Buổi 45: Thi thử giữa khóa – Listening + Reading (tính giờ) & tự đánh giá giữa khóa

The town that turned off the lights

(Bài đọc tự viết; thị trấn, nhân vật và số liệu là giả định.)

A Three years ago, the small town of Eastmere made an unusual decision. To save money, the town council agreed to switch off most of its streetlights between midnight and five in the morning. Lights on main roads and near the hospital would stay on, but those on quiet residential streets would be turned off.

B The reaction from residents was mixed. Some were delighted, especially those who had complained for years that light shining into their bedrooms kept them awake. Others were worried. Several older residents said they would feel unsafe walking home at night, and a local shop owner feared that break-ins would increase.

C After the first year, the council published a report on the results. The town’s electricity bill for street lighting had fallen by almost forty per cent. Contrary to many people’s fears, police records showed no increase in crime. In fact, the number of reported burglaries was slightly lower than in the previous year, although the report noted that this might have happened for other reasons.

D There were also unexpected benefits. A group of amateur astronomers found that they could see far more stars from the town than before, and they began organising monthly stargazing evenings, which have become popular with families. Local wildlife groups reported that bats, which avoid bright light, had returned to some gardens.

E Not everyone has been won over. Some residents still say they feel nervous in the dark, and the council has responded by installing motion-sensor lights on a few paths, which switch on only when someone walks past. The council leader, Martin Hale, admits that the decision was “not perfect,” but says that most people now accept it. Other towns in the region are watching Eastmere closely before making similar changes.