Direction: Read a passage and answer the items based on it. You are required to select your answers based on the contents of the passage and the opinion of the author only. Plastic is an essential commodity with multiple uses based on its key qualities of malleability, flexibility, and durability. Plastics are omnipresent in agriculture, fisheries, renewable energy, transport, technology, retail, textiles, personal care products, and all the other sectors and industries that directly or indirectly affect our daily life. Plastic has indeed made our lives more convenient, but it has come at a higher price than we imagined. The plastic pollution overflowing our landfills, clogging waterways, and infiltrating the ocean is primarily made of discarded items and packaging. Plastic lasts for hundreds of years, slowly disintegrating into smaller and smaller pieces, but never fully degrading. Indeed, one of the key perks of plastic is its longevity. And yet, the plastic packaging of nearly every product we purchase and many plastic products themselves are intended to be discarded after a single use. Throwaway plastic is an oxymoron, but it has become our sad, increasingly dangerous reality. Plastic pollution should make everyone angry. This is a crisis we can see with the naked eye, day in and day out. Plastic has been found on even the most remote, uninhabited islands, and in the deepest parts of the ocean. Because we can see it, we are more keenly aware of it, unlike some other forms of pollution. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for further studies on the impacts of microplastics on human health. An initial study, hampered by a lack of adequate data, concluded microplastics pose no danger at current levels (WHO, 2019). Although the WHO report was inconclusive about the effects of plastic on human health, other studies have linked the chemicals in plastic to negative health outcomes including endocrine disruption (Dabre 2020). Plastic particles have been detected in drinking water and in the food we eat, with a 2019 study commissioned by WWF estimating humans consume about five grams (or one credit card in weight) of plastic every week. We have seen the devastating effects plastic has on marine life. For instance, unable to process ingested plastic waste pieces, seabirds and other sea creatures starve to death. We have seen sea turtles and other animals tangled in fishing nets or trapped in plastic pack rings. Plastic pollution also wreaks havoc on land, clogging drains and preventing rainwater from soaking into the soil, which leads to flooding. Terrestrial creatures also suffer the effects of plastic waste, with some getting trapped in discarded plastic bags and suffocating to death.
The word 'clogging' in the passage means
Understanding Vocabulary in the Passage
The question asks for the meaning of the word 'clogging' as used in the provided passage about plastic pollution. To determine the correct meaning, we need to look at how the word is used in context within the passage.
Analyzing 'Clogging' in Context
The passage uses the word 'clogging' in two specific instances:
- "...Plastic pollution overflowing our landfills, clogging waterways, and infiltrating the ocean..."
- "Plastic pollution also wreaks havoc on land, clogging drains and preventing rainwater from soaking into the soil, which leads to flooding."
In both instances, 'clogging' describes what plastic pollution does to waterways and drains. It prevents the normal flow of water. Think about a drain in your sink or tub getting clogged — water cannot go down easily or at all. This means something is blocking or obstructing the flow.
Evaluating the Options
Let's look at the provided options and see which one best fits the meaning of 'clogging' in these contexts:
- obstruction: An obstruction is something that blocks or hinders movement or flow. This aligns perfectly with the idea of plastic pollution blocking waterways and drains, preventing water flow.
- flow: Flow is the act of moving along steadily and continuously, like water in a river. This is the opposite of clogging, which stops or hinders flow.
- opening: An opening is a gap or hole through which something can pass. This is the opposite of clogging, which blocks openings.
- clearing: Clearing means removing obstacles or blockages. This is also the opposite of clogging.
Determining the Correct Meaning
Based on the context within the passage, 'clogging' is used to describe how plastic pollution blocks or prevents the flow of water in waterways and drains. Of the given options, 'obstruction' is the word that means something is blocking or hindering movement or flow.
Therefore, the word 'clogging' in the passage means obstruction.
Revision Table: Key Concepts
| Term | Meaning in Passage Context | Related Concept |
|---|---|---|
| Clogging | Blocking or hindering flow (of water) | Obstruction, blockage |
| Waterways / Drains | Channels where water flows | Rivers, streams, pipes |
| Plastic Pollution | Accumulation of plastic waste causing harm | Environmental issue, waste management |
Additional Information: Vocabulary in Reading Comprehension
Understanding the meaning of words in a passage is a crucial part of reading comprehension. Sometimes, a word might have multiple meanings, but its meaning in a specific sentence or paragraph is determined by the surrounding words and the overall topic.
Strategies for understanding vocabulary in context:
- Read the sentence containing the word carefully.
- Look at the words and phrases around the unfamiliar word.
- Consider the main topic or subject of the passage.
- Think about how the word affects the meaning of the sentence or paragraph.
- If options are provided, try substituting each option into the sentence to see which one makes the most sense.
In this case, the context — waterways and drains getting blocked, leading to flooding — strongly indicates that 'clogging' refers to preventing flow, which is an obstruction.
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?
1. They feel that others may overuse the resource
2. It is possible to substitute the resource
3. Abundance of the resource availability
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
When do people use resources exhaustively?
The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources
People rooted in a locality
Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?
