claim about marine ecosystems.







Scenario 7: Agricultural Monoculture

To increase efficiency, many farms begin planting large fields with only one crop, such as corn or soybeans. This practice, known as monoculture, allows farmers to use specialized equipment and produce large harvests. However, scientists studying these fields notice that there are fewer types of insects, birds, and plants in the area compared to farms that grow a variety of crops. Researchers are investigating how reduced biodiversity in these environments might affect the stability of the ecosystem over time.

Answer 1

Scenario 4 — Medical Waste from Hospitals

Claim:
Increased medical waste can contaminate soil and nearby ecosystems because disposable plastics and materials can break down and move out of landfills.

Evidence:
- Hospitals are producing large amounts of disposable items (gloves, masks, tubing, syringes).
- Some of this waste is placed in landfills and plastic materials can break down slowly and enter nearby ecosystems through wind or water runoff.

Reasoning:
Because plastics and other disposed materials can be transported out of landfills by wind or runoff as they break down, they can reach soils and surrounding habitats. That movement creates a pathway for pollutants and physical debris to affect soil quality and wildlife over time, which is why environmental groups are studying these impacts.

Scenario 5 — Electronic Waste from Technology Upgrades

Claim:
Growing amounts of electronic waste in landfills can introduce harmful substances into soil and groundwater, threatening ecosystems and water sources.

Evidence:
- Many old electronic devices are thrown away and end up in landfills.
- Electronics contain metals, plastics, and small amounts of chemicals that can slowly leak into the soil and groundwater as the devices break down.

Reasoning:
As discarded electronics degrade in landfills, their constituent metals and chemicals can leach into surrounding soil and groundwater, creating contamination pathways that can affect plants, animals, and water quality. Scientists investigating landfill sites are concerned about these ecological and water-resource impacts.

Scenario 6 — Industrial Shipping and Ocean Ecosystems

Claim:
Increased industrial shipping can harm ocean ecosystems through air pollution from fuel emissions and the risk of oil leaks that directly damage marine life and habitats.

Evidence:
- Fuel emissions from ships contribute to air pollution.
- Accidental oil leaks can sometimes occur in marine environments; marine biologists are studying effects on fish and coral reefs.

Reasoning:
Fuel emissions degrade air and potentially water quality, while oil leaks introduce toxic substances directly into marine environments. Both stressors can alter habitat conditions and harm organisms such as fish and coral, so rising shipping traffic increases the exposure and potential harm to ocean ecosystems.

Scenario 7 — Agricultural Monoculture

Claim:
Large-scale monoculture reduces biodiversity, which may reduce ecosystem stability and resilience over time.

Evidence:
- Many farms plant large fields with only one crop (monoculture).
- Scientists note fewer types of insects, birds, and plants in these areas compared to farms that grow a variety of crops and are investigating effects on ecosystem stability.

Reasoning:
Monoculture creates simpler ecological communities with fewer species performing ecological roles; reduced species diversity can lower resilience to disturbances (pests, disease, environmental change). The observed drop in insects, birds, and plants suggests the ecosystem may be less stable, which is why researchers are studying long-term effects.