Studies suggest that more than 9 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced since 1950, more than four times the volume of Mt. Everest, and about 75% of it remains in landfills or has entered the environment as pollution. As a material, plastic has many advantages. However, it is difficult to recycle because popular single-use and convenience items, such as packaging and water bottles, are low in quality and value when recycled. Part of the magic of plastic is that it seemingly lasts forever. But when it cannot be re-used efficiently, it leads to stark realities like an island of plastic, twice the size of Texas, floating in the Pacific Ocean. Plastic is consumed by fish and birds and is seeping into the air, water, and our food. Stimulus

Based on evidence from the passage, which of the following is the most likely inference?

Which of the following sources would provide relevant information about the cost of property destruction following a natural disaster?

In 1932 the Australian government lost a war against the native emu population. The operation that has since become known as the Great Emu War began as an initiative to combat overpopulation of the crop-destroying birds invading farmland around Chandler and Walgoolan. The initial assault on the flightless avian began on November 2 and lasted six days before the military personnel withdrew. Efforts resumed on November 12, but by early December the feathered foes had adopted guerrilla tactics against the targeted wheat fields, rendering military involvement largely ineffective. The Australian government declined further involvement with the ongoing conflict in 1934,1943 and 1948, despite the repeated pleas for assistance by the farmers in the area.

Which of the following word is a synonym for the word avian?

You might think the largest animal on Earth is the blue whale, and you would be correct. Blue whales can reach a length of 98 ft long and can weigh as much as 198 tons. However, in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, there is an organism currently covering an area of 3 square miles and estimated to weigh at least 7,500 tons: The Armillaria ostoyae fungus, also known as the honey mushroom or shoestring fungus. Though A ostoyoe is found in other places, such as Michigan and Germany, only Oregon's fungus has grown to such an enormous size. The humongous fungus is estimated to be anywhere from 2,000 to 8,000 years old, and it continues to grow by 1 to 3 feet every year. Stimulus

Which of the following best describes the theme of the report?

A student is researching women's roles in literature. To access a list of sources related to this topic, the student should consult which of the following?

On February 2 of each year, the United States observes the unusual holiday of Groundhog Day, a day of hope that winter is over and spring is beginning. This tradition has been officially observed in the U.S. since the 1800s, and is believed to have developed from European folk traditions in which a bear, fox, badger, or even hedgehog would serve as the symbolic meteorologist. Although other cultures and towns observe Groundhog Day (or something similar), the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania takes special pride in being home to the one true forecasting groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. At the turn of the twentieth century, townspeople formed the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club to perpetuate the joyful rituals and events surrounding Groundhog Day. Over the years, these events have come to include a scavenger hunt, a talent show, and a ball. Legend has it that on Groundhog Day the official weather forecasting groundhog awakens from hibernation and comes out of his burrow to look for his shadow. If he sees his shadow, six more weeks of winter are to come, and Punxsutawney Phil goes back to bed. However, if he does not see his shadow, Punxsutawney Phil takes this as a sign that spring has arrived, and he remains above ground. Of course, common sense tells us that February 2 is too early for spring to begin, and that while animals may be attuned to various elements of nature from which humans might learn, they are unlikely to act on their instincts based on a schedule set by a Gregorian calendar. Nevertheless, a visit to Pennsylvania to see Punxsutawney Phil and all of the fun he inspires each year might just provide the touch of hope needed to reach the end of winter 

What source would be most useful in determining the reliability of Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions over a number of years?

ZIP codes were introduced by the U.S. Postal Service on July 1, 1963. The term ZIP, which stands for Zone Improvement Plan, suggests that the mail will zip along “more efficiently if postal customers use the code. The basic code consists of five digits. In 1983 the ZIP+4 code was introduced to direct mail to a more specific location within a ZIP code. The ZIP+4 code added a hyphen and four digits to the basic code. A student reads the above passage in an encyclopedia and wants to learn more about the U.S. Postal Service.

In which of the following magazine articles would the student most likely find relevant information about ZIP codes?

The Farallon Islands, or Devil’s Teeth, as they are referred to by sailors, are a group of small islands with rocky, barren terrain and treacherous underwater currents, 48 km (30 miles) off the coast of San Francisco, California. Although the islands are small, with a combined total land area of 0.41 km squared (0.16 square miles), they are positioned in a major ocean current, which enables them to house dense populations of birds, rodents, seals, and other water mammals.

