“Global warming has emerged as the most serious environmental threat of the 21st century. Only by taking action now can we ensure that future generations will not be put at risk” (taken from a letter to the US President from 49 Nobel Prize winning scientists).
When carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are released into the air, they cover the Earth, trapping heat inside the atmosphere – this is known as the greenhouse effect, and it is this that keeps our planet at a temperature at which life can prosper. But the massive increase in the production of these and other greenhouse gases since industrialisation has caused the effect to intensify.
The 1990s was the hottest decade on record. Over the course of the 20th century, average global temperature rose by around 0.6ºC. Over the past two decades the Earth has been warming faster than at any point in the last 1,000 years. It is now almost universally agreed that the major cause of this problem is the burning of coal and oil.
Climate scientists predict that this ratio of change will have serious consequences. Although it is difficult to judge how our weather systems will adapt to higher global temperatures, possible scenarios include an increase in unexpected floods and prolonged dry periods. The melting of the polar ice caps is one of the most worrying possibilities, causing sea levels to rise by more than 40cm by 2100.
ANSWER QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT.
1 How is industrialisation affecting the atmosphere?
2 Why is it thought that sea levels will change?
ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE?
3 Nobel Prize winning scientists are not convinced about the consequences of global warming.
4 All gas emissions are harmful for life on Earth.
5 Over the last 20 years, the world’s temperature has gone up more slowly than in the preceding centuries.
6 It is certain that there will be an increase in floods and dry periods.
7 FIND IN THE TEXT ONE EXPRESSION MEANING “in danger”.
8 FIND IN THE TEXT THE WORD WHICH HAS THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION: “of intermediate value” (ADJECTIVE).
9 GIVE ONE OPPOSITE FOR “warming” (NOUN; LINE 1).
10 GIVE AN ADJECTIVE WITH THE SAME ROOT AS “threat” (NOUN; LINE 1).
11 REWRITE THE SENTENCE WITHOUT CHANGING ITS MEANING. BEGIN AS INDICATED:
“It was such a boring book that I couldn’t finish it”. | “This book was…”.
12 TURN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE INTO REPORTED SPEECH:
“’Will hurricane Katrina be a warning for politicians?’, asked the scientist”.
13 FILL IN THE GAP WITH A CORRECT FORM OF THE VERB IN BRACKETS:
“When I came into the room he .......... (LIE) on the floor”.
14 USE THE WORDS IN THE BOXES TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL SENTENCE. USE ALL AND ONLY THE WORDS IN THE BOXES WITHOUT CHANGING THEIR FORM:
before heard I speaking never her had
WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS).
a) What would you do to help the environment?
b) Is life in our planet in danger of extinction?
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario