Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic waste. Areas of the ocean with higher concentrations of microplastic particles also have smaller...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic waste. Areas of the ocean with higher concentrations of microplastic particles also have smaller and fewer waves. A study by Yukun Sun and colleagues found that the concentration of microplastic particles cannot be the only reason for this reduced wave activity because the concentration of particles that would have the observed effect is much higher than that found in these areas of the ocean. However, they found that surfactants, chemicals often used to manufacture plastics, are released into the water from microplastics and have a much stronger wave-reducing effect.
According to the text, what did Sun and colleagues discover about surfactants?
They have a much stronger effect on wave activity than microplastics alone do.
They are mainly composed of water.
They are helpful for removing microplastics from the ocean.
They can be used to contain microplastics within certain areas of the ocean.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic waste." |
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| "Areas of the ocean with higher concentrations of microplastic particles also have smaller and fewer waves." |
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| "A study by Yukun Sun and colleagues found that the concentration of microplastic particles cannot be the only reason for this reduced wave activity because the concentration of particles that would have the observed effect is much higher than that found in these areas of the ocean." |
|
| "However, they found that surfactants, chemicals often used to manufacture plastics, are released into the water from microplastics and have a much stronger wave-reducing effect." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Sun and colleagues discovered that surfactants released from microplastics, not the plastic particles themselves, are the primary cause of reduced wave activity in ocean areas with microplastic concentrations.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? What Sun and colleagues discovered specifically about surfactants
What type of answer do we need? Content Genre: Sciences, Content Format: Text-only, Question Type: Central Ideas and Details, Language Complexity: Accessible
Any limiting keywords? N/A
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Sun and colleagues made a specific discovery about surfactants: they found that these chemicals (released from microplastics) have a much stronger wave-reducing effect than the microplastics themselves
- This was their key finding that explained why ocean areas with microplastics have reduced wave activity
They have a much stronger effect on wave activity than microplastics alone do.
✓ Correct
- This directly matches what we found in the passage: surfactants have a much stronger wave-reducing effect
- The comparison to microplastics alone fits perfectly with the study's finding
They are mainly composed of water.
✗ Incorrect
- The passage never mentions what surfactants are composed of
- This completely misses the actual discovery about their wave-reducing effects
They are helpful for removing microplastics from the ocean.
✗ Incorrect
- The passage presents surfactants as part of the problem (contributing to wave reduction), not as a solution for removing microplastics
They can be used to contain microplastics within certain areas of the ocean.
✗ Incorrect
- Nothing in the passage suggests surfactants can contain or control microplastics
- This introduces an idea not supported by the text