It's Time to Do Something About the Nurdle Problem

question 289

Multiple Choice

It's time to do something about the nurdle problem. And just what is a nurdle, you might ask? Nurdles, also known as "mermaid tears," are small plastic pellets that are widely used to make all types of plastic products, from bottles to television sets. Sadly, mismanagement of these little pellets during transport and processing leads to billions being unintentionally released into rivers and oceans. With each passing year, they are becoming more and more prevalent in aquatic environments. Their small size, round shape, and variety of colors make them attractive food-easily mistaken for fish eggs and small prey. In addition, nurdles are often colonized by microbes that are dangerous to humans and sea life. A recent study of nurdles in Scotland revealed that the small plastic bits were covered with E coli, the bacterium responsible for food poisoning in mammals. Fortunately, some organizations are raising awareness of the problem. The Great Global Nurdle Hunt is a charity that encourages people to become citizen scientists and gather data on how common these pieces are. From there, we can figure out who's polluting and begin the cleanup. So let's all get out there and do some nurdle hunting-just be sure to wear your gloves!
Below are several topics discussed in the media. Which of the following topics resembles the theme of the passage on nurdles?

• A)"Plastic Straws Make Ocean Pollution-Here's What to Do About it"
• B)"New Types of Biodegradable Plastics Now Seen on the Horizon"
• C)"The Price of Certain Plastics is Set to Rise Amid Environmental Concerns"
• D)"A Brief History of Plastics-Natural and Synthetic"

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Definitions:

Electrically Stimulated

The process of applying electrical impulses to a part of the body or brain to provoke a response or activity.

Physical Sensations

Physical sensations refer to experiences that can be felt through the body's sensory systems, like touch, temperature, pain, and movement.

Parietal Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex involved in processing sensory information and integrating spatial localization and navigation.

Temporal Lobe

A region of the brain located on the sides of the cerebral hemisphere, involved in processing auditory information and encoding memory.