Question

In the second paragraph, the phrase “what hammering a nail is to halting a falling skyscraper” means:

• A. relying on emerging technologies to mitigate the ill-effects of plastic pollution.
• B. encouraging the responsible production of plastics by firms.
• C. focusing on consumer behaviour to tackle the problem of plastics pollution.
• D. focusing on single-use plastic bags to reduce the plastics footprint.
• A. blame assigned to consumers for indiscriminate use of plastics.
• B. understatement of the enormity of the plastics pollution problem.
• C. understatement of the effects of recycling plastics.
• D. fact that people do not know they have been lied to.
• A. slow pace of degradation or non-degradation of plastics in the environment.
• B. air pollution caused during the process of recycling plastics.
• C. adverse impacts on the digestive systems of animals exposed to plastic.
• D. poisonous chemicals released into the water and food we consume.
• A. completely banning all single-use plastic bags.
• B. having all consumers change their plastic consumption habits.
• C. recycling all plastic debris in the seabed.
• D. passing regulations targeted at producers that generate plastic products.
• A. an innovative example of a collaborative corporate social responsibility initiative.
• B. a sham as it diverted attention away from the role of corporates in plastics pollution.
• C. an important step in sensitising producers to the need to tackle plastics pollution.
• D. a "greenwash" because it was a benevolent attempt to improve public recycling habits.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The phrase "what hammering a nail is to halting a falling skyscraper" illustrates the inadequacy and distraction of focusing solely on individual consumer actions—such as recycling—to address the vast and systemic issue of plastic pollution. The passage underscores that while recycling is a positive action, it is far from a comprehensive solution to the deeper issue at hand: the prolific and regulatory-unchecked production of single-use plastic. The metaphor compares an ineffective and minor action (hammering a nail) in the face of a large-scale failure (a falling skyscraper) to emphasize how focusing on small-scale, consumer-level behaviors distracts from the need for broader systemic change, such as regulating and reducing the production of single-use plastics. Based on this comprehension of the metaphor, the correct interpretation of the phrase provided in the question aligns with the answer: focusing on consumer behaviour to tackle the problem of plastics pollution.

Answer 2

The first paragraph in the passage discusses a "lie" that people are being told regarding plastic pollution. The passage states: "The lie is that blame for the plastic problem is wasteful consumers and that changing our individual habits will fix it." This suggests that the term "lie" refers to the misdirection of blame onto consumers for the ongoing problem of plastic pollution. It emphasizes that individuals are not the primary cause, but rather the problem is due to systemic issues related to the production and management of plastics.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is: blame assigned to consumers for indiscriminate use of plastics.

Answer 3

The question asks for the effect of plastic use that is not mentioned as negative in the provided comprehension passage. Let's analyze the information:

• The passage discusses several negative effects of plastics:
  • Slow degradation: "Plastics biodegrade slowly, if at all, and pose multiple threats to wildlife."
  • Adverse effects on animals: "Plastics also accumulate up the food chain, and studies now show that we are likely ingesting it ourselves in seafood."
  • Poisonous chemicals: "Dangers posed by the absorption of toxic chemicals in the water."
• The passage focuses on the systemic issue of single-use plastics and corporate responsibility rather than discussing issues related to recycling specifically causing air pollution.

From the list of provided options, the author does not list "air pollution caused during the process of recycling plastics" as a negative effect in the passage. Therefore, this option is the correct answer.

Answer 4

To determine which intervention the author most strongly supports, we must analyze the given comprehension. The author identifies the real problem as the massive production of single-use plastic and the inadequate solutions offered by recycling. The text emphasizes that changing individual consumer habits or recycling will not fix the fundamental issue. Instead, the problem lies in the permissive legal framework that has allowed corporate polluters to proliferate plastic production without adequate responsibility. The author criticizes the shift of environmental responsibility onto the public, facilitated by corporate entities such as Keep America Beautiful. This underscores that the root cause of plastic pollution is corporate behavior rather than individual actions. Therefore, to effectively address plastic pollution, the author advocates for passing regulations targeted at the producers of plastic products. This solution directly addresses the systemic issue and calls for extended producer responsibility, suggesting that holding producers accountable is the appropriate intervention. Hence, the correct answer is:

passing regulations targeted at producers that generate plastic products.

Answer 5

The author views the Keep America Beautiful organization as a "greenwash" because it was a benevolent attempt to improve public recycling habits but ultimately diverted attention from the core issue: the substantial role that corporate polluters play in the plastic problem. This perspective is supported by several points in the comprehension:

• The narrative highlights a perceived misdirection, suggesting the organization shifted responsibility from corporations to consumers.
• Keep America Beautiful is described as a front for corporate greenwashing, focusing public attention on consumer actions rather than corporate accountability.
• The comprehension critiques the notion of individual responsibility for plastic pollution, emphasizing systemic issues tied to corporate practices.

These elements collectively inform the choice of the correct answer, distinguishing it from options suggesting innovation or importance in addressing plastic pollution.