Even in a city as large and industrialized as Kansas City, beautiful nature can be found and enjoyed. Parks and nature preserves are located all over the city. Sometimes, it can be hard to find them unless you know where to begin looking. A good place to start is the Parks Department Web site. On it, you will find the locations of these and other great parks.
For the nature lover, hiking trails are very important. Trails can be smooth sidewalks through manicured parks or rough dirt tracks through wilderness areas. Kansas City has both and everything in between. Whether you are a young, avid hiker or a senior citizen looking for a leisurely stroll, you will find something.
Shawnee Mission Park is one of Kansas City’s most popular parks. This 1,250 acre park is one of the most visited parks in the state. It has beautiful hiking trails for people of all ages and abilities. Native wildlife is everywhere! Also, Shawnee Mission Park has a sparkling lake and camp grounds. For the dog lovers, Shawnee Mission Park has one of the largest off-leash dog parks in the city!
A short drive outside of Kansas City will take you to Fleming Park, the largest park in the area. Fleming Park is a popular destination for bird watchers and is the home of the Burroughs Audubon Library. The park also contains two lakes, campgrounds, and hundreds of miles of trails. Don’t forget your bathing suit and your wildlife guide!
In the city, it is easy to forget that we are animals and that we live with nature. Get out to one of these great parks to remember those facts. If you do not have access to a car, check the Parks Department Web site and look for something in your area or just off of the public transportation routes. It is worth your time.
10
The reader can infer that the writer probably began researching this article
A.
on the Parks Department web site.
B.
by driving around searching for parks.
C.
by talking to citizens of Kansas City.
D.
at the Kansas City public library.
A. on the Parks Department web site.
The first drive-in movie theater was opened in 1933 by inventor Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr. He realized that parents would like to be able to watch movies with their kids without having to worry about how loud they were. Also, they would not have to hire a babysitter. Though the first drive-in lasted only three years, the idea soon caught on. Drive-ins popped up all over the country.
The number of drive-ins grew rapidly after World War II. The popularity of drive-in theaters peaked in the late 1950s and early 1960s. At one point, there were around 4,000 drive-in theaters operating in the United States. Early theaters used speakers behind and around the screen to project sound. Later, single speakers attached to wires were hung in one window of each car. Some drive-ins had playground equipment for children between the screen and the first row of cars. One thing that all drive-ins had was a snack bar at the back of the parking area. The price of admission was per person, so often teenagers would crawl into the trunk until the car was inside for a free show. Teenagers also enjoyed the privacy of the drive-in for dating!
When land costs rose and VHS movie rentals made watching movies at home possible, most drive-ins closed down. The drive-in was dead. But in the early 21st century, a drive-in revival began. Vacant parking lots were reclaimed and movies were shown on the sides of buildings. Speakers were no longer necessary because the sound could be transmitted to the car stereo. Many middle-aged people just enjoyed being able to relive the part of their lives that occurred in drive-ins. Today, there is a drive-in near most major cities and in many rural areas, as well.
11
Which is the best summary of the third paragraph?
A.
One reason drive-ins closed down was that land costs rose.
B.
Drive-ins have seen a significant revival in the 21st century.
C.
The rental of VHS tapes was a cause of drive-ins closing down.
D.
Most drive-ins closed down but have since seen a revival.