Reading 1
Which of these is actually a law?
A. It is illegal to whistle at dogs in Kentucky
B. It is illegal to watch TV after midnight in Wyoming
C. It is illegal to sing in your car in Alabama
D. It is illegal to keep Christmas decorations up after January 14 in Maine
E. It is illegal to drink water while walking in Oklahoma
F. It is illegal to wear a green hat in South Carolina
✅ Answer: D
Explanation:
Maine historically had municipal regulations stating holiday decorations should not remain after January 14.
Source:
Maine State Archives
https://www.maine.gov/sos/arc
Also referenced in:
Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library
Paragraph 14
Question:
According to experts, what additional benefits can community composting programs provide besides waste reduction?
Answer:
They can create jobs and produce compost that enriches local soil.
Paragraph 15
Question:
What simple behavioral change do experts recommend as one of the most effective ways to reduce food waste?
Answer:
Not overbuying or overpreparing food and trusting your senses instead of expiration dates.
The government hired an environmental ________ to advise farmers on how to convert organic waste into productive soil nutrients.
consultant
Before launching the recycling project, scientists carefully studied the economic ______ of turning food waste into energy.
Answer: viability
The mayor explained that stricter recycling rules would soon become ________ for all businesses operating within the city.
Answer: mandatory
Paragraph 11
Question:
Despite South Korea’s success, what major limitation do experts warn about regarding its recycling system?
Answer:
Some municipal recycling facilities are reaching capacity and need more diversified recycling streams.
Paragraph 12
Question:
Why has fertilizer produced from recycled food waste struggled to find buyers?
Answer:
Livestock diseases reduced demand for food waste as animal feed, leaving excess fertilizer with few purchasers.
Paragraph 13
Question:
How is South Korea encouraging citizen participation in composting through urban agriculture programs?
Answer:
By offering composting courses and grants and training residents to convert food waste into fertilizer.
Urban planners must carefully analyze the ________ of waste in order to design more efficient recycling systems.
Answer: source
The environmental report used several charts to ________ how composting reduces methane emissions.
Answer: illustrate
Paragraph 8
Question:
According to experts, what two major barriers prevent many U.S. states from banning organic waste in landfills?
Answer:
High costs and logistical challenges of building recycling infrastructure.
Paragraph 9
Question:
What two factors are considered essential for successful municipal food waste recycling programs?
Answer:
Convenience and cost effectiveness.
Paragraph 10
Question:
What key design feature makes curbside food waste collection particularly effective for households?
Answer:
Residents can dispose of food waste directly from home rather than transporting it elsewhere.
The city council plans to ________ a new compost collection program beginning next spring.
Answer: implement
Which one is real?
A. It is illegal to give alcohol to fish in Ohio
B. It is illegal to feed ice cream to squirrels in Michigan
C. It is illegal to talk to ducks in Minnesota
D. It is illegal to give sandwiches to raccoons in Iowa
E. It is illegal to take selfies with chickens in Indiana
F. It is illegal to teach dogs how to dance in Wisconsin
✅ Answer: A
In Ohio, it is illegal to intentionally intoxicate animals, and this includes giving alcohol to fish. While there is no single statute that explicitly says “you can’t get a fish drunk,” the state’s animal cruelty laws and environmental regulations make such an act unlawful.
When evaluating recycling policies ______ cost efficiency, the Korean model performs better than many Western systems.
Answer: in terms of
Community gardens benefit when residents contribute food scraps that can later become nutrient-rich ______.
Answer: compost
Paragraph 6
Question:
Why does South Korea charge residents for food waste disposal through yellow bag fees?
Answer:
Because food waste is heavy and expensive to transport, and the fees help offset the cost through a pay-as-you-throw system.
Paragraph 7
Question:
What major environmental problem is caused when food waste in the United States ends up in landfills?
Answer:
It produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
Many consumers now prefer to buy ______ produce because it is grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
Answer: organic
Which law is real?
A. You cannot drink soda while driving in Texas
B. You cannot chase a greased pig in Minnesota
C. You cannot whistle while biking in Oregon
D. You cannot run while eating a sandwich in Pennsylvania
E. You cannot eat cheese while running in Idaho
F. You cannot dance in the rain in Michigan
Minnesota’s Minnesota Statute 343.36 makes it illegal to operate, run, or participate in any contest, game, or similar activity in which a pig (or chicken or turkey) is released and the goal is to capture it. This includes greasing, oiling, or otherwise preparing the animal for such a contest MN Revisor's Office.
The statute explicitly bans:
Holding contests where a pig is greased, oiled, or otherwise prepared and released for capture.
Similar contests involving chickens or turkeys thrown into the air for capture MN Revisor's Office.
Next year, the government plans to ______ a nationwide program requiring businesses to separate food waste from regular trash.
Answer: implement
Paragraph 4
Question:
After food waste is collected and processed in South Korea, what three useful products can it become?
Answer:
Biogas, animal feed, or fertilizer.
Which of these laws actually exists?
A. Donkeys cannot sleep in bathtubs in Arizona
B. You cannot carry a banana on public transport in New York
C. You cannot ride a skateboard while smiling in Florida
D. You cannot wear sunglasses indoors in Colorado
E. It is illegal to whistle after midnight in Kansas
F. It is illegal to wear green socks on Sundays in Maine
✅ Answer: A
📚 Explanation:
A historic Arizona law prohibited donkeys sleeping in bathtubs after a flood in the 1920s carried away a donkey in a bathtub and caused a costly rescue operation.
Source:
Arizona State Library – Historical Laws
https://azlibrary.gov
Also documented in:
Dumb Laws Archive
https://dumblaws.com
Paragraph 5
Question:
Why does Hong argue that food waste systems should remain convenient for citizens rather than intentionally inconvenient?
Answer:
Because easy and accessible systems encourage participation while still supporting policies that reduce waste overall.
The city’s agricultural program distributes compost as a natural ________ for community gardens.
Answer: fertilizer
The city expanded its food recycling program by turning restaurant scraps into ______ that could be used to enrich soil in public gardens.
Answer: compost
The ______ invested millions of dollars in new composting facilities to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
Answer: municipality
Paragraph 1
Question:
What special system requires Seoul residents to purchase designated yellow bags to dispose of their food waste?
Answer:
South Korea’s mandatory food waste composting system, which requires residents to buy designated food waste bags.
Paragraph 2
Question:
According to Hwang, what cultural or generational experience explains why older South Koreans tend to waste less food?
Answer:
They grew up during a time when South Korea was poor and food was scarce, so people valued food more and wasted very little.
Paragraph 3
Question:
What environmental crisis pushed the South Korean government to begin implementing major food waste policies in the 1990s?
Answer:
Landfills in Seoul were approaching capacity, creating a waste management crisis.
Which of these strange laws is REAL?
A. It is illegal to wake a sleeping bear to take a photo in Alaska
B. It is illegal to dance if you are wearing socks in Texas
C. It is illegal to eat pizza upside down in Chicago
D. It is illegal to laugh loudly after 10 p.m. in Nevada
E. It is illegal to wear yellow shoes on Mondays in California
F. It is illegal to whistle while eating soup in Oregon
✅ Answer: A
📚 Explanation:
Alaska actually has a wildlife protection rule making it illegal to wake a sleeping bear for a photograph, mainly to protect both humans and animals.
Source:
Alaska Department of Fish and Game – Wildlife Protection Regulations
https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=livingwithwildlife.bearsafety
Many environmental organizations argue that food waste should be addressed first ________ prevention rather than disposal.
in terms of
Researchers discovered that most methane emissions originate from organic waste that has been ________ in landfills.
Answer: discarded