The use of pesticides should be abolished - Con

Ever since the development of pesticides to combat insects and protect our agriculture, there has been a persistent cry among the general public for their abolishment. This criticism is not warranted. Pesticides have helped improve our lives and world in significant ways. For the government, farmers, and the general public, the use of pesticides has brought many clear benefits. The use of pesticides should not be abolished.

Pesticides have helped the government in fulfilling its duties. One duty of the government is to provide food to its people in a financially sustainable manner. In this respect, pesticides have helped to maintain a healthy supply of fruits and vegetables to the public. The use of pesticides also raises the overall prosperity of the country. Because pesticides lower the cost of fruits and vegetables, the public spends less money on agricultural products and have more money to spend on other parts of their lives. This boosts a nation's economy.

Pesticides have also brought obvious advantages for farmers. Farmers are able to harvest more, higher quality crops at a lower cost. This increases their efficiency and allows them to produce more fruits and vegetables in a shorter span of time. By doing so, they can reduce expenses and increase profit. Without pesticides, farmers would have no viable means of protecting their crops. In fact, it could be argued that modern agriculture could not exist without the use of pesticides.

Finally, the use of pesticides has improved the lives of the general public. Due to the use of pesticides, consumers are able to enjoy produce that is free from decay. Produce is also much cheaper for the consumer due to the high yields that pesticides allow. Also, thanks to pesticides, the public is able to enjoy a wider variety of fruits and vegetables. This is because farmers have the luxury to spend more time and risk to grow and raise more unique types of crops. When you consider all of the benefits that pesticides provide the public, it is folly to consider abolishing them.

While some critics of pesticides worry and fret about the potential harm that pesticides may cause, there are simply too many benefits they provide to abolish them. For the government, farmers, and the general public, the use of pesticides has brought a world of positive changes. The use of pesticides is a positive step that should not be abolished.

The use of pesticides should be abolished - Pro

Among the most significant changes in modern day agriculture has been the introduction and widespread usage of pesticides to protect crops from insects. There is much debate over the necessity and benefits of pesticides. This debate centers around the impact pesticides have on the government, to farmers, and to the public. While some believe that pesticides have had a positive effect overall, there are many strong reasons the use of pesticides should be abolished.

In terms of the government, the use of pesticides clearly has caused many serious problems. One of the chief responsibilities of governments is to protect the health of the public. Yet, there is a large amount of evidence that pesticides are harmful to human health. An increase in illnesses caused by pesticides would lead to a huge burden for the government which must pay a large portion of the public's medical expenses. There is also the issue of environmental pollution. Pesticides which make their way into land and water must be cleaned by the government as well.

For farmers, while pesticides have aided in increasing crop harvests, they have also adversely affected them negatively as well. While a bountiful harvest may seem desirable, it makes it much harder for farmers to survive financially.  Bumper crops mean that there is an oversupply in the market, which can cause excess competition among farmers. Competition forces farmers to lower prices on their crops, resulting in a loss of money. This especially hits small farmers the hardest because they cannot afford to take losses. In addition, pesticides affect the health of farmers most severely, as they are in direct contact with the harmful chemicals. Pesticides are harmful to farmers in terms of health and finances.

For the public, the main hazard pesticides present is the effects pesticides have on health. Long term consumption of pesticides, even in small amounts, has been shown to contribute to cancers and other serious diseases. However, the public should not only be wary of fruits and vegetables. Consider the water that runs off farm land. It is filled with pesticide residue which ultimately runs into lakes and oceans. This harms ocean life. Even near farms, livestock such as pigs and cows consume the pesticides directly. In short, pesticides can be found in everything people consume. Any substance that poses such a danger to the public should be banned.

Due to pesticides, fruits and vegetables grown by farmers have escaped the damage caused by insects, helping to produce agricultural products at a cheaper cost. In spite of these benefits, there are too many dangers of pesticides that cannot be ignored. For the government, farmers, and the public, the use of pesticides brings more problems than solutions. In weighing the pros and cons of pesticides, it is clear that their use should be abolished.

Greatest 20th Century Inventions 2

Lexile: 850L

In 1969, Neil Armstrong rode on a rocket to become the first person to step on the moon. This was not due to the invention of the rocket. It was thanks to computer-based technology. The latter half of the 20^th century has produced more technologically brilliant inventions than in all of history combined. Here are just three of the revolutionary high-tech inventions from the past half century that have reshaped our world.

A list of great inventions must always start with the modern computer. Advances in computers take place at a breathtaking rate. The first computer, ENIAC, was built in 1946 and weighed 30 tons. Today, a pocket calculator is more powerful. Computers have become an essential part of our lives. They are the brains in all of our modern devices – automobiles, the airplane, even our microwave ovens. The world could not revolve today without the help of computers.

Computers have played a large role in creation of our second invention – the mobile phone. On mobile phones, we can communicate, play games, and even do our shopping. However, that is not why they are so revolutionary. Mobile phones give us the unprecedented ability to move and travel, yet still be connected to other people. Like the automobile, mobile phones have given us the freedom to go and be anywhere. We are no longer bound by where we are on the planet.

The last, great invention is not technically even a machine. It is the Internet. It has given us the ability to discover and interact with information, people, and ideas in ways never possible before. The Internet is truly a window to the world. While media of the past such as radio and television let us see and hear the world, the Internet allows us to reach out, grab, and change it.

These three inventions are amazing displays of technology. However, these inventions are the greatest in the 20^th century because they improve our lives. They have opened the doors to our future. 

