Writing Standards: Informative and Explanatory Writing (CCSS.W.8.2) Practice Test

This essay is about pollution and why it matters. Each year, millions of tons of plastic enter the oceans, breaking into tiny fragments called microplastics. Sea turtles ingest bags they mistake for jellyfish, and seabirds feed plastic bits to their chicks. Fishing lines and six-pack rings entangle seals, reducing their ability to hunt and breathe. As plastics weather, they can carry toxins that accumulate up the food chain, eventually reaching human diets through seafood. Coral reefs also suffer when plastic debris abrades delicate polyps and blocks sunlight needed by symbiotic algae. Researchers mapping debris have found floating gyres that concentrate trash far from any shore, showing how currents spread the problem globally. Communities are experimenting with solutions such as bans on single-use bags, improved waste collection, and biodegradable materials. However, without clear understanding of how plastic disrupts marine systems, efforts may be scattered rather than strategic. A focused examination of its impacts on wildlife, habitats, and food webs can guide policies that prevent harm while supporting responsible use of materials.

This essay is about pollution and why it matters. Each year, millions of tons of plastic enter the oceans, breaking into tiny fragments called microplastics. Sea turtles ingest bags they mistake for jellyfish, and seabirds feed plastic bits to their chicks. Fishing lines and six-pack rings entangle seals, reducing their ability to hunt and breathe. As plastics weather, they can carry toxins that accumulate up the food chain, eventually reaching human diets through seafood. Coral reefs also suffer when plastic debris abrades delicate polyps and blocks sunlight needed by symbiotic algae. Researchers mapping debris have found floating gyres that concentrate trash far from any shore, showing how currents spread the problem globally. Communities are experimenting with solutions such as bans on single-use bags, improved waste collection, and biodegradable materials. However, without clear understanding of how plastic disrupts marine systems, efforts may be scattered rather than strategic. A focused examination of its impacts on wildlife, habitats, and food webs can guide policies that prevent harm while supporting responsible use of materials.