Question

read & respond
use the text below to answer the question.

bacteria in the soil decompose organic materials. if chemicals wash into the soil, they may kill the bacteria necessary for breaking down these materials and producing more soil. or if theres too much waste, there wont be enough time for it to be broken down, so landfills pile up. chemicals, plastics, pesticides, solvents, and other materials, when not properly recycled, can interfere with the breakdown of organic waste materials in the soil and create all sorts of problems.

as a result of chemicals not being disposed of properly, ______.
choose one option
a organic waste materials in the soil are broken down
b plastics, pesticides, and solvents have time to break down
c waste in landfills breaks down and is recycled
d bacteria in the soil cant break down organic waste

Explanation:

We analyze each option by referring to the text. The text states that improper disposal of chemicals (and other materials) interferes with the breakdown of organic waste by bacteria.

• Option A: The text says improper disposal interferes with breakdown, so this is wrong.
• Option B: The text implies these materials (plastics, pesticides, solvents) interfere with breakdown, not that they get time to break down, so wrong.
• Option C: The text says too much waste leads to landfills piling up (not breaking down and recycling), so wrong.
• Option D: Since chemicals kill bacteria needed for breaking down organic materials, bacteria can't break down organic waste, which matches.

Answer:

D. bacteria in the soil can't break down organic waste