Baseline Pre-Assessment Nonfiction Reading: The Cobra Effect

Front

What is the Cobra Effect?

Back

The Cobra Effect refers to a situation where an attempted solution to a problem actually makes the problem worse.

Front

Why did the City of Chicago put a tax on lightweight plastic bags?

Back

To encourage people to reuse bags and reduce environmental pollution.

Front

What was one unintended consequence of the plastic bag tax in Chicago?

Back

Retailers started giving out thicker plastic bags that were not taxed, leading to more waste.

Front

What does it mean to reuse bags?

Back

To use the same bag multiple times instead of throwing it away after one use.

Front

What is pollution?

Back

Pollution is the introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment.

Front

What is an example of a lightweight plastic bag?

Back

A thin, single-use shopping bag often provided by stores.

Front

What is the purpose of a tax on plastic bags?

Back

To discourage their use and promote environmentally friendly practices.

Front

What can happen if solutions are not thought through carefully?

Back

They can lead to unexpected negative consequences, like the Cobra Effect.

Front

What is an example of a consequence of the Cobra Effect?

Back

The British bounty on cobras led to an increase in the cobra population.

Front

What does it mean to throw something away?

Back

To dispose of an item, often in a trash bin, instead of reusing it.