8th grade nonfiction passage about public goods and taxes: 262 words, six questions, an answer key and vocabulary.
8th gradenonfictionpublic goods and taxes262 words
Why Nobody Sells Streetlights Door to Door
Imagine a company that wants to sell streetlight service to a neighborhood. It installs a lamp at the corner and sends a bill to each family that wants light. The trouble is that a streetlight shines on everyone who walks or drives past, whether they paid or not. A family that refuses to pay still enjoys the glow, so many families may decide to let the others pay. If enough people reason this way, the money never arrives and the lamp is never built.
Economists call this the free rider problem, and it appears whenever a benefit is shared by everyone and cannot easily be withheld from those who do not pay. Goods and services with this feature are often called public goods. Clean air, a lighthouse beam, and a tornado warning siren all work in a similar way, because it is difficult to give the benefit to one person without giving it to the people nearby.
One common solution is for the community to pay together through taxes. A city council decides how many lights are needed and where they should stand, and the cost is spread among property owners and other taxpayers. This does not mean everyone agrees on every decision. Residents may argue about whether a particular street needs another lamp or whether the money should go to repairing a bridge instead. Those arguments are part of how a community weighs its shared needs against its limited funds, and they are the reason that residents can speak at public meetings and vote for the leaders who make those choices.
Questions
What problem would a company selling streetlight service run into? in the text
What do economists call this problem? in the text
Which other example of a public good does the passage name? in the text
How does a community often pay for streetlights? in the text
Why is it hard to give a streetlight's glow to only one family? think about it
Why might residents argue about adding another lamp? think about it
Words to know
economists
people who study how money, goods and choices work
benefit
something good that you get from something
withheld
kept back and not given
taxes
money people pay to a government for shared services
residents
people who live in a certain place
Name ____________________________ Date ______________
Why Nobody Sells Streetlights Door to Door
8th grade reading passage
Imagine a company that wants to sell streetlight service to a neighborhood. It installs a lamp at the corner and sends a bill to each family that wants light. The trouble is that a streetlight shines on everyone who walks or drives past, whether they paid or not. A family that refuses to pay still enjoys the glow, so many families may decide to let the others pay. If enough people reason this way, the money never arrives and the lamp is never built.
Economists call this the free rider problem, and it appears whenever a benefit is shared by everyone and cannot easily be withheld from those who do not pay. Goods and services with this feature are often called public goods. Clean air, a lighthouse beam, and a tornado warning siren all work in a similar way, because it is difficult to give the benefit to one person without giving it to the people nearby.
One common solution is for the community to pay together through taxes. A city council decides how many lights are needed and where they should stand, and the cost is spread among property owners and other taxpayers. This does not mean everyone agrees on every decision. Residents may argue about whether a particular street needs another lamp or whether the money should go to repairing a bridge instead. Those arguments are part of how a community weighs its shared needs against its limited funds, and they are the reason that residents can speak at public meetings and vote for the leaders who make those choices.
Questions
What problem would a company selling streetlight service run into?
What do economists call this problem?
Which other example of a public good does the passage name?
How does a community often pay for streetlights?
Why is it hard to give a streetlight's glow to only one family?
Why might residents argue about adding another lamp?
Words to know
economists: people who study how money, goods and choices work
benefit: something good that you get from something
withheld: kept back and not given
taxes: money people pay to a government for shared services
residents: people who live in a certain place
Free at teach.peabody.kids/passages/8/why-nobody-sells-streetlights-door-to-door
Share
One passage, three levels
The same topic and facts written three ways, so a mixed class can read and talk about one text. Each group’s sheet shows only a shape; the key says which is which.
● Easier · 238 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.8
Picture a company that wants to sell streetlight service to a neighborhood. It puts up a lamp at the corner. Then it sends a bill to each family that wants light. But there is a problem. A streetlight shines on everyone who walks or drives by, even if they did not pay. A family that will not pay still gets the glow. So many families may let the others pay. If enough people think this way, the money never comes, and the lamp is never built.
Economists call this the free rider problem. It happens when a benefit is shared by everyone and is hard to hold back from people who do not pay. Things like this are often called public goods. Clean air, a lighthouse beam, and a tornado warning siren work in a similar way. It is hard to give the benefit to one person without giving it to the people nearby.
One common fix is for the community to pay together with taxes. A city council decides how many lights are needed and where they go. The cost is shared by property owners and other taxpayers. People do not always agree. Residents may argue about whether a street needs another lamp or whether the money should fix a bridge. These talks help a community weigh its needs against its limited money. They are also why residents can speak at public meetings and vote for leaders.
