TOEFL ITP Reading set 012
Reading Comprehension practice — read the passage and choose the best answer.
มลพิษทางแสงกับการศึกษาท้องฟ้ายามค่ำคืน
- Line numbers appear every 5 lines.
- Answer all 10 questions, then choose ตรวจคำตอบ to see the Thai translation, score summary, and explanation.
- Use Previous / Next to open the previous or next practice set.
Many towns now teach residents why streetlights and bright
signs can hide the night sky. Light pollution is the glow
that rises from cities and washes out faint stars. When
outdoor lamps shine upward or sideways without shields,
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their light scatters in the air and creates a pale dome
over neighborhoods. Children who grow up under that dome
may never see the Milky Way from their own street. Local
science clubs, schools, and parks have begun evening
programs that explain the problem in simple language.
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Educators start by comparing photos of the same sky taken
from a dark hillside and from a busy downtown. The contrast
helps families understand that lost stars are not a small
detail but a real change in daily experience. Guides also
show maps that mark areas where the sky still looks dark.
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These maps encourage weekend trips that turn learning into
a shared outdoor activity.
The lessons go beyond astronomy. Biologists explain that
bright nights confuse migrating birds and delay sleep for
some animals that hunt after sunset. Energy advisers note
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that poorly aimed lights waste electricity and raise town
bills. Safety experts remind listeners that glare can make
it harder, not easier, to see sidewalks and road edges.
Because of these linked effects, education programs invite
homeowners, shop owners, and city planners to the same
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workshops. Participants practice choosing fixtures that
point light downward and selecting warmer colors that
disturb wildlife less.
Schools often add a hands-on project. Students measure
sky brightness with simple meters or smartphone apps, then
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present charts to the class. Some groups write letters
asking officials to adopt shielding rules for new lamps.
Others organize a star party where telescopes sit in a
park after dusk. Volunteers dim nearby floodlights for
one hour so guests can notice the difference. Over time,
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towns that keep teaching these habits report clearer
views of planets and constellations. The goal is not to
turn off every light but to use lighting wisely. When
communities learn why the night sky matters, they can
protect both safety on the ground and wonder overhead.