Use the two passages to answer the question.

Question

Use the two passages to answer the question.

1. Have you ever seen a sea turtle, whale, shark, or dolphin? Even if you have only seen pictures online, you can see how cute all of these creatures are. Well, they are in danger. So many of them are killed every year because of plastic waste. From people throwing away single-use water bottles to companies using a ton of plastic to make their products, we can all do better. Scientists are finding creatures like fish and sea birds with their stomachs filled with indigestible plastic. We have to change this, starting today!
2. Oceans cover 71 percent of Earth’s surface, and they are where most of Earth’s water comes from. Because of this, they are one of our greatest natural resources. Unfortunately, around 8 million metric tons of plastic enters our oceans each year. We all need to do more to save our oceans from this type of pollution. Fortunately, there are groups like the Ocean Conservancy, Oceana, and the Lonely Whale Foundation. They are all dedicated to helping this issue.
A student is researching the impact of plastic waste. Write a paragraph that compares and contrasts the two passages. Explain which passage would be better for the student to use and why.
(4 points)

Answer 1

Both passages discuss the impact of plastic waste on marine animals and the ocean. The first passage focuses on specific marine animals like sea turtles, whales, sharks, and dolphins that are in danger due to plastic waste, while the second passage emphasizes the importance of oceans as a natural resource and the amount of plastic entering them annually. The first passage appeals more to emotions and personal connection with the animals, highlighting the need for immediate action to address the issue. The second passage provides more general information about the scale of the problem and introduces organizations dedicated to the cause. Overall, the first passage would be better for the student to use as it provides more specific examples and anecdotes that could help illustrate the impact of plastic waste on marine life.