▲ This passage · 262 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 10
Imagine a company that wants to sell streetlight service to a neighborhood. It installs a lamp at the corner and sends a bill to each family that wants light. The trouble is that a streetlight shines on everyone who walks or drives past, whether they paid or not. A family that refuses to pay still enjoys the glow, so many families may decide to let the others pay. If enough people reason this way, the money never arrives and the lamp is never built.
Economists call this the free rider problem, and it appears whenever a benefit is shared by everyone and cannot easily be withheld from those who do not pay. Goods and services with this feature are often called public goods. Clean air, a lighthouse beam, and a tornado warning siren all work in a similar way, because it is difficult to give the benefit to one person without giving it to the people nearby.
One common solution is for the community to pay together through taxes. A city council decides how many lights are needed and where they should stand, and the cost is spread among property owners and other taxpayers. This does not mean everyone agrees on every decision. Residents may argue about whether a particular street needs another lamp or whether the money should go to repairing a bridge instead. Those arguments are part of how a community weighs its shared needs against its limited funds, and they are the reason that residents can speak at public meetings and vote for the leaders who make those choices.
■ Harder · 278 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 12
Imagine an enterprising company that wishes to sell streetlight service to an entire neighborhood. It installs a lamp at the corner and mails a bill to every family that wants illumination. The difficulty is that a streetlight shines upon everyone who walks or drives past, regardless of whether they paid for it. A family that declines to pay still enjoys the glow, so many families may reason that they can simply let their neighbors cover the cost. If enough people follow this logic, the money never arrives and the lamp is never built.
Economists call this the free rider problem, and it arises whenever a benefit is shared by everyone and cannot easily be withheld from those who refuse to pay. Goods and services with this characteristic are commonly known as public goods. Clean air, the beam of a lighthouse, and a tornado warning siren all function in a similar manner, because it is nearly impossible to deliver the benefit to one person without also delivering it to everyone in the vicinity.
One widespread solution is for the community to pay collectively through taxes. A city council determines how many lights are required and where they should stand, and the expense is distributed among property owners and other taxpayers. This does not imply that everyone agrees with every decision. Residents may debate whether a particular street deserves another lamp or whether the money ought to go toward repairing a bridge instead. Such debates are part of how a community weighs its shared needs against its limited funds, and they explain why residents are able to speak at public meetings and vote for the leaders who make these choices.
Picture a company that wants to sell streetlight service to a neighborhood. It puts up a lamp at the corner. Then it sends a bill to each family that wants light. But there is a problem. A streetlight shines on everyone who walks or drives by, even if they did not pay. A family that will not pay still gets the glow. So many families may let the others pay. If enough people think this way, the money never comes, and the lamp is never built.
Economists call this the free rider problem. It happens when a benefit is shared by everyone and is hard to hold back from people who do not pay. Things like this are often called public goods. Clean air, a lighthouse beam, and a tornado warning siren work in a similar way. It is hard to give the benefit to one person without giving it to the people nearby.
One common fix is for the community to pay together with taxes. A city council decides how many lights are needed and where they go. The cost is shared by property owners and other taxpayers. People do not always agree. Residents may argue about whether a street needs another lamp or whether the money should fix a bridge. These talks help a community weigh its needs against its limited money. They are also why residents can speak at public meetings and vote for leaders.
Questions
What problem would a company selling streetlight service have?
What do economists call this problem?
Name one other public good from the passage.
How does a community often pay for streetlights?
Why is it hard to give a streetlight's glow to just one family?
Why might residents argue about adding another lamp?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
Why Nobody Sells Streetlights Door to Door
Imagine a company that wants to sell streetlight service to a neighborhood. It installs a lamp at the corner and sends a bill to each family that wants light. The trouble is that a streetlight shines on everyone who walks or drives past, whether they paid or not. A family that refuses to pay still enjoys the glow, so many families may decide to let the others pay. If enough people reason this way, the money never arrives and the lamp is never built.
Economists call this the free rider problem, and it appears whenever a benefit is shared by everyone and cannot easily be withheld from those who do not pay. Goods and services with this feature are often called public goods. Clean air, a lighthouse beam, and a tornado warning siren all work in a similar way, because it is difficult to give the benefit to one person without giving it to the people nearby.
