A green area of grass called a lawn has been popular in American yards for a long time. But a growing number of gardeners and homeowners now consider the lawn as something that belongs in the past. Dennis Liu of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation in Durham, North Carolina, said “America is unique in its fixation on the monoculture lawn.” Monoculture is a term that means growing only one species. Now, drought, falling insect populations and other environmental issues could show the need for more kinds of plants in spaces large and small. Some cities are taking steps against lawns. Las Vegas, for example, is banning all grass lawns and requiring their removal. The city has struggled with water scarcity, an issue that is likely to become worse in the coming years. Other cities are handing out lawn signs with “healthy yard” written on them. The idea is to encourage homeowners who do not use lawn chemicals or cut their grass less often. Many towns are making rules about common tools like gas-powered leaf blowers and mowers, mostly because of noise. In parts of the U.S., people are experimenting with more “eco-friendly” lawns. They are planting seed mixes with native grasses that do not need as much water. Others are cutting the grass in their lawns less and letting old plant enemies such as dandelions and clover grow. Still others are trying to replace lawns, completely or bit by bit, with garden beds that are friendly for important insects such as bees.
Title: Americans Ideas About Their Lawns Are Changing
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/A16.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Americans Ideas About Their Lawns Are Changing' data-article-id='6099'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='8646'>A green area of grass called a lawn has been popular in American yards for a long time. </span> <span data-start-time='8646' data-end-time='17000'>But a growing number of gardeners and homeowners now consider the lawn as something that belongs in the past.</span> <span data-start-time='17000' data-end-time='30688'>Dennis Liu of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation in Durham, North Carolina, said “America is unique in its fixation on the monoculture lawn.” </span> <span data-start-time='30688' data-end-time='36521'>Monoculture is a term that means growing only one species.</span> <span data-start-time='36521' data-end-time='49896'>Now, drought, falling insect populations and other environmental issues could show the need for more kinds of plants in spaces large and small.</span> <span data-start-time='49896' data-end-time='53771'>Some cities are taking steps against lawns. </span> <span data-start-time='53771' data-end-time='61208'>Las Vegas, for example, is banning all grass lawns and requiring their removal.</span> <span data-start-time='61208' data-end-time='69042'>The city has struggled with water scarcity, an issue that is likely to become worse in the coming years.</span> <span data-start-time='69042' data-end-time='75042'>Other cities are handing out lawn signs with “healthy yard” written on them. </span> <span data-start-time='75042' data-end-time='83479'>The idea is to encourage homeowners who do not use lawn chemicals or cut their grass less often. </span> <span data-start-time='83479' data-end-time='93646'>Many towns are making rules about common tools like gas-powered leaf blowers and mowers, mostly because of noise.</span> <span data-start-time='93646' data-end-time='99958'>In parts of the U.S., people are experimenting with more “eco-friendly” lawns. </span> <span data-start-time='99958' data-end-time='106333'>They are planting seed mixes with native grasses that do not need as much water.</span> <span data-start-time='106333' data-end-time='115979'>Others are cutting the grass in their lawns less and letting old plant enemies such as dandelions and clover grow. </span> <span data-start-time='115979' data-end-time='128208'>Still others are trying to replace lawns, completely or bit by bit, with garden beds that are friendly for important insects such as bees.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/A16.jpeg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=18599 data-hint-location='0' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/a_green_area_of_grass_called_a__blank__has_been_popular_in_american_yards_for_a_long_time.wav'>A green area of grass called a <span class='blank'>lawn</span> has been popular in American yards for a long time.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='lawn'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/lawn.wav'><span>lawn</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/pawn.wav'><span>pawn</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/fawn.wav'><span>fawn</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/yawn.wav'><span>yawn</span></div></div></div><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=18600 data-hint-location='17000' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/which_of_the_following_is_a_definition_of_the_word_unique.wav'>Which of the following is a definition of the word unique?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='being the only one of its kind'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/being_the_only_one_of_its_kind.wav'><span>being the only one of its kind</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/showing_or_characterized_by_a_tendency_to_commit_crime.wav'><span>showing or characterized by a tendency to commit crime</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/present_appearing_or_found_everywhere.wav'><span>present, appearing, or found everywhere</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/situated_occurring_or_done_beneath_the_surface_of_water.wav'><span>situated, occurring, or done beneath the surface of water</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=18601 data-hint-location='53771' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/what_is_the_city_las_vegas_banning.wav'>What is the city Las Vegas banning?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='grass lawns'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/grass_lawns.wav'><span>grass lawns</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/gravel_lawns.wav'><span>gravel lawns</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/trees.wav'><span>trees</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/glass.wav'><span>glass</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
Sound Name: https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5535/A16.wav
Preview