The abundance of wildlife first attracted Russian and American fur traders in the early 1800s, who then nearly eliminated the seal population in the area. The islands then became an agricultural resource for San Francisco during the Gold Rush era when egg companies began harvesting bird eggs on the islands. In 1863, violence between rival egg companies erupted on the islands (known as the “Egg War”), which inadvertently attracted national attention and provoked law makers to pass legislation to protect and rehabilitate the islands’ natural ecosystem.

In 1881, an executive order was passed that decreed egging illegal on the Farallons. This ended private enterprises on the islands and was reinforced in 1909 when President Theodore Roosevelt created the Farallon Reservation to restrict human access and preserve the northern islands. Protection was expanded in 1967 to include all the Farallon Islands, and over time many of the islands’ original inhabitants have returned.

The Farallons are now home to the world’s largest population of western gulls. Seals have returned, as well as otters and sea lions, which in turn attracts great white sharks. The combination of sharks, underwater currents, and jagged coastline are probably what earned the Farralons their nickname, “Devil’s Teeth,” though it hasn’t stopped a few adventurous people from swimming. Four people have completed the 30-mile swim from the islands to San Francisco; the fasted person completed the journey in 14 hours.

Which of the following best describes the meaning of the word "inadvertently" as used in the second paragraph?

The Farallon Islands, or Devil’s Teeth, as they are referred to by sailors, are a group of small islands with rocky, barren terrain and treacherous underwater currents, 48 km (30 miles) off the coast of San Francisco, California. Although the islands are small, with a combined total land area of 0.41 km squared (0.16 square miles), they are positioned in a major ocean current, which enables them to house dense populations of birds, rodents, seals, and other water mammals.

The abundance of wildlife first attracted Russian and American fur traders in the early 1800s, who then nearly eliminated the seal population in the area. The islands then became an agricultural resource for San Francisco during the Gold Rush era when egg companies began harvesting bird eggs on the islands. In 1863, violence between rival egg companies erupted on the islands (known as the “Egg War”), which inadvertently attracted national attention and provoked law makers to pass legislation to protect and rehabilitate the islands’ natural ecosystem.

In 1881, an executive order was passed that decreed egging illegal on the Farallons. This ended private enterprises on the islands and was reinforced in 1909 when President Theodore Roosevelt created the Farallon Reservation to restrict human access and preserve the northern islands. Protection was expanded in 1967 to include all the Farallon Islands, and over time many of the islands’ original inhabitants have returned.

The Farallons are now home to the world’s largest population of western gulls. Seals have returned, as well as otters and sea lions, which in turn attracts great white sharks. The combination of sharks, underwater currents, and jagged coastline are probably what earned the Farralons their nickname, “Devil’s Teeth,” though it hasn’t stopped a few adventurous people from swimming. Four people have completed the 30-mile swim from the islands to San Francisco; the fasted person completed the journey in 14 hours.

Which of the following supports the detail that the Farallon Islands are a natural home to many animals?

Bessie Coleman, the first civilian licensed Black pilot in the world, was born in 1892 to sharecroppers in Texas, where she attended a segregated school and world with her family in the cotton fields. She dreamed of becoming a pilot but no flight schools in America would accept her, so she moved to France to earn her pilot's license.

When she returned to the U.S, she wanted to open a flight school for Black students. She became a stunt flier and performed for paying audiences, which she insisted be desegregated. Following her death in a plane crash in 1926, the Bessie Coleman Aero Club was established in Los Angeles in 1929. She was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2006.

Which of the following sources would be useful for gathering more information about Bessie Coleman?

It can be difficult to write sometimes, especially if you are creating something brand new. It is even harder when you must write while following certain rules. Some writers thrive when there are limits, like poets. Many poetry forms follow very specific rules, like sonnets or elegies; you can't just throw some words on a page and it is a haiku. On the other hand, some successful poets enjoy breaking the rules. They will refuse to use proper punctuation or follow any sort of structure. So then what good are the rules if you can just break them and still succeed? That doesn't make any sense. I guess that is why I am not a poet.

Based on the author's support and evidence, which of the following is a valid evaluation of the paragraph?