Chapter 12. Critical Analysis Question

Introduction

Questions 1, 2, & 3

1. 1.

   What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

   A.

   It is a terrestrial garbage area that is so large that is has been compared in size to the Pacific Ocean.

   B.

   It is an oceanic gyre containing marine debris (especially plastic trash) that covers a large area of the Pacific.

   C.

   It is a patch of the Pacific that has had trash completely removed using new, remotely operated aquatic garbage collection technologies.

   D.

   It is an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean entirely made of garbage.

   Correct

   Incorrect

2. 2.

   Which of the following statements best describes the concept of a Tragedy of the Commons?

   A.

   The concept describes how common resources, such as air and water, are disappearing and decreasing in quantity each year.

   B.

   The concept describes how humans are driven by greed, as a result of the genetic inheritance of this trait and how this commonly shared trait is the basis for war and environmental degredation.

   C.

   The concept encompasses overexploitation of, or damage to, shared resources due to the protection of self-interests versus behaving in a way to protect the best interests of the whole group and the sustainability of the resource.

   Correct

   Incorrect

3. 3.

   How does the Great Pacific Garbage Patch represent a Tragedy of the Commons?

   A.

   The Great Pacific Garbage Patch shows how a tragedy, such as ocean pollution, can be turned into a common goal of environmental recovery. With new technologies, a patch of the ocean has been cleaned up, laying the foundation for future work to be done to heal the marine ecosystem.

   B.

   The Pacific Ocean’s new trash islands are a modern tragedy created by humans; however, these islands are now creating regions where species are settling and where populations are flourishing. These areas are expected in the future to help support species preservation in the ocean.

   C.

   This shared resource is now polluted from uncontrolled plastic waste accumulation, affecting the marine food chain, as organisms mistakenly ingest plastic particles and/or become entangled in the debris and from the biomagnification of persistent organic pollutants. Users and consumers of ocean resources are impacted by the pollution and food chain impacts.

   Correct

   Incorrect

Critical Analysis Question

12.1 Activity Completed!