Question

Use the two passages to answer the question.

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)

Short Answer Rubric (4 points)
Points Awarded Criteria
4

The answer is very clear.

The answer is fully supported by details.

There may be a few errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics. Errors do not interfere with meaning.
3

The answer is mostly clear.

The answer is supported by mostly relevant details.

There are a few errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics. Errors do

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

not interfere with meaning.

In the first passage, the focus is on the impact of plastic waste on marine animals such as sea turtles, whales, sharks, and dolphins. It emphasizes the harm that plastic pollution causes to these creatures and the urgency of taking action to protect them. On the other hand, the second passage provides more general information about the importance of oceans as a natural resource and the amount of plastic waste that enters them each year. It also mentions organizations dedicated to combating ocean pollution.

Based on the student's research topic of the impact of plastic waste, the first passage would be better to use. It provides specific examples of marine animals affected by plastic pollution and highlights the severity of the issue. The student can use this information to support their research on the negative effects of plastic waste on marine life. The second passage, while important in discussing the overall problem of ocean pollution, does not provide as much detail on the specific impact of plastic waste on marine animals. Therefore, the first passage would be more relevant and useful for the student's research.