Practice Tests
IELTS Reading (AC) Task 1 #82

A. Microplastics are tiny plastic fragments, fibers, and beads smaller than five millimeters that originate from consumer goods, industrial materials, and the gradual breakdown of larger items. They now occur in oceans, rivers, soils, and even urban air. Researchers have reported particles in sea ice, mountain snow, and municipal drinking water, suggesting that once released they travel widely and resist degradation. Because plastics vary in chemistry and shape, their environmental behavior is diverse, which complicates monitoring and risk assessment.|Pathways into the environment begin with everyday activities. Synthetic clothing sheds fibers during washing, and many wastewater plants do not capture every particle before discharge. Vehicle tires abrade on roads and generate dust that rain washes into streams. Packaging fragments in sunlight and waves, producing ever smaller pieces that disperse with currents. Airborne particles can cross regions and deposit far from cities, a pattern that helps explain findings in high altitude lakes and remote islands.|Impacts on ecosystems arise through both physical and chemical routes. Zooplankton, mussels, and small fish may mistake particles for food, which can reduce feeding efficiency and growth. Sharp fragments can irritate gut tissue, while additives in plastics or pollutants that adhere to their surfaces can enter organisms and move up food webs. Microplastics also provide small surfaces where microbes form biofilms, potentially altering nutrient cycles. The scale of these effects varies by species, concentration, and local conditions, so field studies are essential.|Human exposure occurs through seafood, tap water, bottled beverages, and indoor air where fibers accumulate from furnishings and clothing. Laboratory research has documented inflammation and oxidative stress in cell cultures, yet translating these results to population health remains difficult. Measurement methods differ among studies, and many focus on larger microplastics rather than the smallest particles that may penetrate tissue more easily. Clear baselines and harmonized protocols are therefore a priority for public health agencies.|Mitigation combines design, policy, and behavior. Manufacturers can reduce additive use, improve polymer durability, and adopt materials that fragment less. Washing machine filters, better tire formulations, and advanced wastewater treatment can intercept particles before they reach waterways. Extended producer responsibility laws can shift cleanup costs from taxpayers to firms, while deposit return systems and litter prevention reduce leakage. Public campaigns that highlight careful disposal and lower consumption support these measures. Together, such steps can limit releases and guide more sustainable material use.