Light Pollution and Its Effects

Reading passage
A
Light pollution happens when artificial light from cities and towns makes the night sky too bright. This extra light comes from street lamps, buildings, cars, and signs. In many places around the world, people cannot see stars at night because of this problem. Scientists say that more than 80 percent of the world's population now lives under skies affected by light pollution. The problem is worse in big cities, where the sky often looks orange or grey instead of dark.
B
One major effect of light pollution is that it harms wildlife. Many animals need darkness to hunt, sleep, or travel safely. For example, sea turtles lay their eggs on beaches at night. When baby turtles come out of their eggs, they naturally move toward the ocean. However, bright lights from hotels and roads confuse them. The baby turtles move toward the lights instead of the water. As a result, many of them die before reaching the sea.
C
Birds also suffer from too much artificial light at night. Millions of birds fly long distances during spring and autumn. They usually travel at night and use stars to find their way. Bright city lights confuse these birds and make them lose direction. Many birds fly into tall buildings because they cannot see clearly. Scientists believe that more than 100 million birds die each year in North America alone because of this problem.
D
Light pollution affects human health as well. The human body needs darkness to produce a substance called melatonin. This substance helps people sleep well and keeps the body healthy. When people are exposed to bright lights at night, their bodies make less melatonin. As a result, they may have trouble sleeping. Poor sleep can lead to serious health problems over time, including heart disease and diabetes.
E
In addition to health problems, light pollution wastes energy and money. Street lights and other outdoor lights often shine upward into the sky. This light does not help people see better on the ground. It simply brightens the sky and uses electricity for no good reason. Many cities could save millions of dollars each year by using better lighting. Better lights would point downward and use less power.
F
Some places have started to reduce light pollution successfully. For example, several cities in Europe now use special street lights that direct light only toward the ground. These lights have covers that stop light from going upward. Some towns also turn off unnecessary lights late at night. In protected natural areas, park managers use red lights instead of white lights. Red light does not affect wildlife as much as white light does.
G
Individuals can also help reduce light pollution at home. People can use curtains to keep indoor light from shining outside. They can turn off outdoor lights when they do not need them. Motion sensors can help because they turn lights on only when someone is nearby. Using lower-brightness bulbs also helps. These simple actions can make the night sky darker and help both wildlife and human health.

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Questions 1 to 19

Answer the following questions based on the passage

1.Light pollution occurs when ___ from cities and towns makes the night sky too bright.

0 / 3 words

2.More than ___ of the world's population now lives under skies affected by light pollution.

0 / 3 words

3.One major effect of light pollution is that it harms ___.

0 / 3 words

4.___ lay their eggs on beaches at night.

0 / 3 words

5.Bright lights from ___ confuse baby turtles.

0 / 3 words

6.Birds usually travel at night and use ___ to find their way.

0 / 3 words

7.Many birds fly into ___ because they cannot see clearly.

0 / 3 words

8.More than ___ birds die each year in North America alone because of light pollution.

0 / 3 words

9.The human body needs darkness to produce a substance called ___.

0 / 3 words

10.Melatonin helps people ___ and keeps the body healthy.

0 / 3 words

11.Poor sleep can lead to serious health problems including ___ and diabetes.

0 / 3 words

12.Light pollution wastes ___ and money.

0 / 3 words

13.Street lights and other outdoor lights often shine ___ into the sky.

0 / 3 words

14.Better lights would point ___ and use less power.

0 / 3 words

15.Several cities in Europe now use special street lights that direct light only toward ___.

0 / 3 words

16.These lights have ___ that stop light from going upward.

0 / 3 words

17.In protected natural areas, park managers use ___ instead of white lights.

0 / 3 words

18.People can use ___ to keep indoor light from shining outside.

0 / 3 words

19.___ can help because they turn lights on only when someone is nearby.

0 / 3 words