Daily life environmental news

TOEIC Section 7 Study

Daily Life: Environmental News

The level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is now at a record high. An American weather station in Hawaii recorded the new high on the 9th of May. It found CO2 levels were at 400 parts per million (ppm). The last time CO2 was at this level was five million years ago. This was when there were no humans on the Earth. Scientists say the 400ppm level is a warning sign. They say we must do more to stop this number getting bigger. However, scientist James Butler said he thought CO2 levels would keep rising. He warned: "In eight to nine years, we will probably have seen the last CO2 reading under 400ppm." He told reporters that even at the South Pole, CO2 would be above 400ppm.

Carbon dioxide is one of the gases that create global warming. Just one CO2 molecule can stay in the atmosphere for hundreds of years. Pieter Tans, one of the scientists measuring CO2 levels, said human activity is making the Earth warmer. He said that, "the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas is driving the acceleration". He pointed out that 300 years ago, CO2 levels were around 280ppm. He added that 800,000 years ago, they were at 180ppm. Another scientist, Dr Ralph Keeling, warned that CO2 is warming the Earth to dangerous levels. He is worried about arctic ice melting, causing sea levels to rise. This will put billions of people in danger. He said: "It's scary."

"Online activities, the mp3 and printable handouts are available for this lesson at http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com"http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1305/130512-carbon_dioxide.html

大気中のCO2平均濃度レベルは記録的な高さに達しています。５月９日ハワイ州にあるアメリカの気象観測所これまでの記録を塗り替える濃度を観測しました。それによれば、100万ppmあたり400ppmのCO2であることが観測され、CO2レベルがこれほどの高さだったのは５万年前であったとしています。これは地球上に人間が存在しなかった時代です。また科学者らは400ppmは警告のサインであると述べています。彼らは我々はこの数字がこれ以上大きくならないようにより多くの活動をしなければ成らないとしています。しかし一方で、科学者のジェームス・バトラーはCO2レベルは上昇し続けると考えていると述べています。「今後8年から9年で400ppmをの最低の数字として見ているぐらいになるだろう。」さらに彼は取材リポータに対し、さらに南極では400ppmを超えると告げています。

カーボンダイオキサイドは地球温暖化をもたらすガスの一つです。１つのCO2粒子は何百年もの間大気中に留まる事が出来ます。CO2濃度を測定している科学者の一人であるピーター・タンズは人間の活動は地球を温暖化させていると主張しています。彼は「石炭、石油、天然ガスがCO2増加の加速を進めている」と述べています。また、彼は300年前はCO2レベルが280ppm程度であった事を指摘し、80万年前は180ppmであった事を加えて述べています。また他にも科学者であるDr.ラルフ・キーリングはCO2が危険なレベルまで地球を温暖化させていると警告しています。彼は北極の氷が溶け出し、海面が上昇する事を懸念しています。これは数十億人を危険な状況にします。彼は「大変恐怖を感じる。」と述べています。

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1305/130512-carbon_dioxide.html

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1305/130512-carbon_dioxide.html



リーディングを読む前：

What do you think of when you hear CO₂?

What in our environment gives off CO₂?

What happens when we have too much CO₂ in the atmosphere?

What do you think of when you hear “global warming”?

What causes global warming?

What are some of the negative effects of global warming?

リーディングを読む前：

記録的な高さ___________________________________

南極 ___________________________________

地球温暖化___________________________________

(CO₂) 増加の加速を進めている___________________________________



Reading 11 Questions

(1) What is the purpose of this article?

(2) What kind of record was set in May?

(3) Where was the new level recorded?

(4) 400ppm has happened before in human history; true or false?

(5) What is James Butler’s occupation?

(6) Is Mr. Butler optimistic about our CO₂ levels?

(7) Why are high levels of CO₂ a problem?

(8) What are people doing that increases the level of CO₂ in the atmosphere?

(9) How do we know that these things are causing CO₂ levels to increase?

(10) What will happen if the Earth warms to dangerous levels?

(11) Draw a line graph showing the increase in CO₂ levels over time based in the information in the article.



After Reading

There are many ways that we can reduce the amount of CO₂ that is released into the atmosphere. I’ll give you the ways. Your challenge is to explain why/how the amount of CO₂ would be reduced.

buying locally grown food

public transportation

Cool Biz/Warm Biz

not using the aircon

turning off unnecessary lights

Some people say that hybrid and electric cars are actually BAD for the environment. Think with your group. Why might those people be right?



causes of global warming



negative effects of global warming


Daily Life: Environmental NewsGrammar Day 3-4

(1) 寒くなってきた。（今）______________________________________________________________

(2) 祖父母を訪ねます。（今）______________________________________________________________

(3) 彼はニューズを見ています。______________________________________________________________

(4) 私はよくバスで来ます。______________________________________________________________

(5) 沖縄に行きたい。______________________________________________________________

(6) 私はトラベルが好きです。______________________________________________________________

(7) よくライブを見に行きます。______________________________________________________________

(8) 彼女はとてもよく勉強します。______________________________________________________________

(9) 私はお酒を飲みません。______________________________________________________________

(10)彼はお肉は食べません。______________________________________________________________

(11)野球をしますか。______________________________________________________________

(12)彼女はホラー映画が好きですか。______________________________________________________________

(13)エアコンを使いますか。______________________________________________________________

(14)毎日電車に乗りますか。______________________________________________________________

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