BEFORE YOU READ

What are the best things about nighttime? Make a ranking list by writing 1 on the best thing.

Cooler temperatures
Night creatures
Nightlife
You can sleep
The stars
Peace and quiet

DARKNESS:
Spend 60 seconds writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "darkness".

READING COMPREHENSION

The amount and brightness of light from towns and cities around the world is at such a high level that it is reducing the darkness of night. Once upon a time, when night-time fell, we were plunged into darkness.

Things are different, and brighter today.

A study published in the scientific journal Science Advances reports that artificial light at night is increasing in most countries worldwide. Scientists say it grew by 2.2 per cent a year between 2012 and 2016.

The intrusion of artificial light into our night-time is causing us many problems. The International Dark-Sky Association says it, "is not only impairing our view of the universe, it is adversely affecting our environment, our safety, our energy consumption and our health".

Study co-author Franz Holker said artificial light is a threat to our natural environment. He said: "Artificial light is an environmental pollutant that threatens nocturnal animals and affects plants and microorganisms."

He added: "[It] has ecological and evolutionary implications for many organisms from bacteria to mammals, including us humans, and may reshape entire social ecological systems."

Many environmentalists thought the introduction of energy-efficient LED lights would help the planet. However, cities have ended up using more LED lights because they are cheaper, which is actually adding to the light pollution. Night-time light decreased in 16 countries, including war-torn nations such as Yemen and Syria.


Check out images of light pollution in cities like Barcelona and New York here.

TRUE OR FALSE?

Write T (true) or F (false), according to what the text says.

The article said levels of brightness were at high levels.
The article says the study was published in a newspaper.
Light pollution is impairing our view of the universe.
Light pollution is adversely affecting our safety.
The study said artificial light is a danger to night-time animals.
The study said only bacteria are not affected by light pollution.
Energy-efficient LED lights have helped reduce light pollution.
Light pollution has increased in every country in the world.

SYNONYM MATCH

Match the synonyms. You'll find the word list below.

amount
reducing
artificial
threat
consumption of energy = the of energy
pollutant
entire
environmentalists
adding to
war-torn

Palauta Peruuta