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Greatest 20th Century Inventions 1

When you imagine great inventions of the past 100 years or so, you probably think of the modern devices of today. LCD monitors. Laptop computers. Smartphones. In actuality, the greatest inventions happened much, much earlier in the 20th century. Here are some of the greatest inventions from the first half of the century which revolutionized the world we live in today.

The first and perhaps most awe-inspiring invention of the 20th century was the invention of the airplane by the Wright brothers in 1903. The airplane connected vast parts of the world in a way that was impossible before. Today, modern airplanes can carry hundreds of people around the world in under a day. The airplane was the first step to a connected world.

Another invention in the early 20th century brought modern transportation to everyday people - the automobile. The first mass produced automobile, the Model-T was built by Henry Ford in 1908. It was every person’s “airplane.” For the first time, people could travel great distances quickly. But it brought more than transportation. People finally had the freedom to travel and change their lives.

Last but not least, there was the invention that brought the world into the homes of all of our lives. While the airplane and automobile were able to move people, the invention of the television in the 1930s sparked the movement of ideas and cultures. People were able to view exotic scenes from all over the world. They could witness important events live. The television brought world’s cultures closer together.

We all marvel at the wonderful electronic gadgets of today. However, we should take a moment to appreciate the great early inventions of the 20th century. They have built the bedrock for our modern world.

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Wars should not be televised - Pro

Lexile: 740L

One fundamental right in a free, democratic country is that the people must be allowed to know what their government is doing. This right is the basis of “freedom of the press” and the public’s “right to know.” There are cases, though, when these rights are tested. In wartime, a country may try to limit or hide information. One way to do this is to ban the televising of the war. Does banning the televising of war violate the ideas of freedom of the press, and the public’s right to know? There is no simple answer.

First, let’s look at the freedom of the press. Freedom of the press means that journalists can report news without censorship. During a war, war correspondents televise events from the war to the public. This ensures the military is not doing anything unethical or immoral. Without this freedom, a free country could easily turn into a dictatorship.  On the other hand, there are many problems in televising wartime events. Sometimes, journalists are not impartial. They may televise only negative scenes from the war. In addition, televising wars may make wars seem like entertainment. This does not give honor to the soldiers.

Now, let’s consider the public’s right to know. The right to know is a basic right. In a free country, people need information to elect their officials and to protest unfair policies. Therefore, people should see the events in a war. If these events were not televised, it would easy for the government to hide the truth. However, even in a free country, the public must be protected. Sometimes, there is extreme violence. Violent incidents should not be televised. Also, the government has always had the right to block some types of information. In those cases, the government’s power can supersede the rights of the people. Many war events should be kept secret, and so wars should not be televised.

The decision to televise a war has many issues. However, the rights of the people must always be considered. It is a difficult decision with no clear-cut answer.

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Wars should not be televised - Con

Lexile: 870L

Fighting a war is possibly the most tragic event that a country can live through. For most of that history, ordinary citizens could not see what took place during war. The invention of the television in the 20th century changed all of this. Wars were broadcast into the living rooms of millions of families. Here is a look at how the televising of wars affects the government, the military, and its soldiers.

First, the televising of wars poses many difficulties for the government. Many scenes from war can be brutal. Televising wars can create a negative public opinion about the government. Televising wars also puts our military in danger. If an event in a war is televised, the enemy can gain valuable information. They could learn the location of military troops for instance. However, showing wars on television can also be of help to the government and military. The footage from war can create patriotism among people. It can cause people to support the troops and cheer them on to victory.

For the soldiers of the military, the televising of wars is also both a blessing and a curse. Often, when wars are televised, the public begins to blame the soldiers for the death and violence. When these soldiers come home from the war, they are treated cruelly, sometimes even as criminals for taking part in the killing of lives. However, there are positives. The televising of wars keeps the families of soldiers updated on their status. Also, without television, it would be hard to show how brave the men and women in the military are. Televising wars documents the heroic sacrifices and actions of these soldiers.

For both the government and its military, televising wars brings many issues that must be carefully considered. 

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How to deal with Earth's growing population 2

LISTENING

LEXILE: 830

WORDCOUNT: 347

As the world's population increases, many changes will be necessary. These changes are needed not only in our societies. In order to sustain a growing population, we must also make changes in the way we manage our most precious asset - the earth.

One change we must make is the way we use earth's resources. More people on earth will mean more mouths to feed. This is especially critical in third world countries where starvation is a real threat to survival. In these areas, land must be conserved so that there is always enough fertile land for farming. This applies to water as well. Clean, drinking water is essential for survival. We must also protect areas with forests. Forests clean earth's air and are home to many types of wildlife. Protecting and conserving earth's resources will be a big step to sustaining a growing population.

With an increasing population, there will also be more pollution. We must do all we can to fight this pollution, especially in urban areas. We must encourage people to drive electric or hybrid cars to reduce greenhouse gases. Also, everyone must do their part to recycle their waste. Recycling will help to keep earth clean and decrease the manufacturing of new products. By taking these steps in reducing pollution, we will allow more people to live on the planet comfortably.

Finally, we must develop new sources of energy. Currently, our main source of energy comes from oil that is brought up from the ground. This oil will soon dry up. However, there are many other sources for energy. Energy can be collected from the sun using solar panels. Wind can power engines to make electricity. Even dams can be built to draw power from rivers. Developing these types of alternative sources will ensure that we will never run out of energy.

The earth is our home. And it is getting more crowded each passing day. Just like our family homes, we must take steps to clean and protect it. By doing so, earth will be able to support its growing family of people. 

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