Question

(Plastic passage)

Which of the following pairs of examples from the passage best demonstrates why the use of plastics is a divisive topic?

o Plastic has advantages. Plastic is difficult to recycle efficiently
o Plastic is consumed by birds. Plastic is entering our food
o Plastic is popular. Plastic is used for packaging
o Plastic is in landfills. Plastic is in the ocean.

Answer 1

The divisiveness of plastic use stems from its benefits for convenience and its severe environmental impact, including pollution and inefficient recycling.

Step-by-step explanation:

The use of plastics is a divisive topic because while plastic polymers offer convenience and multiple applications due to their low cost, versatility, and durability, they also present significant environmental challenges. For instance, plastic waste is massively filling our landfills and oceans, becoming a serious global problem. Plastics can cause harm by entering the food chain after being consumed by birds and marine life, ultimately affecting human health. Additionally, plastic recycling is in itself problematic, primarily because it is not wholly efficient; only a small fraction of plastic ever produced has been recycled. This inefficiency highlights the difficulty in managing plastic waste and underscores the need for better recycling technologies and policies.