Part 1. Vocabulary
|
consequence |
/ˈkänsikwəns/ n - a result or effect of an action or condition Many have been laid off from work as a consequence
of the pandemic.
|
|
devastating |
/ˈdevəˌstādiNG/ adj - highly destructive or damaging A devastating earthquake struck some countries in
Asia.
|
|
uninhabitable |
/ˌənənˈhabədəb(ə)l/ adj - of a place not suitable or not good for living in The house had been declared uninhabitable because it
is very old.
|
|
endure |
/inˈd(y)o͝or,enˈd(y)o͝or/ v - suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently Many people must endure the difficult times right
now.
|
|
vulnerable |
/ˈvəln(ə)rəb(ə)l/ adj - susceptible to physical or emotional attack or
harm We are all in a vulnerable position because of
different illnesses.
|
Part 2. Comprehension Questions:
1. What is climate change?
2. How warm was the world compared to
the 19th century?
3. What are some of the impacts of
climate change?
4. Why will poor countries suffer the most
because of climate change?
5. What could happen if the temperature
cannot be kept within 1.5C?
Part 3. Article Reading
What is climate
change?
Climate is the average weather in
a place over many years. Climate change is a shift in those average conditions.
The rapid climate change we are now seeing is caused by humans using oil, gas
and coal for their homes, factories, and transport. When these fossil fuels
burn, they release greenhouse gases - mostly carbon dioxide (CO2). These gases
trap the Sun's heat and cause the planet's temperature to rise.
The world is now about 1.2C
warmer than it was in the 19th Century - and the amount of CO2 in the
atmosphere has risen by 50%. Temperature rises must slow down if we want to
avoid the worst consequences of climate change, scientists say. They say
global warming needs to be kept to 1.5C by 2100.
However, unless further action is
taken, the planet could still warm by more than 2C by the end of this century. If
nothing is done, scientists think global warming could exceed 4C, leading to devastating
heatwaves, millions losing their homes to rising sea levels, and irreversible
loss of plant and animal species.
What is the
impact of climate change?
Extreme weather events are
already more intense, threatening lives and livelihoods. With further warming, some
regions could become uninhabitable, as
farmland turns into desert. In other regions, the opposite is happening, with
extreme rainfall causing historic flooding - as seen recently in China,
Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
People in poorer countries will
suffer the most as they do not have the money to adapt to climate change. Many
farms in developing countries already have to endure climates that are
too hot and this will only get worse.
Our oceans and their habitats are
also under threat. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia, for example, has
already lost half of its corals since 1995 due to warmer seas driven by climate
change.
Wildfires are becoming more frequent as climate change increases the risk of
hot, dry weather.
And as frozen ground melts in
places like Siberia, greenhouse gases trapped for centuries will be released
into the atmosphere, worsening climate change.
In a warmer world, animals will
find it harder to find the food and water they need to live. For example, polar
bears could die out as the ice they rely on melts away, and elephants will
struggle to find the 150-300 liters of water a day they need. Scientists
believe at least 550 species could be lost this century if action is not taken.
How will
different parts of the world be affected?
Climate change has different
effects in different areas of the world. Some places will warm more than
others, some will receive more rainfall and others will face more droughts.
If temperature rise cannot be
kept within 1.5C:
·
The UK and Europe will be vulnerable
to flooding caused by extreme rainfall
· Countries in the Middle East will experience
extreme heatwaves and farmland could turn into desert
·
Island nations in the Pacific region could
disappear under rising seas
·
Many African nations are likely to suffer
droughts and food shortages
·
Drought conditions are likely in the western US,
while other areas will see more intense storms
·
Australia is likely to suffer extremes of heat
and drought
Source: See Full Article https://news.yahoo.com/
( BBC News)