Directions: Read the following text. Choose
the best word or phrase for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C, or D on your
ANSWER SHEET. It is an unfortunate fact of today’s
life that most people are growing up unable to see the stars. The prime night
sky exists only 1 pictures. This is
true not only in cities and suburbs, but also in 2
areas. We have lost our view of the stars and
3 our nighttime environment as well. Such
a loss 4 be acceptable if light
pollution were the inevitable price of progress, 5
it is not. Most sky glow is 6
. It comes mainly from lighting sources that do little to
increase 7 safety, security or utility.
They produce only glare, 8 over one
billion dollars annually in the U.S. alone.
9 science, the impact has been even more dramatic.
Scientists require observations of extremely faint objects that can only be
10 with advanced devices at sites
11 of air pollution and urban sky glow.
For example, some images of the objects can 12
information about faraway comers of the universe, helping us
understand the way in 13 our world was
actually formed. 14 , the light from
these objects can be lost at the very end of its 15
in the glare of our own sky. Reducing light
pollution is not difficult. It 16 that
public officials and citizens be 17 of
the problem and act to counter it. As 18 , people can help reduce sky glow just by 19
lighting only when necessary. The stars above us
are a 20 heritage. We must do our best
to preserve it.
