8th Grade ELA Question of the Day

1. Invasive species are usually smaller than native species and often look different, and their bright colors and unusual shapes can help people spot them more easily along the shoreline.
2. Zebra mussels, introduced to the Great Lakes in the 1980s, spread rapidly and filter large amounts of plankton from the water, reducing food for some native fish and clogging water intake pipes, creating costly damage. (correct answer)
3. Many people enjoy boating and fishing on lakes during the summer, and some communities hold festivals and tournaments that bring in tourists and support local businesses near the water.
4. Invasive species often increase the total biodiversity of a region by adding new kinds of plants and animals, which can make an ecosystem seem richer and more varied to visitors.

Explanation: The best answer names a specific invasive species, the zebra mussel, and tells you exactly when and where it arrived. It then shows concrete effects: filtering plankton reduces food for native fish, and clogging intake pipes causes costly damage. This gives real ecological and economic impacts tied directly to the essay's topic. The choice about invasive species being smaller and easier to spot describes only their appearance—it never explains how they affect an ecosystem, so it does not support the topic. The choice about boating, fishing, and lake festivals talks about human recreation and tourism, not the impact of invasive species on the ecosystem, so it drifts off topic even though it sounds detailed. The choice claiming invasive species often increase biodiversity focuses on adding species and how an area 'seems' to visitors, but a strong essay must show real impact; adding species does not by itself demonstrate the harm invasive species usually cause. Only the zebra mussel example develops the topic with specific, well-chosen facts and clear consequences, making it the strongest support.