Our environment is facing many dangers. Climate change may be the biggest threat, but plastic pollution is not far behind. We dump millions of tonnes of plastic into our rivers and seas. So much so that it is killing ocean life and even getting into our own water supply!
You'd think that recycling plastics is the answer. That certainly would help, but many of the plastics finding their way into our waters were never intended to be recycled. Tiny balls of plastic known as microbeads are put into cosmetics and toothpastes to make them better at cleaning. That's all very well, but when you use them, these microbeads are flushed down the drain into our sewers and, eventually, our oceans. The only way to tackle this menace is to ban it - as some countries have but, sadly, too few.
In this quiz we look at the effects and the causes of plastic pollution, and we'll also learn what we can do to put a stop to it.
Test yourself on the huge subject of science in our KS3 Science section. Covering a variety of topics over 500 questions – see if you can get them all correct.
1.
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Plastic pollution in our oceans is a threat to sealife. How exactly does plastic harm sea creatures? |
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[ ] |
It starves them to death |
[ ] |
It poisons them |
[ ] |
It makes reproduction more difficult |
[ ] |
All of the above |
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2.
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How many marine species are harmed by plastic pollution? |
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[ ] |
At least 700 |
[ ] |
At least 70 |
[ ] |
At least 17 |
[ ] |
At least 7 |
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3.
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To stop plastic pollution, we need to recycle. What percent of its plastic does the UK recycle? |
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[ ] |
86% |
[ ] |
66% |
[ ] |
46% |
[ ] |
26% |
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4.
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Which country is the world’s worst plastic polluter? |
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[ ] |
The UK |
[ ] |
China |
[ ] |
India |
[ ] |
The USA |
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5.
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Plastic waste is such a problem because it takes so long to break down. How many years does it take a plastic bottle to decompose? |
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[ ] |
4.5 years |
[ ] |
45 years |
[ ] |
450 years |
[ ] |
4,500 years |
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6.
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Areas in the sea where plastic waste collects are known as what? |
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[ ] |
Marine mosh pits |
[ ] |
Ocean garbage patches |
[ ] |
Sea trash cans |
[ ] |
Naval dumping grounds |
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7.
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Plastic pollution can even get into our drinking water. If you bought a bottle of water, what are the chances it would contain particles of plastic? |
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[ ] |
25% |
[ ] |
50% |
[ ] |
75% |
[ ] |
90% |
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|
8.
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Coral reefs are threatened by plastic pollution as well as climate change. Experts predict that 90% of coral reefs will be dead by which year? |
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[ ] |
2050 |
[ ] |
2100 |
[ ] |
2150 |
[ ] |
2200 |
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9.
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Tiny particles of plastic are added to cosmetic products and toothpastes. What are the particles called? |
|
[ ] |
Smallballs |
[ ] |
Tinybits |
[ ] |
Microbeads |
[ ] |
Littlelumps |
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10.
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What can you do to help stop plastic pollution? |
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[ ] |
Reuse shopping bags |
[ ] |
Use a steel, glass or bamboo straw |
[ ] |
Pick up any plastic litter you find |
[ ] |
All of the above |
|
|
1.
|
Plastic pollution in our oceans is a threat to sealife. How exactly does plastic harm sea creatures? |
|
[ ] |
It starves them to death |
[ ] |
It poisons them |
[ ] |
It makes reproduction more difficult |
[x] |
All of the above |
|
|
2.
|
How many marine species are harmed by plastic pollution? |
|
[x] |
At least 700 |
[ ] |
At least 70 |
[ ] |
At least 17 |
[ ] |
At least 7 |
|
|
3.
|
To stop plastic pollution, we need to recycle. What percent of its plastic does the UK recycle? |
|
[ ] |
86% |
[ ] |
66% |
[x] |
46% |
[ ] |
26% |
|
|
4.
|
Which country is the world’s worst plastic polluter? |
|
[ ] |
The UK |
[ ] |
China |
[x] |
India |
[ ] |
The USA |
|
|
5.
|
Plastic waste is such a problem because it takes so long to break down. How many years does it take a plastic bottle to decompose? |
|
[ ] |
4.5 years |
[ ] |
45 years |
[x] |
450 years |
[ ] |
4,500 years |
|
|
6.
|
Areas in the sea where plastic waste collects are known as what? |
|
[ ] |
Marine mosh pits |
[x] |
Ocean garbage patches |
[ ] |
Sea trash cans |
[ ] |
Naval dumping grounds |
|
|
7.
|
Plastic pollution can even get into our drinking water. If you bought a bottle of water, what are the chances it would contain particles of plastic? |
|
[ ] |
25% |
[ ] |
50% |
[ ] |
75% |
[x] |
90% |
|
|
8.
|
Coral reefs are threatened by plastic pollution as well as climate change. Experts predict that 90% of coral reefs will be dead by which year? |
|
[x] |
2050 |
[ ] |
2100 |
[ ] |
2150 |
[ ] |
2200 |
|
|
9.
|
Tiny particles of plastic are added to cosmetic products and toothpastes. What are the particles called? |
|
[ ] |
Smallballs |
[ ] |
Tinybits |
[x] |
Microbeads |
[ ] |
Littlelumps |
|
|
10.
|
What can you do to help stop plastic pollution? |
|
[ ] |
Reuse shopping bags |
[ ] |
Use a steel, glass or bamboo straw |
[ ] |
Pick up any plastic litter you find |
[x] |
All of the above |
|
|