Could you stand the noise of a street-sweeping truck going up and down the street outside of your house three times a week at 4 a.m.? The noise—described by Blomberg as “loud as a NASCAR (全国运动汽车竞赛协会) race car but at a speed of 5 miles per hour—annoyed him so much that he tried to persuade the city to rearrange for street sweeping to begin at 6 a. m. He also founded the non-profit Noise Pollution Clearinghouse, an organization that provides research and information to others whose request for quiet might otherwise fall on deaf ears.
Hearing loss is the most obvious medical consequence of noise pollution, but it is hardly the only one, explains environmental psychologist Airline Bronzaft. In her research, Bronzaft found that constant noise exposure can reduce children’s learning ability and cognitive（认知的） development. “Most importantly, each day, you’ve got to take a break from sound regularly.” says Bronzaft.
“The bad news,” says Blomberg, “is that the last century was the noisiest in history. The good news,” he continues, “is that the greener we get, the quieter we’ll also get.” Electric cars and lawn equipment make less noise, just as more fuel-efficient vehicles. Improved technology can also provide measures to make the problem less serious. Police cars could replace those loud sirens (警报器) with models that better aim the sound in one direction.
“I don’t think you can name a noise source that I can’t find a way to make it quieter,” says Blomberg. But the real challenge is to change people’s attitudes. “ In the 1960s, we made it unacceptable to throw litter out of the window of your car,” he says. Today it’s time to recognize that “noise is to the soundscape as rubbish is to the landscape.” The goal is to “create a culture where you do not throw your ‘noise’ litter out of the window.”
1. What do we know about the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse?
A. It was founded by the city leaders.
B. It is supported by NASCAR.
C. It can rearrange the street sweeping time.
D. It aims to help those who want more peace and quiet.
2. What can be inferred from the environmental Psychologist Arline Bronzaft?
A. Hearing loss is the most serious problem caused by noise pollution.
B. Children are the least affected by noise.
C. We should avoid noise for some time every day.
D. We should have a break once in a while if tired.
3. What did Blomberg do when he was greatly annoyed by the noise of a street-sweeping truck?
A. He suggested that the street-sweeping truck should go faster.
B. He suggested that the street-sweeping time should be changed.
C. He called on the citizens to do research on noise pollution.
D. He persuaded the city to change the street-sweeping truck for a new model.
4. According to Blomberg, _________.
A. it’s impossible to make a noise-maker quieter
B. noise problem can be solved through everyone’s efforts.
C. in the 1960s, throwing ‘sound’ litter out of the window was forbidden
D. street sweeping should be stopped forever