Reading (Passage)
Read the following passage carefully.
(8 Marks)
(1) We worry a lot about smog, water and noise pollution, but seldom think of light pollution one of the fastest environmental alterations caused by humans. Orbiting satellites show our planet awash in its own light, which drowns incident light from space. Light literally spills out of everything manmade - from industry to public and residential buildings and roads. Astronomers first noticed in the 1980s, when the telescope atop Mt. Wilson in San Diego was shut down due to this sky glow or 'light trespass from the town. It was reducing their ability to observe the night sky.
2) Because of artificial light, songbirds serenade a false dawn, and others migrate prematurely. The moon is a directional reference for birds. On moonless nights, confused migrating flocks have been known to fly into tall illuminated buildings - sometimes killing thousands of them. Nocturnal birds
and mammals like bats, badgers, and otters are often discouraged from using their feeding grounds
if they are artificially lit. And newly-hatched turtles that aim for the glow of the horizon above the
sea find themselves blindly heading inland, instead, to their deaths. Many photosensitive plants, too are affected by light pollution mistiming their blooms, or failing to flower at all.
(3) Look around and see how many street lamps - some of them aglow even at midday-toss light
energy skywards, instead of down onto the ground. If you are old enough to remember how the sky
looked, say, 30 years ago, you'll probably remember seeing our own galaxy the Milky Way But not
anymore. Of the dozen constellations of the zodiac, five are now 'invisible' in most light-polluted skies, while the other seven have many of their stars 'missing. If only we realized that better lighting leads to lesser energy needs-ergo, less pollution from unnecessary power stations.
Bit by bit, we are losing a direct connection with the universe. For the light from stars takes millions of years to reach us-only to be lost when it touches Earth
On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions briefly
(a)Astronomers first noticed it in the 1980s" (paragraph 1). What does 'it' refer to here?
(b) Why was the telescope atop Mt. Wilson in San Diego once shut down?
(c) How does artificial light affect birds?
(d) What difficulty do some nocturnal creatures face due to artificial light?
fel How does the artificial light affect newly-hatched turtles?
How does light pollution affect some plants?
(g) "But not anymore paragraph 3). What does not happen anymore and why?
(h) Why do we need better lighting?
Answers
Answer:
a) Astronomers first noticed in the 1980s, when the telescope atop MT. Wilsan in San Diego was shut down due to this sky glow or 'light trespass from the town. It was reducing their ability to observe the night sky
Answer:
a. Light pollution was first noticed by astronomers in 1980's.
b. Sky glow or light trespass from town caused telescope atop Mt. Wilson in San Diego to shut down.
c. Artificial light changes the behavior of birds as they confuse it with sunlight.
d. Nocturnal animals get discouraged from feeding in their feeding grounds if the grounds are artificially lit.
e. Newly-hatched turtles, aim for the glow of the horizon above the sea. But due to presence of artificial light they find themselves blindly heading inland leading to their deaths.
f. Many photosensitive plants are affected by light pollution hampering their blooms or failing to flower at all.
g. Our own galaxy the Milky Way cannot be seen anymore in the night sky due to Light pollution.
h. Better lighting leads to lesser energy needs and therefore less pollution from unnecessary power stations. Furthermore better lighting can strengthen our connection with nature.
Explanation:
a. We are worried a lot about smog, water and noise pollution, but we rarely think about light pollution. Regarded as one of the fastest human-made environmental changes, orbiting satellites show our planet in its own light. Light comes from literally all man-made objects-from industry to public and residential buildings and streets.
b. 'Light trespass' results in decreased visibility of the night sky.
c. Due to the artificial light, the songbirds sing a false dawn, and the other birds take off prematurely. The moon is the direction reference for birds. On moonless nights, confused swarms of birds are known to dive into highly illuminated buildings, sometimes killing thousands of them.
d. Nocturnal animals those animals which are predominantly active at night. They hunt for food at night and sleep during the day.
e. Newly hatched turtles rely on the sun in the horizon for direction but due to presence of artificial light in land they confuse it with sun and tend to move inwards.
f. Plants are called photosensitive if they tend to sprout, grow, bloom, and produce fruit depending on the seasonal changes in sunlight.
g. The Milky Way Galaxy is the galaxy that makes up our solar system and is the name that describes the appearance of the galaxy as seen from Earth. The blurred band of light seen in the night sky is made up of stars that are indistinguishable to the naked eye.
h. Of the 12 constellations of the zodiac, five are now "invisible" in most light-polluted skies, while the other seven are "lost" in many stars. We should opt for better lighting as it would reduce the energy needed and at the same time the pollution from unwanted power plants.
Little by little, we lose our direct connection to the universe. Because it takes millions of years for the light from the stars to reach us-it is lost only when it touches the Earth.
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