Have you ever seen a sea turtle, whale, shark, or dolphin? Even if you have only seen pictures online, you can see how cute all of these creatures are. Well, they are in danger. So many of them are killed every year because of plastic waste. From people throwing away single-use water bottles to companies using a ton of plastic to make their products, we can all do better. Scientists are finding creatures like fish and sea birds with their stomachs filled with indigestible plastic. We have to change this, starting today!
Oceans cover 71 percent of Earth’s surface, and they are where most of Earth’s water comes from. Because of this, they are one of our greatest natural resources. Unfortunately, around 8 million metric tons of plastic enters our oceans each year. We all need to do more to save our oceans from this type of pollution. Fortunately, there are groups like the Ocean Conservancy, Oceana, and the Lonely Whale Foundation. They are all dedicated to helping this issue.
A student is researching the impact of plastic waste. Write a paragraph that compares and contrasts the two passages. Explain which passage would be better for the student to use and why.
(4 points)
The first passage focuses on the impact of plastic waste specifically on marine animals such as sea turtles, whales, sharks, and dolphins. It highlights the dangers they face due to the excessive use of plastic by people and corporations. The second passage provides a broader perspective on the importance of oceans as a vital natural resource and the alarming levels of plastic waste that enter them each year. It also mentions some organizations dedicated to addressing this issue.
For the student researching the impact of plastic waste, the second passage would be more useful. It provides a more comprehensive understanding of the issue by discussing the broader impact of plastic waste on oceans and the environment as a whole. The paragraph also mentions a few organizations that are working towards tackling the issue. This information can help the student develop a well-rounded perspective on the issue and gather information on solutions that are being implemented.