POLLUTION EXPERT REVIEW 2026

Amy looked out the window one morning and took a picture of what she saw. What could have caused this appearance and how could it impact animals and plants that live in the area?

• There is a lot of air pollution that could be from chemicals spilled in the water. Plants and

  animals may struggle to survive with toxic chemicals.

• There are a lot of vehicles in the city that create a smokey effect, but it is not pollution since you cannot physically touch it.

• There is a lot of air pollution that could be from transportation and local factories. Plants and animals may struggle to survive with complications with breathing.

• There is some air pollution that is from vehicles in the city. Plants and animals will be fine because air pollution is common in cities.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

A person driving a car throws a plastic water bottle out of the window. Will this plastic bottle affect the environment? Which answer and its explanation is the best to explain what might happen?

• It will not affect the environment because it will be washed away by the rain into the

  storm drain which leads underground.

• It will affect the river because it will roll into the storm drain which leads to the rivers and streams. It will never break down or decompose.

• It will affect only the land because it will stay on the road until someone cleans it up.

• It will not affect the environment because the bottle will break down or decompose.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3

Bags of plastic trash are dumped into the ocean everyday. Which answer best explains the impact it can have on the environment?

• It will break down into the soil and sand and will not harm any living thing.

• It will be eaten by fish and will get microparticles of plastic inside of them.

• It will sink to the bottom of the ocean and it will not harm any living thing.

• It will float around until it lands on a beach and it will be cleaned up.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3

The teachers at a local school all committed towards carpooling by sharing vehicles to limit the amount of cars driven each day. Which of the following effects would BEST explain what would happen if more people carpool?

• There will be less trash on the sides of the roads.

• Acid rain that harms plants and animals could reduce.

• Lake waters will be cleaner without oil spills.

• The amount of rain could increase due to less pollution.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3

Plastic pollution has become a big problem in the state of Georgia. What would be the best solution to protect the plants and animals from plastic pollution?

• Burn the plastic instead of throwing it away.

• Reduce the amount of plastic used and recycle it.

• Bury the plastic so that it decomposes in the ground.

• Dump the plastic in the ocean where it can’t harm anything.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

Your class has just eaten lunch and has a huge bag of trash. What would be the best way to protect the animals and plants in our environment?

• Put all of the trash into the dumpster so it will not harm the living things in the environment.

• Burn the trash because the smoke will disappear into the air.

• Bury all of the trash so it can decompose into soil.

• Sort the trash to recycle and compost so we can limit how much goes into the landfill.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

What type of pollution is deforestation?

• air pollution

• land pollution

• water pollution

Miles drinks a bottle of water every day and recycles the bottle. Sydney tells him it would be better for the environment to use a reusable water bottle. Is Sydney right? Why or why not?

• Yes, because a reusable water bottle would conserve more resources.

• No, because the recycled water bottle would conserve more resources.

• No, because the recycled water bottle would fit more water.

• Yes, because a reusable water bottle would fit more water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3

A fourth grade student took a survey to see how many families recycle at home. What tips can this student provide to families who do not recycle to help save local plants and animals?

• All trash is buried and disappears into the soil over time, but recycling will speed up the process.

• Reusing materials causes more pollution.

• Recycling will allow families to reduce the amount of trash that will build up and harm the environment.

• The only way to recycle is to sort plastic from all other materials.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

The picture shows cans, garbage, and plastic bottles in the ocean. Which question can be answered using the picture?

• What animals eat garbage?

• What temperature is the water?

• How do humans cause water pollution?

• How many fish live in the ocean?

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-3