Miss Keeney
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5 6 7
Semester 2 Final Exam Practice #2
What You Should Know About Plastic Bags - Fast Facts
Did you know that a typical plastic bag weighs 4-5 grams and can hold up to 17 pounds—nearly 2,000
times its own weight?
Plastic grocery bags are an extremely resource-efficient disposable bag choice. Plastic grocery
bags require 70% less energy to manufacture than paper bags, and produce half the amount
of greenhouse gas emissions in the process.
For every seven trucks needed to deliver paper bags, only one truck is needed for the same number
of plastic bags, helping to save energy and reduce emissions.
• It takes 91% less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than it does to recycle a pound of
paper.
In addition to recycling, a recent national survey shows that over 90% of Americans reuse their
plastic bags.
• About 65% of Americans reuse their bags for trash disposal. Other common uses include
lunch bags and pet pick-up.
• In this regard, the reuse of a plastic shopping bag prevents a second bag from being
purchased to fulfill these necessary functions.
Less material means less waste and fewer emissions.
• Plastic bags generate 80% less waste than paper bags.
• Plastic grocery and retail bags make up a tiny fraction (less than 0.5%) of the U.S.
municipal solid waste stream.
• Plastic bags generate only 50% of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of composted
paper bags.
• The production of plastic bags consumes less than 4% of the water needed to make paper
bags.
Plastic grocery bags are fully recyclable and the number of recycling programs is increasing
daily.
• Nationwide, over 832 million pounds of bags and film were recycled in 2008—up 28
percent from 2005.
• According to EPA’s data, about 13 percent of plastic bags and wraps were recycled in
2008.
• Plastic bags can be made into dozens of useful new products, such as building and
construction products, low-maintenance fencing and decking, and new bags.
• In recent years, many grocers and retailers have introduced plastic bag collection programs.
Tip: Look for a collection bin, usually located at the front of the store or near checkout
areas.
_____1. Which statement BEST describes the relationship between the sender and receiver of the article?
A. The sender believes in the benefits of plastic bags and is writing to convince consumers and
policymakers not to believe the claims that plastic bags are harmful.
B. The sender believes in the benefits of plastic bags and is writing to convince environmental
groups that cloth bags are harmful to the environment.
C. The sender believes that plastic bags are harmful to the environment and is writing to convince
consumers and policymakers to accept that position.
D. The sender believes that plastic bags are beneficial to the environment and is writing to convince
environmental groups to help spread the word about the benefits.
_____2. Which statement BEST describes the type and effect of persuasive appeals used in the article?
A. Emotional appeals are used to evoke sympathetic feelings and convince the reader that
discontinuing the use of plastic bags is unnecessary.
B. Emotional appeals are used to evoke sympathetic feelings and convince the reader that
discontinuing the use of plastic bags is the right thing to do.
C. Logical appeals are used to lead the reader to the conclusion that plastic bags are better for
the environment than paper bags.
D. Logical appeals are used to lead the reader to the conclusion that plastic bags are better for
the environment than cloth bags.
_____3. If you were using the SMELL strategy to analyze this article, which of the following statements
would you identify as the author’s message?
A. Plastic bags are not very significant to consumers or the environment, and debates about their
harmful effects are a waste of time.
B. Plastic bags are very important to consumers but harmful to the environment, so debates about
their effects should be monitored closely.
C. Many myths exist about plastic bags, but the truth is that they are not harmful to the environment
and their use should continue without restrictions.
D. Many myths exist about plastic bags, but the truth is that they are very harmful to the environment
and their use should be limited and restricted.
_____4. Imagine a position paper created by a company that promotes and sells paper bags. Consider
which of these passages would best support the company’s position that paper bags should be
used more than plastic bags.
Which article would be MOST useful for the position paper, and why?
A. “Paper bags are killing us” would be the most useful source because it provides examples of
the negative effects of plastic bags.
B. “Paper bags are killing us” would be the most useful source because it uses very descriptive
language.
C. “What You Should Know about Plastic Bags” would be the most useful source because it
provides statistics about the amount of energy it takes to recycle paper.
D. “What You Should Know about Plastic Bags” would be the most useful source because it uses
academic language.
_____5. What purpose is the author trying to achieve with this article?
A.
B.
C.
D.
This author is trying to inform his audience about the dangers of plastic bags.
The author is trying to inform the audience about the realities surrounding plastic bags.
The author is trying to persuade the audience to use plastic bags.
The author is trying to persuade the audience the recycle.
_____6. Reread the following segment from the article:
Less material means less waste and fewer emissions.
• Plastic bags generate 80% less waste than paper bags.
• Plastic grocery and retail bags make up a tiny fraction (less than 0.5%) of the U.S.
municipal solid waste stream.
• Plastic bags generate only 50% of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of composted
paper bags.
• The production of plastic bags consumes less than 4% of the water needed to make paper
bags.
Which statement BEST describes the type and effect of the evidence used in this section?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Anecdotal evidence is used to convince by presenting a personal account.
Empirical evidence is used by describing a direct observation.
Logical evidence is used by presenting facts.
No evidence is used.