Prereading Quiz: The Plastic Problem
Before you read “The Plastic Problem,” take this five-question quiz to find out how much you already know.
True or false: It takes plastic about 15 years to completely disintegrate.
It can take plastic up to 1,000 years to disintegrate.
Microplastics are pieces of plastic often no bigger than ____________.
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic typically smaller than a sesame seed.
Which statement about microplastics is true?
Microplastics form when plastic breaks down over time. Microplastics have been found just about everywhere on Earth, and much remains unknown about the effects of microplastics on human health.
About what percentage of all plastic produced since 1950 has been recycled?
Only about 9 percent of all plastic produced since 1950 has been recycled. Today most plastic waste ends up as trash in landfills or litter in the ocean.
True or false: Individuals can help reduce plastic pollution where they live.
Many countries and U.S. states have passed laws targeting plastic waste, but experts say it’s crucial for individuals to step up and help too. Using fewer single-use plastics is one way to start.