Discovering the Plastic-Eating Waxworms
Ans)
1.B) They produce enzymes that can break down plastic.
Explanation: The article highlights the importance of waxworms in scientific research due to their ability to produce enzymes that break down plastic, making them a focus for potential environmental solutions.
2.B) Breakdown
Explanation: "Biodegradation" refers to the breakdown of materials by biological means. In the context of the article, this term describes how enzymes from waxworms can break down plastic.
3.C) They could harm other animals and plants.
Explanation: The article notes that using waxworms directly in natural environments could be risky because they might harm other animals and plants, not just degrade plastics.
4.A) A significant reduction in waste
Explanation: While the complete elimination of plastic waste is unlikely, implementing waxworms that can break down plastic could lead to a significant reduction in the overall levels of plastic waste, as suggested in the article.
5.A) Scissors are to paper
Explanation: Just as scissors cut and modify paper, waxworms consume and break down plastic, altering its physical state.
6.B) Hopeful
Explanation: "Promising" in the context of the article suggests a hopeful or optimistic outlook on the potential uses of waxworm enzymes to address plastic pollution.
7.A) oxidize
Explanation: The article states that the enzymes in waxworms' saliva can oxidize polyethylene, which is a process of breaking down the plastic.
8.D) Enzymes in waxworms' saliva can interact with polyethylene.
Explanation: If all waxworms can degrade polyethylene, it logically follows that the enzymes in their saliva, which facilitate this degradation, can interact with polyethylene.
9.C) They catalyze the breakdown of plastic.
Explanation: Enzymes in waxworms act as catalysts to speed up the chemical reactions that break down plastic, specifically polyethylene.
10.B) Decreasing plastic waste in ecosystems
Explanation: The primary environmental benefit discussed in the article is the potential for these enzymes to reduce the amount of plastic waste in ecosystems.
11.C) Bioremediation
Explanation: Bioremediation is the use of organisms or their components to remove or neutralize contaminants, such as plastic waste. The application of waxworm enzymes to degrade plastic fits this definition.
12.B) The enzymes are named after Greek and Roman gods.
Explanation: The article mentions that the enzymes found in waxworms' saliva are named Ceres and Demeter, after the Roman and Greek goddesses of agriculture.
13.C) Wax
Explanation: Waxworms naturally feed on the wax in beehives, as stated in the article.
14.B) Ceres and Demeter
Explanation: The enzymes that waxworms produce to help in the degradation of plastic are named Ceres and Demeter.
15.B) They can degrade certain types of plastic.
Explanation: Federica Bertocchini discovered that waxworms could eat and degrade certain types of plastic, a key point noted in the article.
16.C) They could potentially harm other biological entities.
Explanation: The article discusses the potential risks of using waxworms in natural settings, highlighting that they could harm other animals and plants in these environments.
Writing Example
Essay
Biological solutions to environmental problems offer innovative alternatives to traditional methods, and waxworms are a prime example of this approach, particularly in combating plastic pollution. Waxworms, the larvae of wax moths, have been found to possess enzymes capable of breaking down polyethylene, one of the most persistent forms of plastic waste. This discovery, made by scientist Federica Bertocchini, could revolutionize waste management and reduce global plastic pollution significantly.
The potential benefits of using waxworms to manage plastic waste are substantial. Firstly, the biodegradation process introduced by waxworms is much faster than natural decomposition, which can take centuries for plastics. This rapid breakdown could drastically reduce the volume of plastic litter in landfills and oceans. Additionally, utilizing a natural process reduces the need for chemical recycling methods that can be expensive and energy-intensive. Waxworms offer a low-energy alternative that leverages biological processes to degrade plastic waste efficiently.
However, there are several drawbacks to this biological solution. Introducing waxworms into natural environments poses significant ecological risks. For example, if waxworms are released in large numbers, they could disrupt local ecosystems, potentially harming native species or altering habitats. The specificity of the enzymes they produce, which currently only degrade polyethylene, limits their usefulness against other types of plastics. Moreover, scaling up this solution could prove challenging. Replicating the natural enzymatic process in an industrial setting requires further research and development to ensure it can be effectively controlled and utilized on a large scale.
In conclusion, while waxworms present a promising solution to plastic pollution, their application in environmental management must be approached with caution. The benefits of rapid plastic degradation and reduced reliance on chemical processes are countered by ecological and practical challenges. As with all biological solutions, a thorough assessment of environmental impacts is essential before implementation. (276 words)
Short writing
1.Answer: Waxworms are the larval form of wax moths, typically found in beehives where they consume wax. They possess the unique ability to break down plastic due to special enzymes in their saliva.
2.Answer: Federica Bertocchini, a scientist and amateur beekeeper, discovered the waxworms' ability to eat plastic when she noticed that the waxworms she placed in a plastic bag had chewed holes through it, leading to the plastic's degradation.
3.Answer: The enzymes are named Ceres and Demeter, after the Roman and Greek goddesses of agriculture. They are significant because they can oxidize polyethylene, a common type of plastic, potentially offering a solution to managing plastic waste.
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