When schools across America shifted to remote learning during the pandemic, a hidden inequality was suddenly exposed: the digital divide. While some students logged on from home offices with high-speed internet, others struggled with unreliable connections or no internet access at all. According to the Federal Communications Commission, approximately 21 million Americans lack broadband access, with rural and low-income communities most affected.
The consequences extend beyond education. Job applications, healthcare appointments, and government services increasingly require internet access. Without it, entire communities are cut off from opportunities. Some solutions are emerging - from mobile hotspot lending programs to community Wi-Fi initiatives - but closing the digital divide requires significant investment in infrastructure.
Advocates argue that internet access should be considered a public utility, as essential as water or electricity. Until high-speed internet reaches every home, the promise of equal opportunity remains unfulfilled.
Statement A: "The passage states that 21 million Americans lack broadband access."
Statement B: "The author uses statistics to emphasize the scope of the digital divide."
Statement A is: _____________ Statement B is: _____________
Jasmine had practiced her speech a hundred times. Every word was memorized, every pause calculated. The state speech competition was her chance to prove herself - to show everyone who had ever doubted her that she belonged on that stage.
But when they called her name, her legs felt like lead. As she walked to the podium, she saw her main competitor, David Chen, in the front row. He smiled - not smugly, but kindly. She remembered how he'd helped her find the right room that morning when she'd been lost.
Halfway through her speech, her mind went blank. The silence stretched. David was watching, and instead of enjoying her failure, his eyes seemed to encourage her. Keep going, his expression said.
She took a breath, found her place, and finished. She didn't win - David did - but as she walked off stage, she felt something unexpected. She didn't feel defeated. She felt like she'd discovered that competition didn't have to mean cruelty, and that losing to someone gracious didn't make her a loser.
In abandoned warehouses and on city rooftops, a quiet revolution is growing. Urban farming - cultivating food in city environments - has expanded dramatically, with vertical farms, rooftop gardens, and community plots transforming how cities feed themselves.
The benefits are numerous. Urban farms reduce food miles (the distance food travels from farm to plate), cutting transportation emissions. They provide fresh produce to "food deserts" - neighborhoods lacking grocery stores with healthy options. They create green spaces that reduce urban heat and absorb pollution.
However, challenges remain. Urban land is expensive, and farming requires water, light, and labor. Some critics question whether urban farms can produce enough food to make a significant impact on the food supply. Still, proponents argue that even modest contributions to local food systems create environmental and social benefits that justify the investment.
"This great article explains how awesome urban farming is and how we should definitely support it because it solves so many important problems."
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