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Passage 1: Excerpt from Will Yellow School Buses Soon Become Rolling Ads?1 Tight school budgets could soon translate into Missouri school districts selling ad space on yellow school buses.2 Missouri state Rep. T.J. Berry, R-Kearney, says his billHB 224isnt a cure-all by any stretch. But legalizing ads inside and outside the buses would give school districts one additional way to raise money in these tough times.3 Every single school district has had to deal with budget concerns, Berry said last week. And generally speaking, the way they have had to deal with those has been cuts or tax increases.4 The school bus is something that is already out there and paid for, he said. His bill would permit districts to generate a modest stream of income from their buses.5 Few question the need for finding additional funds when it comes to educating children, but at least two groups think the school bus exteriors should remain ad-free.6 There is no such thing as free money, said Josh Golin, associate director for the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood. There are real costs to this: the price of selling out your students to advertisers.7 Students dont need the first and last message they receive from their schools each day to be advertisements, Golin said. Students boarding a bus are certainly a captive audience.8 The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services opposes advertising on safety grounds. Obscuring the recognizable school-bus yellow exterior with ads and distracting other drivers present a safety problem around school buses that cannot be ignored, the group said in its position paper.9 National studies have shown that anything that diverts a drivers attention from the road can pose a hazard, opponents say.10 And a big yellow bus doesnt distract? Berry asked.11 Several years ago in Indiana, a Department of Education lawyer suggested that allowing advertisements on buses would invite First Amendment challenges by spurned advertisers, the group noted.12 Berry said the bill would limit the types of advertising that would be allowed.13 The regulations would prohibit ads that contain obscene or sexual material, or messages associated with gambling, tobacco products, alcohol, and political campaigns or causes. The ads could not promote drug use or any illegal activity or antisocial behavior. They cant contain harmful, discriminatory, false, misleading or deceptive messages.14 There are a lot of safeguards being built in, he said.15 Berry emphasized that the space reserved for the ads would be very limited, meaning toward the back of the bus.16 By 2012, nine statesArizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas and Utahpermitted advertising on the exterior of school buses, according to the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. Several, including Missouri, considered it last year.17 The bill made it out of the Missouri House last year but did not clear the Senate, Berry said. He acknowledged that the idea was very controversial.(questions)In Passage 1, how does the author represent the various points of view on the issue of advertisements on school buses?A)by providing quotes from people on both sides of the issueB)by describing the financial benefits for both sides of the issueC)by sharing anecdotes from politicians on both sides of the issueD)by elaborating on the benefits that would result from both sides of the issue
Passage 1: Excerpt from Will Yellow School Buses Soon Become Rolling Ads?1 Tight school budgets could soon translate into Missouri school districts selling ad space on yellow school buses.2 Missouri state Rep. T.J. Berry, R-Kearney, says his billHB 224isnt a cure-all by any stretch. But legalizing ads inside and outside the buses would give school districts one additional way to raise money in these tough times.3 Every single school district has had to deal with budget concerns, Berry said last week. And generally speaking, the way they have had to deal with those has been cuts or tax increases.4 The school bus is something that is already out there and paid for, he said. His bill would permit districts to generate a modest stream of income from their buses.5 Few question the need for finding additional funds when it comes to educating children, but at least two groups think the school bus exteriors should remain ad-free.6 There is no such thing as free money, said Josh Golin, associate director for the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood. There are real costs to this: the price of selling out your students to advertisers.7 Students dont need the first and last message they receive from their schools each day to be advertisements, Golin said. Students boarding a bus are certainly a captive audience.8 The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services opposes advertising on safety grounds. Obscuring the recognizable school-bus yellow exterior with ads and distracting other drivers present a safety problem around school buses that cannot be ignored, the group said in its position paper.9 National studies have shown that anything that diverts a drivers attention from the road can pose a hazard, opponents say.10 And a big yellow bus doesnt distract? Berry asked.11 Several years ago in Indiana, a Department of Education lawyer suggested that allowing advertisements on buses would invite First Amendment challenges by spurned advertisers, the group noted.12 Berry said the bill would limit the types of advertising that would be allowed.13 The regulations would prohibit ads that contain obscene or sexual material, or messages associated with gambling, tobacco products, alcohol, and political campaigns or causes. The ads could not promote drug use or any illegal activity or antisocial behavior. They cant contain harmful, discriminatory, false, misleading or deceptive messages.14 There are a lot of safeguards being built in, he said.15 Berry emphasized that the space reserved for the ads would be very limited, meaning toward the back of the bus.16 By 2012, nine statesArizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas and Utahpermitted advertising on the exterior of school buses, according to the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. Several, including Missouri, considered it last year.17 The bill made it out of the Missouri House last year but did not clear the Senate, Berry said. He acknowledged that the idea was very controversial.(questions)In Passage 1, how does the author compare the issues of tax increases and advertising on buses?A)They are both actions that require safeguards.B)They are both issues of controversy in school districts.C)They are both possible approaches to dealing with budgetary concerns.D)They are both present problems that cannot be ignored by state representatives.
Passage 2: Excerpt from School Bus Ads Bring Needed Revenue to Area Districts18 School buses are carrying more than students these days.19 The vehicles sport fancy advertisements for local businesses and events.20 It's part of the effort for school districts to make money in these budget-strapped times.21 And it is paying off.22 Lewis-Palmer School District 38 made about $8,000 in its first effort last year with eight advertisers and 11 buses. This year, it is expanding.23 "Ultimately we hope to have advertisements on every bus to maximize our income," said Robin Adair, D-38 spokeswoman. The district, which has had $11 million in cuts in recent years, is seeking a $4.5 tax increase in the November election.24 D-38 has 56 buses that collectively travel more than a half million miles a year. That could be a lot of bang for the advertising buck, and a nice amount of change for district coffers. Like Lewis-Palmer, most districts that allow advertising on their buses choose to put the money in general funds to help with such things as higher fuel and utility expenses and increased contributions to pension funds and student activities.25 Other Pikes Peak districts that use their buses as rolling billboards are Colorado Springs School District 11 and Falcon School District 49.26 Some of the advertisements on Lewis-Palmer buses include dentists, restaurants, insurance agents, a gymnasium, PTA's and the district's own programs.27 A.B. Tellez, owner of Rosie's Diner in Monument, said he signed up for two buses, one middle school that features kid's meals and shakes, and an elementary bus that features, of course, chicken nuggets. "Those buses drive everywhere. It's awesome marketing. But there is more to it than that. It's being part of the community, helping out the schools. They need funds. I thought it was neat to use dollars to support the community as well as the community supporting us."28 The districts report that the ads are approved by administrators before they are placed on the buses. There are none inside the buses to entice kids. The products must be child friendly -- no alcohol, tobacco, gaming or distasteful subjects. They don't usually allow advertising from other schools that might compete with them for students.29 Colorado in 1997 was the first state to allow school-bus advertising.(the question)Which quote from Passage 2 provides evidence that many school districts are dealing with budgetary concerns?A)"Lewis-Palmer School District 38 made about $8,000 in its first effort last year with eight advertisers and 11 buses." (paragraph 22)B)That could be a lot of bang for the advertising buck, and a nice amount of change for district coffers. (paragraph 24)C)Like Lewis-Palmer, most districts that allow advertising on their buses choose to put the money in general funds to help with such things as higher fuel and utility expenses (paragraph 24)D)Some of the advertisements on Lewis-Palmer buses include dentists, restaurants, insurance agents, a gymnasium, PTAs and the district's own programs. (paragraph 26)