How do humans contribute to global warming?

Why do some governments want to ignore climate change?

In your opinion, what will be different about earth’s climate in 50 years?

greenhouse gas a) not usual, very old.

b) a type of gas that contributes to the trapping of heat in the earth’s

carbon footprint
atmosphere.
freakish
c) to attack a problem in order to try to solve it.

tackle d) a person who doesn’t believe something is true.

cover up e) to prevent others from seeing the truth.

f) to not be responsible for.

cast doubt
g) needs to be taken care of before a deadline.
skeptic
h) to convince other people to question something they thought was

time-sensitive true.

undeniable i) the amount of greenhouse gases contributed by single person or

group.
off the hook
j) cannot be denied, must be true.
1. According to the reading, what lifestyle change do humans need

to make?

2. What examples of freakish weather are mentioned? Can you

think of any others?

3. Why would some people want to ignore, or even deny, man-

made climate change?

4. Why does the reading mention sunscreen products?

Fill in the blanks with words from the pre-reading vocabulary task.

carbon footprint
1) The company reduced its _____________________ by replacing
business trips online meetings.
casts doubt
2) New research _____________________ on the theory of mass
extinction.
time-sensitive
3) Please send me a list of all _____________________ concerns by the
end of the day.
undeniable
4) It’s _____________________ that Hurricane Sandy came late in the
season.
5) Due to the freakish snowstorm, the school bus driver was
off the hook
_____________________ for the fiel trip.
Should government leaders be more worried about the economy or the
environment?
What can individuals do to reduce their own carbon fooprint?
Do you think humans have the ability to reverse the environmental damage we
have already done to our planet?

When Hurricane Sandy flooded much of the highly

populated Eastern Seabord in 2012, many
environmentalists hope the issue of climate change would
come back in the picture. If a superstorm that put the Big
Apple to sleep can’t get global warming back on the US
agenda, what will?
1) Trapping heat is good because...
a) We need to be warm to live.
b) Cold weather is dangerous.
c) We need extreme weather.

2) Too much __________ in the atmosphere is a problem.

a) water
b) carbon dioxide
c) oxygen

3) Coal, oil, and gas are examples of

a) fossil fuels
b) liquids
c) pollution

4) What will happen if the earth keeps getting warmer?

a) There will be more ice covering the earth.
b) The oceans will dry up.
c) There will be more floods.
5) Which is the cleanest source of energy
a) the sun
b) coal
c) gas

6) Which kind of energy produces the most carbon dioxide?

a) the wind
b) oil
c) the sun

7) Walking to school and turning off lights __________ energy.

a) uses a lot of
b) increases
c) saves
1) What comes to mind when you think of global warming?
2) Do you think human activity is responsible for global warming?
3) When did you first become aware of global warming?
4) Do you think all countries are taking global warming seriously?
5) What most concerns you about global warming?
6) Do you think you have already experienced the effects of global warming?
7) How will global warming change our lives?
8) Do you think global warming could destroy us all?
9) Is your government doing enough to combat global warming?
10) What single action should the world take to reduce the dangers of global
warming?
11) What’s the difference between global warming and climate change?
12) What do you do in your daily life that might increase global warming?
13) Have you made changes to your life to reduce global warming?
14) What do you know about the science behind global warming?
15) How do you think global warming will change the world over the next century?
16) Do you know more about global warming than younger/older people?
17) Does your government provide enough education on the effects of global
warming?
18) Which country makes you angriest when you think about global warming?
19) Do you think China and India should slow their growth down?
20) How did global warming happen without us noticing sooner?