▶ Topic : "Articifial Turf"
▶ Reading Script :
Artificial turf is a type of synthetic surface often used in athletic playing fields. Simply put, it replaces the real grass on playing fields. As many popular sports such as football and baseball require a field, artificial turf has become popular as a viable substitute for grass. There are several reasons for this.
First of all, artificial turf is cheaper to maintain. Once the synthetic surface has been installed on the field, then there is very little that goes into maintaining it. Unlike natural grass, which requires daily water, fertilizer, and mowing, artificial turf can survive on its own because it is synthetic. Thus almost no money or time needs to be invested in maintenance.
Secondly, artificial turf is more sustainable. This is quite a contrast to natural turf, which dies after only a few uses by athletes. Again, because of the synthetic plastic ingredients, artificial turf is very resilient, therefore eliminating the need to replant the field.
Finally, artificial turf simply has a fresher, more uniform look. When you look at a natural field , depending on the age of the field and the season, the field may look either lush or messy. But when you look at an artificial field at any given time, you will almost always see a nice uniform field, unmarked by wear and tear. A pleasant looking field will make the game experience that much better for the audience, and the athletes will also feel safer as they will not need to worry about tripping on uneven parts of the field.
By using more artificial turf, we can lower the cost of athletic activities and enjoy more pleasant-looking fields . Artificial turf is rewriting the history of athletic fields. Perhaps in the future, more sports teams will use artificial fields.
▶ Listening Script :
Today, we are going to discuss artificial turf. Although artificial turf has benefits as shown in the article from the scholarly journal, it also has some notable drawbacks.
One drawback of artificial turf is that it can injure athletes on the field. Because many types of artificial turf are made out of synthetic plastics, the friction when slipping or sliding on the ground can actually burn athletes ' skin. Especially for those sports that require much sliding and tackling, such as baseball and soccer, the use of artificial turf could lead to a high number of injuries.
Another drawback is that artificial turf is a known carcinogen. Most artificial turfs are constructed with rubber chips underneath. Although these chips are used to protect the field , studies have shown that these chips can also increase the chance of getting cancer. Some athletes have reported that after finishing a game on artificial turf, they smell something burning. Perhaps the burning smell and higher incidence of cancer are related.
Finally, the synthetic field is not capable of neutralizing bacteria the way that natural grass can According to a study done by Major League Baseball (MLB), because artificial turf does not have the ability to neutralize bacteria, artificial turf maintenance managers have begun using disinfectants as often as twice a month. The more disinfectants and bacteria the athletes are exposed to, the bigger the threat to the athletes’ health.
At the end of the day, there is no doubt that artificial turf is a better economic choice. But we must realize that there are more important concerns than economics. We need to wαry about the environment and we need to worry about our athletes’ health. Remember, the optimal solution for society is something that can make the vast majority of people happy. |