Big City Lights
There are a lot of advantages to living in or near large cities. These popular areas attract schools, jobs, stores, and restaurants. Large cities also attract many arts and entertainment places. Even with these benefits, large cities still lack one thing–a great view of the stars.
Light pollution is when artificial light goes upward and hides the night sky from view. Artificial light is man-made light. It is particularly plentiful in large cities. Sources of man-made light include streetlamps, billboards, parking lots, and athletic fields. Sometimes this light disturbance looks like fog or haze. It prevents people from observing a starlit sky. Instead, a person walks outside on a clear night and sees a blank, dark sky. The ability to see stars is a treasure that is quickly becoming lost. Light pollution is such a problem that many people can no longer tell the difference between stars and satellites.
If a person from a large city goes to a rural area and walks outside on a clear night, he or she will be amazed at the vast number of stars and planets in the sky. Many of them can be seen with the naked eye.
Light pollution has a solution. People should use light bulbs with low wattages. Also, lighting should be directed downward instead of upward or sideways. This helps keep light from spoiling the night sky. The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is a group that brings awareness to the problem of man-made light on the night sky. The IDA also promotes dim outdoor lighting.
1
What does the author mean when he or she writes, "Even with these benefits, large cities still lack one thing—a great view of the stars"?
A.
The riches of a large city do not replace the simple beauty of seeing a starlit sky.
B.
Most people from large cities are too busy to notice that they cannot see the stars.
C.
Even though rural areas are far from large cities, they still have light pollution.
D.
Rural areas compete with large cities for the best entertainment choices.
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