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7. How would the future Lam fears be different from his "own humble past"? Why does he return to this personal perspective at the end of the article?

The future would be different because there would be too much of everything: trash, tech, etc. Lam was a refugee from the Vietnam War, but the future he says he now fears is one here civilization is threatened by global warming. Everyone around the whole world would be fighting for survival. Lam comes back to this story of trash picking at the end to show that humans could be facing an even bigger problem than war and that good lifestyle we want could be leading us to a bad end.

What words and phrases suggest changing conditions or a shift in public awareness?

The phrases "beginning to ask," "we know we need, and "beginning to wonder" suggest a shift in public awareness

Andrew Lam has published numerous books and is a frequent contributor to National Public Radio (NPR). What do these facts contribute to his credibility?

These facts show that he is a more reliable source, that he knows what he is talking about. He has a background of talking about potentially controversial topics to informed audiences. He has a lot of experience as a writer and speaker.

Lam claims that "garbage production in the United States has doubled in the last 30 years." What do we need to know about population growth to understand the significance of this statistic?

We need to know trash growth per capita.

What words, phrases, and examples are likely to create a sense of fear in Lam's readers? Why can fear be a powerful force for moving people to action?

Words, phrases, and examples that create a sense of fear include "...those two old scavengers may well represent our own retro-future," "melting glaciers," and "Eastern Garbage Patch the size of Texas." Fear can make people panic and have a flight or fight reaction, so that they actually do something. It causes people to have a more personal and immediate response. It's harder to forget about things that scare you.

. Why does Lam repeat the phrase "in an age" in paragraphs 11 and 12?

He repeats the phrase "in an age" to show that these problems are happening now and that the time we live in is characterized by natural disasters.

Why does Lam say that he and his family now identify as middle-class Americans?

He says this because middle-class Americans are the ones driving the consumer economy. They are the ones who buy everything and want a lot. This shows how much he and his family have changed since immigrating to America. He's part of the culture that likes to have a comfortable, successful lifestyle

What question at issue does Lam seem to be answering?

He seems to be answering a question about the consequences of high consumption and waste.

What is Lam's answer to the question at issue? What's his argument?

He's saying that high consumption and waste are hurting the planet and could result in a bad future for all of humanity

What do Lam's experiences as a refugee and immigrant contribute to his image? What do they contribute to his argument? Why are these perspectives important?

It gives us a different perspective, so we don't just hear about what is happening in the U.S. This is a global issue. His personal stories also bring a more emotional connection to the text and show he cares about the issue because he understands what it's like to not have enough food. He can also talk from experience about how attractive the American dream can be and how standards of living and lifestyles differ around the world. The amount of food Americans waste isn't the norm in other places.

6. What's the effect of Lam's admission that he owns the latest technology and has bought more food than he can eat?

It makes him look more relatable and that he is just like everybody else. He recognizes that he's part of the problem now, that he contributes to the cycle of spending and wasting. He's aware of how his lifestyle is negatively affecting the environment, and he wants to change.

What's the context of this question? What's happening in the world that calls for a timely response? How big is the problem? Is there an urgent need to do something? Do other people consider the problem important?

Lam asks this question in the context of increasing global warming and natural disasters. The problem is urgent and worldwide. Things are changing quickly, and species are dying, and habitats like coral reefs are being destroyed. Some people consider this a problem (Lam cites the NRDF), but others don't.

1. Who is Andrew Lam? What can you infer about his values and concerns.

Lam is an award-winning Bay Area writer who cares deeply about environmental and social issues. He seems to have liberal, progressive values. He's also been featured in a documentary on his family's experience emigrating from Vietnam.

What is the rhetorical situation?

Lam is arguing about America's wasteful culture and high consumption rates as part of an ongoing conversation about global warming and environmental issues. His audience is probably made up of people who like to read these kinds of op-ed articles and are also concerned about the environment.

5. Why does Lam say "garbage has become the legacy of our era"? How might it make readers feel hearing that the Eastern Great Garbage Patch has now far surpassed the Great Wall of China as the world's largest human-made structure?

Lam is saying that this is what we'll be remembered for, this is what we're leaving to other generations. Hearing about the size of the garbage patch might cause readers to feel shocked, sad, and ashamed. Instead of building something beautiful, we created something dangerous.

Is Lam qualified to write about this issue? If yes, on what grounds? In addition to op-ed articles, what else does Lam write? What is his reputation as a writer?

Lam might be qualified to write on this issue. It's a little hard to tell. He studied biochemistry at UC Berkeley, so he has a science background, but his degree from San Francisco State is in creative writing. He writes blogs, short stories, and books on the experiences of Vietnamese immigrants. His books have received awards and get good reviews on Amazon and goodreads.com, so he seems to have a good reputation as a writer.

To what extent does Lam see wastefulness as a deeply ingrained part of American culture?

Lam see wastefulness as a deeply ingrained part of American culture to the extent that Americans seem to define themselves by having lots of extra stuff and all the latest things they can buy. Learning to "shop 'til you drop" is part of becoming an American. He also says American create more trash and use more resources than any other people on the planet.

What is the effect of Lam starting the last sentence in paragraph 8 with the phrase "Of all people on earth"? What does Lam want Americans to think and feel?

Lam seems to be trying to make Americans feel a sense of guilt and responsibility. He singles Americans out to push them to make changes since they're contributing the most to the problem.

Would there be less plastic, glass, and aluminum garbage if Americans ate all the food in the packages they throw away?

No, there would not be less plastic, glass, and aluminum garbage if Americans ate all the food they bought because this food would still come in packaging. Paragraph 3 also states that even after being used once, most of the garbage is not being recycled.

4. Who else is trying to answer this same question?

Scientists and researchers are also trying to answer the same question. Lam quotes some of the people involved.

What words and phrases suggest the persistence and urgency of the problem?

Some words and phrases are "unsustainable" "In an age," "rising sea levels," "die en masse," "disappear," "dwindle," "ravage," "now," "unprecedented crisis," "pressure," "direct consequence," "threatening," and "on the brink."

What does "The American Dream" mean to you?

The "American Dream" means freedom to do what you want and be who you want to be and have easy access to the things you want.

Lam concludes his article with an ordinary neighborhood scene in San Francisco that transforms into a nightmarish vision of an apocalyptic future. What is the emotional impact of this conclusion on the reader? .

The conclusion creates feelings of fear and frustration. It serves as an eye opener to a frightening future, it predicts that scavenging will be a common sight because people will have wasted their resources and won't have enough, it creates a sense of empathy for needy people, and it suggests a people haven't changed and haven't learned from their mistakes

What is the emotional effect of Lam's comparison of American wastefulness to an overweight person not having the willpower to diet and exercise? How might some readers react to this comparison? What's Lam's point about the difference between knowing something and doing something about it?

this comparison can be taken as kind of harsh to some people by comparing physical looks to garbage. It could rub some people the wrong way. Lam's comparison shows he's taking a "tough love" approach to the problem. He's being blunt about how hard it is to change even when we know we're in an unhealthy situation. He's making the point that we need to take immediate action, not just talk about the issue. The world has the power to change, but it won't do it.