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.