1. a) What is the National Bridge Inventory? (see "Background" below the questions for the answer)
b) How many U.S. bridges were inspected for the NBI report?
c) How does the FHWA determine which bridges to inspect for its NBI report? (see "Background" below the questions for the answer)
d) How many bridges were classified structurally deficient; how many were classified fracture critical; how many were classified as both structurally deficient and fracture critical?

2. Define structurally deficient and fracture critical.

3. Define vital component and redundant protections as used in para. 2.

4. a) How do engineers and officials view bridges that are structurally deficient or fracture critical?
b) What reassurance does the head of the FHA, Victor Mendez, give for concerns about bridge safety?

5. List the reasons that many bridges need to be repaired or replaced.

6. What is the main reason many bridges are not getting needed repairs, and instead getting patches or temporary improvements?

7. a) What do you think: The federal government gets its money from the states (income tax, corporate tax and other taxes). If the federal government does not have the money to give states the funding needed to repair bridges, should the money be taken from other government programs (education, military, medicaid/medicare, etc.) to do so? Or should taxes be raised to get the money needed? If so, which taxes? Or should the states find money to fix their bridges? Or are the repairs being made now adequate? Explain your answer.
b) Ask a parent the same question.