1 . Las Vegas city in Nevada is built in a desert. The city may be known to the outside world for its partying. But officials have found that there are 21 square kilometers of useless grass. The grass is never laid on, played on or even stepped on. The grass is only there to look nice.
Now, the city is asking the Nevada state legislature (立法机构) to ban useless grass. It is trying to become the first place in America to ban that kind of grass often seen between streets, in housing developments and in office parks.
It is estimated that useless grass makes up 40% of all the grass in Las Vegas and it needs a lot of water to survive. Grass needs four times more water than dry climate plants like cactus. By tearing out the grass, the city could reduce yearly water usage by 15%.
In 2003, the Southern Nevada Water Authority banned developers from planting grass in front of new homes. It also offered homeowners $30 for each square meter of grass they tear out. But fewer people are now using the program. Water usage has increased in southern Nevada by 9% since 2019. And last year, Las Vegas set a record of 240 days without major rainfall. The Colorado River provides much of Nevada’s drinking water. The river could lose more water as climate change affects it.
Water officials in other dry cities said water usage needs to be reduced. But they fear the reaction to reforms like the ones in Las Vegas if their communities do not accept them. Cynthia Campbell is the water resources adviser for the city of Phoenix in Arizona. “There might come a point when city restrictions get too severe (苛刻的) for some residents (居民). They’ll say that is the point of no return for them,” Campbell said. “For some people, it’s a pool. For some people, it’s grass.”
1. Why does Las Vegas city try to ban useless grass?A.To protect the local people. | B.To beautify the city. |
C.To reduce water usage. | D.To reduce waste. |
A.Allowing planting grass before new houses. |
B.Encouraging the residents to tear out grass. |
C.Praising those who signed on the program. |
D.Awarding those who reduced water usage. |
A.Many residents will never follow the ban. |
B.Influence and reaction from the reform will be different from person to person. |
C.Other measures should be taken to protect water. |
D.Water officials should take many factors into consideration. |
A.Las Vegas Plans to Ban Useless Grass | B.A Method Is Adopted to Save Las Vegas |
C.Choices between Beauty and Practice | D.Grass Is Important but Useless in Las Vegas |
2 . The days of hearsay “he said, she said” reports on school bus incidents might be over, at least in Pennsylvania.
Recently, Governor Tom Corbett has signed legislation(法律)allowing the use of sound recording equipment on school buses, and many districts are taking advantage of the law. The recordings can be used for “disciplinary(纪律的)and safety purposes,” the law states.
A growing number of incidents on buses created a pressing need for monitoring(监控), said Dan Castagna, West Mifflin Area superintendent(who is in charge of all the schools in the area). “Lots of students are forced into a small space, so it seems like no matter what we do,we see busing issues arise,” Mr. Castagna said. “Often you get a lot of ‘he said, she said’ and have a hard time getting the whole story. Now we can see what you’re doing and hear what you’re saying.”
“There are no teachers or principals(校长)on the bus, just the driver,” said Woodland Hills School District superintendent Alan Johnson. “Sometimes they are working with 30 or more students, so that can become very problematic. It’s hard to know how incidents started and who was saying what without the sound recording.
State Senator Richard Alloway agreed. “We viewed it as a protection bill for the school bus drivers who are driving a machine weighing thousands of pounds, trying to focus on the road while carrying dozens of kids with their backs to them,” said Senator Alloway.
Some civil rights advocates, though, argue giving up privacy is too great a cost. Andy Hoover, legislative director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, said the legislation has violated students right to privacy.
“Our kids are going to be watched at all times,” Mr. Hoover said. “They discuss their home situation, their academic situation, and school officials could be picking up on those conversations if the technology is strong enough. I would hope that people are thoughtful enough to address challenging situations without having to put a microphone on every student.”
1. The purpose of sound recording equipment on school buses is ______.A.to avoid busing issues | B.to discipline school bus drivers |
C.to monitor the performance of buses | D.to understand students’ educational needs |
A.a bit boring | B.really tough | C.very rewarding | D.rather simple |
A.he paid little attention to it | B.he was curious about it |
C.he disapproved of it | D.he doubted it |
A.introduce new recording technologies | B.report some school bus incidents |
C.describe the life of bus drivers | D.discuss a newly signed law |
3 . California will be the first state to ban the sale and manufacture of new fur products.
California’s fur law was one of several bills designed to prevent cruelty to animals. “California is a leader when it comes to animal protection and today that leadership includes banning the sale of fur, ” said Governor Newsom in a news report. “
Many retailers are also ending fur sales. In mid-October, Macy’s (American’s department store) announced it will stop fur from all its stores by the end of 2020. The stores will also close all fur vaults and salons. Other fashion brands such as Prada, Gucci, Michael Kors and Burberry have taken similar steps in recent years.
A.But we are doing more than that. |
B.California is taking the lead in protecting animals. |
C.Similar laws have been carried out globally already. |
D.And that in turn will leave many people unemployed. |
E.Two other California cities had already banned fur sales. |
F.Not surprisingly, the ban is welcomed by animal rights activists. |
G.The ban applies to clothing, shoes, handbags and other things that contain fur. |