Lesson: RI 7.1 & 7.2

RI 7.1-Citing Evidence & Inference 1. PART A Based on the descriptions in Paragraph 1, what can be inferred about the impact of finding a plastic bag in the Mariana Trench?

• It confirmed that deep-sea creatures are migrating toward man-made objects for shelter.
• It revealed that human pollution has moved faster than our ability to study the earth.
• It demonstrated that humans have successfully explored the entire floor of the ocean.
• It proved that researchers need to use more resilient materials for their equipment.

RI 7.1-Citing Evidence & Inference 2. PART B Which detail from Paragraph 1 best supports the answer to Part A?

• . "...proving that synthetic waste has officially outpaced human exploration.
• ...the ocean was considered so vast that human impact could never truly reach its floor."
• "...expeditions to the Mariana Trench—the deepest point on Earth—have revealed a grim reality."
• . "...discovered something far more resilient than any deep-sea creature: a plastic shopping bag."

RI 7.1-Citing Evidence & Inference 3. Based on Paragraph 4, what can the reader infer about the relationship between plastic and the human food supply?

• Humans are safe from toxins because only the smallest organisms consume the plastic pellets.
• The visual appearance of the ocean is the most dangerous aspect of the current plastic crisis.
• Plastic pellets are being harvested by companies as a new way to provide nutrients to people
• Contamination becomes more dangerous as it moves from smaller creatures to larger predators.

RI 7.1-Citing Evidence & Inference 4. Which details from Paragraph 3 and Paragraph 4 support the inference that microplastics are an "invisible" but active threat? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY

• "These fragments, known as microplastics, are often smaller than a grain of rice."
• "Because they are nearly impossible to track, they act as a 'silent invader'..."
• "...sunlight breaks it into smaller bits that remain chemically active and toxic."
• "Scientists estimate that there are now over 50 trillion pieces of microplastic..."
• "Plastic acts like a chemical sponge, soaking up pollutants from the surrounding seawater."

RI 7.2-Central Idea & Summary 5. Select the three sentences that should be included in an objective summary of the text (Paragraphs 1–6).

• □ A plastic bag was found at the deepest point on Earth, showing the reach of human waste.
• □ Plastic breaks down into toxic microplastics that enter the food chain and eventually reach humans.
• □ Solving the crisis requires humans to rethink the lifespan of synthetic materials and how we use them.
• □ Natural disasters like storms are actually more destructive to the ocean than human-made plastic.
• □ It is irresponsible for people to throw away straws when they know it hurts the Mariana Trench.

RI 7.2-Central Idea & Summary 6. PART A Based on the text as a whole, which of the following best describes the central idea of the passage?

• Advanced underwater technology is required to find and remove plastic from the Mariana Trench.
• Plastic pollution is a permanent global problem that threatens the health of every level of life.
• Most ocean pollution is caused by poorly managed waste systems in large cities near rivers.
• The ocean’s natural complexity allows it to absorb most human-made toxins without major damage.
• Recent discoveries show that researchers can find synthetic waste in every storm drain on Earth.

RI 7.2-Central Idea & Summary 7. PART B Which sentence from Paragraph 6 best supports the central idea identified in Part A?

• "If the deepest point on our planet can be reached by a single-use bag, then no corner is safe."
• "Addressing the environmental danger of the 'Plastic Horizon' requires more than just picking up trash..."
• "It requires a fundamental shift in how we perceive the lifespan of the things we buy."
• "...no corner of the Earth is truly safe until we rethink our relationship with synthetic materials."
• "If the deepest point on our planet can be reached... then no corner of the Earth is truly safe."

RI 7.2-Central Idea & Summary 8. Select the three facts from Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 5 that best support the idea that plastic is a "permanent" problem compared to other types of environmental change.

• □ Discarded bottles and wrappers find their way into storm drains and rivers.
• □ Plastic does not disappear but begins a centuries-long process of breaking down.
• □ Natural disasters have a large impact on marine health through temperature shifts.
• □ Unlike a storm, plastic waste is a permanent addition to the geological record.
• □ Plastic accumulation is an unprecedented event in the history of the Earth.

Prompt: Based on the information in Paragraph 5, what can you infer about the author’s perspective on the argument that plastic pollution is "exaggerated"? Use the RACE strategy and provide specific evidence from the text to support your answer.

• R/A: Based on the text, the author thinks the "exaggerated" argument is wrong because [your answer].

• C: For example, the text says, "[quote about the geological record]."

• E: This shows that the author believes plastic is a permanent problem, not just a small change.