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Story:
Bridge Collapse May Be Warning Signal of U.S. Infrastructure, 08/08/07
Reading Comprehension Questions: 1. What happened in Minneapolis last week?
2. What kind of bridge is the I-35W?
3. Who inspects bridges in the United States? How was the I-35W rated? What does this mean?
4. How will the Minneapolis event impact the way in which the government inspects bridges?
5. Are U.S. bridges safe?
6. How has structural design changed since the I-35 W opened?
7. How has economics impacted bridge design?
Discussion Activity (more research might be needed): 1. Why do you think states are more likely to build new bridges and highways than to repair and maintain the ones they already have? 2. Do you think this bridge collapse will change how states spend their transportation money? Why or why not. 3. Examine and research the major bridges in your community. What is their design? When were they built? What is their safety rating according to the most recent inspections? Ask local officials, are they confident that these bridges are safe for general use? Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site. |