Why it matters: “We provide a better understanding on the distribution of plastics — on what they are, what size and how often we can find them,” Lebreton said. “That can help engineers to design solutions to collect the plastic.”
Not only can conservationists use this data to design the right nets for cleaning the patch, but these numbers create a baseline for tracking the progress of the cleanup. For instance, by comparing their data to prior studies, they learned the concentration of microplastics has rapidly grown — tripling in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch since the 1970s.
Use the passage below from “Great Pacific Garbage Patch weighs more than 43,000 cars and is much larger than we thought” to answer the question.
How does the text structure in this section effectively meet the author’s purpose?
By comparing prior research with the latest findings by international scientists.
By identifying the shortcomings of various types of research methods.
By describing past procedures to set the context for a new approach to the problem.
By explaining the significance of plastic waste in major bodies of water.