EFL LISTENING & SPEAKING - WEATHER

GLOBAL WARMING 101 – http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=oJAbATJCugs

For 2.5 million years, the earth’s climate has fluctuated, cycling from ice ages to warmer
periods. But in the last century, the planet’s temperature has risen unusually fast – about
1.2 – 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Scientists believe its human activity that’s driving the
temperatures up; a process known as global warming.

***

These greenhouse gases trap heat near the earth through a naturally occurring process
called the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect begins with the sun and the energy it
radiates to the earth. The earth and the atmosphere absorb some of this energy, while the
rest is radiated back into space. Naturally occurring gases in the atmosphere trap some of
this energy and reflect it back, warming the earth. Scientists now believe that the
greenhouse effect is being intensified by the extra greenhouse gases that humans have
released.

***

Evidence for global warming includes a recent string of very warm years. Scientists
report that 1998 was the warmest year in measured history, with 2005 coming in second.
Meanwhile, readings taken from ice cores show that the greenhouse gases, carbon
dioxide and methane have hit their highest levels in the past 420,000 years.

***

As long as industrialized nations consume energy and developing countries increase their
fossil fuel consumption, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will
continue to rise. Researchers predict that temperatures will increase about 2 -10 degrees
Fahrenheit by the end of the century.

***

Some climate models predict subtle changes. Others forecast rising sea levels which
could flood coastal areas around the world. Weather patterns could change, making
hurricanes more frequent. Severe droughts could become more common in warm areas
and species unable to adapt to the changing conditions would face extinction.

***

Many organizations advocate cutting greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the impact of
global warming. Consumers can help. By saving energy around the house, switching to
compact fluorescent light bulbs and driving fewer miles in the car each week.
THE MYTH ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING -
http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=iMDi_u0dcig

While we should strive to minimize air, water and land pollution, there is no need to
concern ourselves about carbon dioxide.
What carbon dioxide is, is essential for life on earth. Plants eat it, it is plant food. And in
fact as carbon dioxide has increased in the air over the last 50 years, plants have grown
better, more vigorously, faster, farmers have gotten a little extra bounty in their crops for
free because there’s more carbon dioxide in the air. Without carbon dioxide, there would
not be life on earth, we wouldn’t be here. It is essential to us.

***

University of Ottawa geology professor Dr. Jan Visor has recently demonstrated that
changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide have had little effect on earth’s long term
temperature, in comparison with natural causes.

***

Over this time frame, there is no meaningful correlation between carbon dioxide levels
and earth’s temperature. In fact, when CO2 levels were over 10 times higher than they
are today, about 450 million years ago, our planet was in the depths of the absolute
coldest period in the last half billion years.

***

We see that the temperature record and the Co2 record from these ancient atmospheres
follow very closely one to another. But when we look more closely at the detail, we see
that the temperature record increases first, the co2 record lags the temperature by up to
800 years. In other words, co2 is acting as a result of temperature rise, and not as cause
of temperature increase.
 EFL LISTENING & SPEAKING - WEATHER

GLOBAL WARMING 101 – http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=oJAbATJCugs

For ______ million years, the earth’s climate has ____________, cycling from ice ages to
warmer periods. But in the last century, the planet’s temperature has ______ unusually
fast – about 1.2 – 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Scientists believe its human activity that’s
__________ the temperatures up; a _________ known as global warming.

***

These greenhouse gases trap heat near the earth through a naturally __________ process
called the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect begins with the sun and the energy it
________ to the earth. The earth and the atmosphere absorb _________ of this energy,
while the rest is radiated back _________ space. Naturally occurring gases in the
atmosphere ____________ some of this energy and reflect it back, warming the earth.
Scientists now believe that the greenhouse effect is being _________________ by the
extra greenhouse gases that humans have released.

***

Evidence for global warming includes a recent ___________ of very warm years.
Scientists report that 1998 was the warmest year in measured history, with 2005 coming
in ____________. Meanwhile, readings taken from ice cores _____________ that the
greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and methane have hit their highest levels in the past
____________ years.

***

As long as industrialized nations consume energy and _______________ countries

increase their fossil fuel consumption, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere will continue ______ rise. Researchers predict that temperatures will
increase about ______________ degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century.

***

Some climate models __________ subtle changes. Others forecast rising sea levels
which could ___________ coastal areas around the world. Weather patterns could
change, making _______________ more frequent. Severe droughts could become more
common in warm areas and _____________ unable to adapt to the changing conditions
would face extinction.

***
Many ______________ advocate cutting greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the impact
of global warming. Consumers can help. By saving energy around the house,
__________ to compact fluorescent light bulbs and driving fewer miles in the car each
week.

THE MYTH ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING -

http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=iMDi_u0dcig

While we should strive to _______________ air, water and land pollution, there is no
need to concern ourselves about carbon dioxide.
What carbon dioxide is, is essential for ___________ on earth. Plants eat it, it is plant
food. And in fact as carbon dioxide has ________________ in the air over the last 50
years, plants have grown better, more vigorously, faster, farmers have gotten a little extra
bounty in their ___________ for free because there’s more carbon dioxide in the air.
Without carbon dioxide, there would not be life on earth, we wouldn’t be here. It is
____________ to us.

***

University of Ottawa geology professor Dr. Jan Visor has _____________ demonstrated
that changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide have had little effect on earth’s long term
temperature, ___________ comparison with natural causes.

***

Over this time frame, there is _______ meaningful correlation between carbon dioxide
____________ and earth’s temperature. In fact, when C02 levels were over 10 times
higher than they are today, about ____________ million years ago, our planet was in the
depths of the absolute coldest period in the last half ___________ years.

***

We see that the temperature record and the C02 record from these ________________
atmospheres follow very closely one to another. But when we look more closely at the
_____________, we see that the temperature record increases first, the C02 record lags
the temperature by up to ___________ years. In other words, C02 is _____________ as
a result of temperature rise, and not as cause of temperature increase.
SPEAKING
ROLE PLAY:
A discussion between different parties interested in global warming.
Team up with classmates who have been assigned the same role to develop your
roles and discuss ideas and “strategies” before the role play begins. Introduce
yourself to the other role players. Discuss your roles after the role play ends.

Role A – Penguin leader

You live in Antarctica. You need global warming to stop.
Temperatures must actually get cooler. Your species is at great risk
of extinction. Your habitat, the ice, is melting and your sources of
food are disappearing. The world must act to save you. The day the
last penguin dies is the start of the end of the Earth.

Role B – Dessert dweller

You like the recent effects of global warming. It has brought a lot of
unexpected rain to your land. For the first time you can grow things.
You have bumper harvests. You have lots of water to drink. You think
global warming is simply a matter or winners and losers. You think
global warming or cooling has always happened.

Role C – Worried Martian

Billions of years ago, Mars, your planet, looked like Earth. Life was
everywhere. However, greedy Martians controlled the energy sources
and the Mars climate changed, killing all life – except you. The
greedy Martians paid leaders to pretend nothing was happening and
that alternative energies would arise. It was all too late. Advise the
Earthlings and the penguins of the dangers of climate change.

Role D – U.S. President

You are terrified of taking measures to control global warming
because you might lose your power. You believe scientists can build a
huge machine to re-freeze the ice caps. You think keeping American
jobs is more important than penguin food. You know better than the
world’s climate experts. You don’t believe in aliens.