Page 82 - BB_Textbook

Step Three: Watch the video, follow along with the tape script, and answer these eight questions.
1. According to the talk, greenhouse gases are produced by:
■ a) Theat from the sun
■ b) Tthe actions of people
■ c) the sun’s rays and the actions of people ■ d) he speaker doesn’t mention this
2. Which of these things is a greenhouse gas?
■ a) carbon monoxide
■ b) carbon dioxide
■ c) oxygen
■ d) the speaker doesn’t say
3. What are the clean sources to generate power?
■ a) gas, oil, coal
■ b) oil
■ c) coal
■ d) solar and wind power
4. What can we do to reduce levels of carbon dioxide?
■ a) driving to work
■ b) burning coal
■ c) using public transportation
■ d) riding bikes, walking, using public
transportation, turning off lights
5. If the planet gets warmer:
■ a) we can expect more storms and floods
■ b) sea level will rise
■ c) fuel becomes less expensive
■ d) animals like polar bears will become extinct
6. What does “extinct” mean?
■ a) rare
■ b) endangered
■ c) in need of protection
■ d) something like animals or plants no longer exist
7. If the planet continues to heat up, ________________ expect to experience more extreme weather.
■ a) then will we
■ b) then can we
■ c) then we can
■ d) then should we
8. Which of these things is not mentioned in the talk?
■ a) wave energy ■ b) car pooling ■ c) coral reefs ■ d) heat waves
Climate Change Basics
Climate change has been in the news for years but what is it and how will it affect us? To understand climate change, you first need to know about the greenhouse effect.
The Earth gets heat from the Sun in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) trap this heat and keep it from escaping back to outer space. Trapping some heat in the atmosphere is a good thing because it keeps the planet warm enough for us to live.
But there’s a problem, for people all over the world are adding too much carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. That’s because today we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas for everyday activities like driving cars, using computers, and heating homes. All of this extra carbon dioxide is trapping more heat in the atmosphere, which makes the Earth warmer and causes other climate change effects, too.
The signs of climate change are all around us. Temperatures are getting warmer, giant ice sheets are melting, and the oceans are rising. In many places, flowers are blooming earlier, snow is melting sooner, and birds aren’t flying as far south for the winter.
So why does this matter? If the planet keeps getting warmer, we can expect more powerful storms and more severe flooding, drought, and heat waves. These changes may cause additional problems like the spread of certain diseases. There will be more wildfires. Food and water shortages are more likely. Climate change endangers entire ecosystems, such as coral reefs and deltas. Many plant and animal species may become extinct.
The good news is that we can take action. We can put less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. We can generate electricity from clean sources, such as solar, hydrological, and wind sources. We can drive less, use public transportation, and restrict car manufacture to models
that burn gas most efficiently. We can reduce energy use
by turning off the lights, computers, and televisions when not in use. We can walk or ride bikes to work or school. By making smart choices and working together we can make a difference. Check out the rest of this website to learn more about the causes and effects of climate change as well as the practical solutions that can help protect our planet’s future.
82 CHAPTER 2 | CLIMATE
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