Synthetic Fertilizer Manufacture

Step 1: Grind (granulate) the raw materials into small pieces.

Step 2: Mix the granulated raw materials together to make the fertilizer product (see below).



Connie finds information on the Internet about synthetic fertilizer. She summarizes the information from two sources as shown below.

Source 1: Regional San Francisco News Website

Title of article: The Effects of Synthetic Fertilizers

Purpose of article: To provide news

Summary About Synthetic Fertilizer

- Adds nutrients to soil immediately (does not need to be broken down by soil first, like manure, for example) therefore helps unhealthy plants more quickly than natural fertilizers

- Runoff from farm fields causes water pollution and is toxic to fish and other stream organisms

- Kills beneficial microorganisms in the soil that are an important part of nutrient cycling

- Results in vegetable plants that are lacking iron, protein, vitamin C, and other important nutrients

- Easy to use and available to buy in many stores

Source 2: Organic Composting Company Website

Title of article: 5 Things Manufacturers of Synthetic Fertilizers Do Not Want You to Know

Purpose of article: To sell organic compost as lawn fertilizer to homeowners

Summary About Synthetic Fertilizer

- Causes health issues for children and pets

- Provides grass with a quick shot of nutrients, but harms the grass in the long term

- 99% of people use more fertilizer than they need and the rest runs off into the water supply

- Helps grass look green and healthy quickly

Multiple Choice Question

Which statement is supported by both sources in the passage?

A. 

Synthetic fertilizers help plants grow and look healthy in a short amount of time.

B. 

Synthetic fertilizers are more environmentally friendly than natural fertilizers.

C. 

Synthetic fertilizers can be created using a chemical reaction.

D. 

Synthetic fertilizers are available to buy in many stores.

1 answer

The statement supported by both sources in the passage is:

A. Synthetic fertilizers help plants grow and look healthy in a short amount of time.

Both sources mention that synthetic fertilizers provide immediate nutrients to plants, allowing them to grow quickly and appear healthy. Source 1 states that synthetic fertilizers "helps unhealthy plants more quickly than natural fertilizers," while Source 2 notes that they "provides grass with a quick shot of nutrients."