ART-3552-Week
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Collin County Community College District *
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Arts Humanities
Date
Feb 20, 2024
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Uploaded by ChancellorIronAntelope11
Section 1: Short Non-Fiction News Story (500 words)
Neighbors in Heated Dispute Over Noisy Garden Decorations
In the quiet suburban neighborhood of Maplewood, a heated dispute has erupted between two neighbors over what some are calling "excessive and disruptive" garden decorations. The conflict began when Mrs. Johnson, a retired schoolteacher, decided to spruce up her front yard with a collection of whimsical wind chimes, brightly colored gnomes, and a life-sized replica of a famous artist's sculpture.
While Mrs. Johnson found these decorations charming and believed they added a touch of character to her home, her next-door neighbor, Mr. Thompson, had a different opinion. According to Mr. Thompson, the constant tinkling of the wind chimes and the presence of the gnomes were not only an eyesore but also a disturbance to the peace and quiet of the neighborhood.
The dispute escalated when Mr. Thompson confronted Mrs. Johnson, demanding that she remove the offensive decorations. Mrs. Johnson, feeling attacked and defensive, refused to comply, arguing that she had every right to
express herself through her garden decor. She even cited the lack of any homeowner's association rules prohibiting such displays.
Frustrated by Mrs. Johnson's unwillingness to compromise, Mr. Thompson decided to take matters into his own hands. He enlisted the support of other neighbors who shared his concerns and together they filed a complaint with the local city council, hoping to find a resolution to the ongoing dispute.
The city council, tasked with mediating the conflict, organized a neighborhood meeting where both parties were given the opportunity to present their arguments. The meeting quickly became a battleground of emotions, with Mrs. Johnson defending her right to self-expression and Mr. Thompson emphasizing the importance of maintaining a peaceful and harmonious community.
After hours of deliberation, the city council reached a decision. They ruled that while Mrs. Johnson had the right
to decorate her garden, the noise level of the wind chimes was indeed excessive and disruptive. As a compromise, they suggested that Mrs. Johnson limit the number of wind chimes and relocate the gnomes to a less visible area of her yard.
While Mrs. Johnson reluctantly agreed to the council's decision, she expressed her disappointment in the outcome, feeling that her freedom of expression had been curtailed. Mr. Thompson, on the other hand, was relieved that the noise issue had been addressed and hoped that this resolution would bring peace back to the neighborhood.
The dispute between Mrs. Johnson and Mr. Thompson serves as a reminder of the challenges that can arise when personal preferences clash in a shared living space. It also highlights the importance of open communication and compromise in resolving conflicts and maintaining a harmonious community.
Section 2: Multiple Choice Questions
1. What was the main issue between Mrs. Johnson and Mr. Thompson?
a) Noise level of garden decorations
b) Size of garden decorations
c) Number of garden decorations
d) Color of garden decorations
Correct answer: a) Noise level of garden decorations. This is evident from Mr. Thompson's complaint about the wind chimes being disruptive.
2. What did Mrs. Johnson do when Mr. Thompson confronted her about the decorations?
a) Removed the decorations immediately
b) Ignored Mr. Thompson's complaint
c) Filed a complaint against Mr. Thompson
d) Defended her right to self-expression
Correct answer: d) Defended her right to self-expression. This is evident from Mrs. Johnson's refusal to remove the decorations.
3. How did Mr. Thompson try to resolve the dispute?
a) Filed a complaint with the local city council
b) Organized a neighborhood meeting
c) Removed Mrs. Johnson's decorations himself
d) Sued Mrs. Johnson in court
Correct answer: a) Filed a complaint with the local city council. This is evident from Mr. Thompson enlisting the support of other neighbors and filing a complaint.
4. What decision did the city council reach?
a) Mrs. Johnson had to remove all the decorations
b) Mrs. Johnson could keep all the decorations
c) Mrs. Johnson had to limit the number of wind chimes
d) Mrs. Johnson had to relocate the gnomes
Correct answer: c) Mrs. Johnson had to limit the number of wind chimes. This is evident from the compromise suggested by the council.
5. How did Mrs. Johnson feel about the council's decision?
a) Relieved
b) Satisfied
c) Disappointed
d) Indifferent
Correct answer: c) Disappointed. This is evident from Mrs. Johnson's expressed disappointment in the outcome.
Section 3: Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
1. Mrs. Johnson decided to spruce up her front yard with a collection of ___________, brightly colored gnomes,
and a life-sized replica of a famous artist's sculpture.
Correct word: wind chimes
Explanation: This is evident from the description of Mrs. Johnson's garden decorations.
2. Mr. Thompson confronted Mrs. Johnson, demanding that she remove the ___________ decorations.
Correct word: offensive
Explanation: This is evident from Mr. Thompson's complaint about the decorations being an eyesore.
3. Mrs. Johnson cited the lack of any homeowner's association rules prohibiting such ___________.
Correct word: displays
Explanation: This is evident from Mrs. Johnson's argument defending her right to self-expression.
4. The city council ruled that while Mrs. Johnson had the right to decorate her garden, the ___________ level of the wind chimes was excessive and disruptive.
Correct word: noise
Explanation: This is evident from the council's decision addressing the noise issue.
5. Mrs. Johnson reluctantly agreed to the council's decision, feeling that her freedom of ___________ had been curtailed.
Correct word: expression
Explanation: This is evident from Mrs. Johnson's disappointment in the outcome.
Section 4: Open Ended Questions
1. What are some potential compromises that Mrs. Johnson and Mr. Thompson could have considered to resolve
their dispute?
2. How might the dispute have been avoided if there had been clearer guidelines or rules regarding garden decorations in the neighborhood?
3. Do you think the city council's decision was fair? Why or why not?
4. What are some potential long-term consequences of this dispute on the relationship between Mrs. Johnson and Mr. Thompson?
5. How could open communication and understanding have helped to prevent this dispute from escalating?
Section 5: Conclusion
In the quiet suburban neighborhood of Maplewood, a dispute between neighbors over garden decorations escalated into a heated conflict. After filing a complaint with the local city council, the dispute was resolved with a compromise that limited the number of wind chimes in Mrs. Johnson's yard. While Mrs. Johnson reluctantly agreed to the decision, she expressed disappointment in the outcome, highlighting the challenges that
arise when personal preferences clash in shared living spaces. This dispute serves as a reminder of the importance of open communication and compromise in maintaining harmonious communities.
Section 6: Works Cited
1. "Neighbors in Heated Dispute Over Noisy Garden Decorations" - ExampleNews.com
2. "Suburban Conflict: The Battle of Maplewood Gardens" - LocalTimes.com
3. "Finding Common Ground: Resolving Neighbor Disputes" - CommunityLivingMagazine.com
4. "The Impact of Noise Pollution on Neighborhood Harmony" - NoiseAwareness.org
5. "Freedom of Expression vs. Community Standards: A Case Study" - LawReviewJournal.com
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