Студопедия

Главная страница Случайная страница

КАТЕГОРИИ:

АвтомобилиАстрономияБиологияГеографияДом и садДругие языкиДругоеИнформатикаИсторияКультураЛитератураЛогикаМатематикаМедицинаМеталлургияМеханикаОбразованиеОхрана трудаПедагогикаПолитикаПравоПсихологияРелигияРиторикаСоциологияСпортСтроительствоТехнологияТуризмФизикаФилософияФинансыХимияЧерчениеЭкологияЭкономикаЭлектроника






Little Ice Age






We have every reason to expect the most dramatic consequences of global warming, both predictable and unpredictable. Doing all in our power, putting in every effort to decrease the speed of global warming is, no doubt, the most crucial problem, mankind is faced with today.

It should not be forgotten, however, that the Earth has already survived cli­mate changes that were not less dramatic for its inhabitants. The nature of the


other well-known climate change was diametrically opposed to global warming. It was global cooling. The most recent period of this kind is called the Little Ice Age. Although there is no scientifically agreed opinion concerning the begin­ning of the Little Ice Age, there is a consensus that it only ended in the mid-19th century.

The Little Ice Age brought bitterly cold winters to many parts of the world. Rivers and lakes were frozen, fields were covered with a thick layer of snow, which inevitably affected the crops. The most severely affected social group of people was the peasants. Some historians assert that famine, diseases and massive deaths resulted in important political events, such as the French Revo­lution of 1789.

Beginning with 1850, the world's climate began warming again and the Little Ice Age may be said to have come to an end at that time. Some global warming critics believe that the Earth's climate is still recovering from the Little Ice Age and that human activity is not the decisive factor in present temperature trends.

However, the prevailing scientific opinion on climate change is that warm­ing over the last 60 years is caused primarily by the increased proportion of СОг in the atmosphere due to human activity. History shows that we have a good chance to survive global warming. A lot depends on ourselves.

6.

A. It's very cold outside, isn't it?

B. Yes. But the forecast says it'll get warmer towards the end of the week.
A. Oh, will it? If it gets warmer and it doesn't rain, we will go to the country.

A. What was the weather like in London?

B. I was lucky. It was very warm and dry. And what was it like here?

A. It was terrible here. It even snowed sometimes.

B. What's the forecast for the next week?
A. It will keep cold for the whole week.

A. Look at these black clouds! It's going to rain hard.

B. Oh, yes. And I've left my umbrella at home. How will I get home in such
awful rain without an umbrella?

A. Don't worry; I'll give you a lift.

7.

1. She'll be delighted when she hears this.

2. He'll be here before you go.


Keys

3. Will he ring up when he arrives in England?

4. Stay here till the lights turn green.

5. As soon as she learns to type on the computer, I'll give her the job.

6. When the Queen arrives the audience will stand up.

7. When you look at yourself in the mirror you'll see what I mean!

8. As soon the holidays begin this beach will become very crowded.

9. Don't forget to turn on the lights before you leave the house.

 

10. When it gets warm enough I'll turn off the heating.

11. The computer won't start until you press this button.

12. Don't count on a salary increase before you actually get it.

F3.

If anyone had a bet that there is no life on any other planet except for the Earth, he would be most likely to lose it because astronomers have recently discovered a planet that actually has all the necessary properties for life to exist on it.

The planet is five times heavier than the Earth, and orbits a Red Dwarf (a little sun). In spite of its small size, it emits enough heat to keep temperature of the planet's surface similar to that of the Earth's.

There is water on the planet, and correspondingly some kind of atmo­sphere. That is why the scientists do not eliminate the possibility of some forms of life on it. It would be extremely difficult, however, to find out whether it is really so.

The planet is far beyond the scope of the solar system at a distance of about 200 trillion kilometers from the Earth!


Поделиться с друзьями:

mylektsii.su - Мои Лекции - 2015-2024 год. (0.006 сек.)Все материалы представленные на сайте исключительно с целью ознакомления читателями и не преследуют коммерческих целей или нарушение авторских прав Пожаловаться на материал