Living Environment Regents Practice Test

What is the most direct human activity that could reduce oceanic plastic garbage?

1. Dredging the ocean floor.

2. Cleaning up plastic trash from shorelines and other waterways.

3. Regulating fishing practices in the ocean.

4. Educating the public about recycling.

The correct answer is: Cleaning up plastic trash from shorelines and other waterways.

Cleaning up plastic trash from shorelines and other waterways is the most direct human activity that can reduce oceanic plastic garbage. This approach addresses the problem at its source by physically removing existing plastic waste from the environment. Shoreline and waterway clean-up efforts help prevent plastic from entering the ocean, thereby directly impacting the volume of plastic pollution. This action contrasts with other options where the effectiveness in reducing oceanic plastic immediately is less direct. Dredging the ocean floor may disturb marine habitats and is not specifically aimed at addressing surface-level plastic waste. Regulating fishing practices primarily pertains to sustainable fishing and does not directly target plastic pollution. Educating the public about recycling is important for preventing future waste, but it does not provide an immediate solution to the plastic already in the ocean. Therefore, the most effective and timely method to reduce existing oceanic plastic debris is through direct clean-up efforts.