"Biodegradable Plastic Bags, Not So Biodegradable"

by Vicky Stein
Use the article to answer the question.

How does the “What scientists found” section address the issue in the article’s title?

(1 point)
Responses

Compostable bags break down better in high temperatures where bacteria can grow.
Compostable bags break down better in high temperatures where bacteria can grow.

Plastic bags are used for an average of 12 minutes before they are thrown away.
Plastic bags are used for an average of 12 minutes before they are thrown away.

Standardizing the materials used to create biodegradable plastics will help make recycling and reusing them easier and more profitable.
Standardizing the materials used to create biodegradable plastics will help make recycling and reusing them easier and more profitable.

It is not clear whether biodegradable plastic bags break down into small pieces of plastic or if they become molecules that can be dissolved in water.

1 answer

The correct response is:

"It is not clear whether biodegradable plastic bags break down into small pieces of plastic or if they become molecules that can be dissolved in water."

This option directly addresses the issue raised in the article's title by highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the biodegradability of plastic bags, suggesting that they may not decompose as effectively or completely as implied.