One common solution is for the community to pay together through taxes. A city council decides how many lights are needed and where they should stand, and the cost is spread among property owners and other taxpayers. This does not mean everyone agrees on every decision. Residents may argue about whether a particular street needs another lamp or whether the money should go to repairing a bridge instead. Those arguments are part of how a community weighs its shared needs against its limited funds, and they are the reason that residents can speak at public meetings and vote for the leaders who make those choices.
Questions
What problem would a company selling streetlight service run into?
What do economists call this problem?
Which other example of a public good does the passage name?
How does a community often pay for streetlights?
Why is it hard to give a streetlight's glow to only one family?
Why might residents argue about adding another lamp?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
Why Nobody Sells Streetlights Door to Door
Imagine an enterprising company that wishes to sell streetlight service to an entire neighborhood. It installs a lamp at the corner and mails a bill to every family that wants illumination. The difficulty is that a streetlight shines upon everyone who walks or drives past, regardless of whether they paid for it. A family that declines to pay still enjoys the glow, so many families may reason that they can simply let their neighbors cover the cost. If enough people follow this logic, the money never arrives and the lamp is never built.
Economists call this the free rider problem, and it arises whenever a benefit is shared by everyone and cannot easily be withheld from those who refuse to pay. Goods and services with this characteristic are commonly known as public goods. Clean air, the beam of a lighthouse, and a tornado warning siren all function in a similar manner, because it is nearly impossible to deliver the benefit to one person without also delivering it to everyone in the vicinity.
One widespread solution is for the community to pay collectively through taxes. A city council determines how many lights are required and where they should stand, and the expense is distributed among property owners and other taxpayers. This does not imply that everyone agrees with every decision. Residents may debate whether a particular street deserves another lamp or whether the money ought to go toward repairing a bridge instead. Such debates are part of how a community weighs its shared needs against its limited funds, and they explain why residents are able to speak at public meetings and vote for the leaders who make these choices.
Questions
What difficulty would a company selling streetlight service encounter?
What term do economists use for this difficulty?
Name one other example of a public good that the passage offers.
How does a community commonly pay for streetlights?
Why is it nearly impossible to give a streetlight's glow to only one family?
Why might residents debate whether to add another lamp?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: Why Nobody Sells Streetlights Door to Door
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.8)
Families could enjoy the light without paying, so the money might never come.
The free rider problem.
Clean air, a lighthouse beam, or a tornado warning siren.
Together, with taxes.
The light shines on everyone nearby, so it is hard to hold the benefit back.
The community has limited money and other needs, like fixing a bridge.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 10)
Families could enjoy the light without paying, so the money might never arrive.
The free rider problem.
Clean air, a lighthouse beam, or a tornado warning siren.
Together, through taxes.
The light shines on everyone nearby, so the benefit cannot easily be withheld.
The community has limited funds and other needs, such as repairing a bridge.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 12)
Families could enjoy the light without paying, so the money might never arrive.
The free rider problem.
Clean air, the beam of a lighthouse, or a tornado warning siren.
Collectively, through taxes.
The light reaches everyone in the vicinity, so the benefit cannot easily be withheld.
The community has limited funds and competing needs, such as repairing a bridge.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
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Ideas for class
Before reading, put economists, benefit, withheld, taxes and residents on the board with their meanings from the Words to know section and have students predict what the text will be about.
Read it aloud once while students follow along, then have them reread it alone or with a partner. At a calm 100 words a minute it takes about 3 minutes to read aloud.
Use the Read it big button (or B) to put the text on the projector, and Show answer on one question at a time so the class commits to an answer first.
Question 5 asks the reader to infer. Ask students to point to the words in the passage that led them to their answer.
Ask students to write one question the passage did not answer, then look for the answer in a book or on a classroom screen.
Print the student copy for independent work and keep the answer-key copy for yourself.
What reading level is "Why Nobody Sells Streetlights Door to Door"?
It was written for 8th grade. It has 262 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 10.0. That is a formula's estimate from sentence length and syllables, and it is not a Lexile or a guided reading level, so check it against your students.
What do the questions ask?
There are six. 4 ask for something the text says directly and 2 ask the reader to work something out from clues. Each has an answer in the key, and the answers are written as a teacher would accept them, not as the only possible wording.
How long does it take to read?
About 3 minutes read aloud at 100 words a minute. For a one-minute fluency check, paste it into the fluency timer and use the word count.
Can I print it?
Yes. Print student copy gives the passage, the questions with lines to write on, and the word meanings. Print with answers gives the same page with the answers filled in. Both are made in your browser.
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