Which statement is a good description of plastic?(1 point)

Responses

It is a synthetic material that comes from natural resources.
It is a synthetic material that comes from natural resources.

It is a synthetic material that does not come from natural resources.
It is a synthetic material that does not come from natural resources.

It is a natural material made from natural resources.
It is a natural material made from natural resources.

It is a natural material that is made from synthetic resources.

11 answers

The best description of plastic is:

It is a synthetic material that comes from natural resources.

Plastics are typically made from petrochemicals derived from natural resources like oil and natural gas.

A student states that natural resources could be saved if people made everything they need in labs. What is the main problem with this idea?(1 point)
Responses

People might think it is fine to waste a lot of the materials since they just came from a lab.
People might think it is fine to waste a lot of the materials since they just came from a lab.

Anything made in the lab requires natural resources to produce it.
Anything made in the lab requires natural resources to produce it.

There are not enough synthetic resources yet to make what people need.
There are not enough synthetic resources yet to make what people need.

The materials made in labs will still pollute the environment and destroy natural resources.

The main problem with the idea that natural resources could be saved if people made everything they need in labs is:

Anything made in the lab requires natural resources to produce it.

Even synthetic materials created in labs often rely on natural resources for their production, which does not completely eliminate the use of natural resources.

Which discovery would have the greatest impact on reducing the negative consequences of plastic?(1 point)
Responses

the discovery of a new bacteria that consumes plastic waste
the discovery of a new bacteria that consumes plastic waste

the discovery of more ways to reuse plastic
the discovery of more ways to reuse plastic

the discovery of new sources for the raw materials of plastic
the discovery of new sources for the raw materials of plastic

the discovery of more ways to incorporate plastic in everyday goods
the discovery of more ways to incorporate plastic in everyday goods

The discovery that would have the greatest impact on reducing the negative consequences of plastic is:

the discovery of a new bacteria that consumes plastic waste.

This would directly address the issue of plastic waste in the environment by providing a biological means to break down and recycle plastic, thus reducing its negative impact.

What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?(1 point)
Responses

a place on the Pacific Coast with a large plastic recycling facility
a place on the Pacific Coast with a large plastic recycling facility

a place where people who live near the Pacific Ocean have collected plastic in one place
a place where people who live near the Pacific Ocean have collected plastic in one place

a place on the Pacific Coast where plastic waste from the ocean has collected on beaches
a place on the Pacific Coast where plastic waste from the ocean has collected on beaches

a place where plastic and other waste has collected in the Pacific Ocean

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is:

a place where plastic and other waste has collected in the Pacific Ocean.

It refers to a vast area in the central North Pacific Ocean where high concentrations of plastic, chemical sludge, and other debris have accumulated due to ocean currents.

In one to two sentences, explain a similarity and a difference between the particles in liquid water at 100ºC and the particles in steam at 100ºC.(2 points)
BoldItalicUnderline

A similarity between the particles in liquid water at 100ºC and the particles in steam at 100ºC is that both are composed of H₂O molecules and exist at the same temperature. A difference, however, is that the particles in liquid water are closely packed and move more slowly, whereas the particles in steam are much more spread out and move rapidly, indicating a gaseous state.

You overhear a friend saying, “Plastic is the worst thing that humans have ever invented.”

In four to five sentences, explain whether you agree or disagree with your friend’s statement. Be sure to include facts that show the range of impacts that plastic has on human society and the environment.

(4 points)

I would argue that while plastic has significant drawbacks, it is not accurate to label it as the "worst" invention. Plastic has transformed modern society by providing lightweight, durable, and versatile materials used in countless applications, from medical devices to packaging that helps preserve food. However, it is true that plastic pollution poses serious environmental challenges, harming wildlife and ecosystems and contributing to landfills and oceanic debris. The persistence of plastics and their breakdown into microplastics also raises concerns about human health. Thus, while the negative impacts of plastic are considerable, it also offers benefits that are integral to many aspects of contemporary life, highlighting the need for better management and sustainable alternatives rather than outright condemnation.