Question

Read the passage and answer the question:
Plastic is a notorious material. Of the more than 400 million tonnes of plastic produced globally each year, only about 9% is recycled, while millions of tonnes end up in the oceans annually. Plastic can take hundreds of years to break down, fragmenting instead into microplastics that have now been detected in the air, drinking water, and even the human body. Produced largely from fossil fuels, it is estimated to account for around 3% to 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases are components of the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour being durable, cheap and endlessly versatile, however, plastic has woven itself into nearly every aspect of modern life. Longevity changes the environmental equation. And recycling, while necessary, cannot be the primary solution to a crisis driven by the sheer scale of production and design of single-use plastic.
According to the passage, choose the statement which is not correct.

• A. Each year, about 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced globally.
• B. Each year, about 80% of plastics is not recycled.
• C. Plastic can take hundreds of years to break down.
• D. Recycling of plastic is necessary

Hint:

When dealing with numbers in comprehension questions, perform simple math verification.
If 9% is recycled, then 91% (not 80%) is not recycled. This immediate calculation points directly to the incorrect option.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question is a reading comprehension task based on the provided passage about plastic pollution.
We must identify which of the four statements is not correct according to the facts presented in the text.

Step 2: Key Concepts and Passage Verification:
We need to carefully verify each option against the explicit statements in the passage:
1. Production figures: ``Of the more than 400 million tonnes of plastic produced globally each year...''
2. Recycling figures: ``...only about 9% is recycled...''
3. Longevity figures: ``Plastic can take hundreds of years to break down...''
4. Necessity of recycling: ``And recycling, while necessary, cannot be the primary solution...''

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

• Option (A): This statement is correct. The passage states that ``more than 400 million tonnes'' is produced globally each year.

• Option (B): This statement is not correct. The passage states that ``only about 9%'' is recycled.
If 9% is recycled, the percentage that is not recycled is:
\[ 100\% - 9\% = 91\% \]
Stating that ``about 80%'' is not recycled is a factual error based on the text.

• Option (C): This statement is correct. The passage explicitly states, ``Plastic can take hundreds of years to break down...''.

• Option (D): This statement is correct. The passage refers to ``recycling, while necessary...''.


Step 4: Final Answer:
Since Option (B) is factually incorrect according to the passage, it is the correct answer to this question.