Informational Reading
Read the article and answer the following questions:
Daylight Saving Time History In the eighteenth century, Benjamin Franklin had an idea that became what we know today as daylight saving time (DST). Franklin realized that in some seasons, people wasted several hours of daylight while they slept. Then, in the evenings, they had to rely on candles. Candles were very expensive, and Franklin wanted to save money. He did not suggest a change in the clock. Instead, he urged people to get up earlier and go to bed earlier. However, this idea eventually led to DST. How It Works The concept of DST is fairly simple. Every fall, we “fall back,” or set our clocks back by one hour. This helps us maximize winter’s minimal hours of daylight. Every spring, we “spring forward,” or set our clocks ahead by one hour. In essence, we gain an hour in the fall and lose an hour in the spring. In the United States, all states except Hawaii and most of Arizona participate in DST. Public Opinion Supporters of DST like having plenty of time to be active outside. When people are outside, they are not using electricity at home. Therefore, they may save money on energy costs. But critics claim that DST does not actually save energy. Some research suggests that increased electricity use in the morning cancels out decreased electricity use in the evening. For example, increased air conditioning costs cancel out decreased lighting costs. Some people argue that an extra hour of evening daylight actually encourages people to spend money. For example, they leave the house to shop. If saving money is the goal of DST, it likely fails. Health Concerns Many people have trouble adjusting to the DST changes, especially in the spring. Some people are groggy for several days as their bodies adapt. Some researchers suggest that this adjustment period may damage the heart due to interrupted sleep cycles. Reduced sleep decreases productivity. It also increases tiredness and harms overall health. Making the Adjustment Easier Experts suggest that people ease into a DST shift. A few days before the change, in the spring, for example, people can start going to bed fifteen minutes earlier. Then they can gradually increase the change until they reach an hour. Experts also recommend taking a daily nap, as long as it is not too close to bedtime. Finally, moderate exercise several times per week helps people get higher-quality sleep.
#15
How does the section “Public Opinion” contribute to the article?
A. It shows that DST is no longer controversial.
B. It suggests that DST does not meet its goals.
C. It provides a balanced report of both perspectives.
D. It helps readers adjust to losing an hour each spring.