In recent years, extreme weather has been on the rise. From wildfires in California, US to record-breaking rainfall in northern China this summer and most recently the flood in Libya which claimed thousands of lives, Earth seems to be whipped by extreme climate and weather patterns.
Climate whiplash (气候鞭打), or weather whiplash, refers to a quick change from one extreme weather pattern to another. It is caused by global warming. A warmer atmosphere can hold more steam. As the Earth gets warmer, more water is contained in the atmosphere. Once the temperature gets colder, it often rains more heavily. This explains why a drought is often followed by extremely heavy rain.
The region hit hardest by climate whiplash is California. Over the past decade, California has experienced lasting droughts, wildfires, heavy rainfalls, and floods. It seems that the state is either on fire or in flooding with little in between. Researchers estimate that by the end of this century, the frequency of climate whiplash will jump by 25 percent in northern California as Earth continues to become warmer.
Apart from wildfires and floods, studies showed that climate whiplash also has an impact on water quality. During dry days, the fertilizer (肥料) farmers use for plants cannot be absorbed by thirsty and dying plants. Then the following heavy rain washes the remaining fertilizer into rivers, polluting the water.
How can we deal with climate whiplash? The key lies in fighting global warming. That is to say, humans have to largely reduce the use of fossil fuels (化石燃料). Climate whiplash would happen more frequently in the future, should we fail to fight global warming effectively. Therefore, it is urgent that nations around the world double down on efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
1. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?A.The effects of global warming. | B.The causes of global warming. |
C.The results of climate whiplash. | D.The principle behind climate whiplash. |
A.It has resulted in reduced droughts. |
B.It is expected to occur more frequently. |
C.It has primarily affected northern California. |
D.It causes more floods here than in other US states. |
A.Unabsorbed plant fertilizer is washed into the water. |
B.More plastic waste is brought into the water by floods. |
C.Dry weather affects pollutant concentrations in water. |
D.Heavy rains carry more industrial waste into the water. |
A.It is not as serious as commonly believed. |
B.It can be solved by reducing fossil fuel usage. |
C.It is linked with our efforts to fight global warming. |
D.It will cause the global temperature to rise annually. |
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【推荐1】By the end of the century, if not sooner, oceans will be bluer and greener thanks to a warming climate, according to a new study.
At the heart of the phenomenon lie tiny marine microorganisms(海洋微生物)called phytoplankton. Owing to the way light reflects off the organisms, these phytoplankton create colorful patterns on the ocean surface. Ocean color varies from green to blue, depending on the type and concentration of phytoplankton. Climate change will fuel the growth of phytoplankton in some areas, while reducing it in other spots, resulting in changes in the ocean’s appearance.
Living on the ocean surface, Phytoplankton absorb carbon dioxide into the ocean while giving off oxygen. When they die, they bury carbon in the deep ocean, and help to adjust the global climate. But phytoplankton are allergic to the ocean’s warming trend. Warming changes essential characteristics of the ocean and can affect phytoplankton growth.
Stephanie Dutkiewicz, a scientist in MIT’s Center for Global Change Science, built a climate model that projects changes to the oceans throughout the century. In a world that warms up by 3℃, it found that multiple changes to the ocean color would occur. The model projects that currently blue areas with little phytoplankton could become even bluer. But in some waters, a warming will make conditions suitable for phytoplankton, and these areas will turn greener. “Not only are the quantities of phytoplankton in the ocean changing,” she said, “but the type of phytoplankton is changing.”
And why does that matter? Phytoplankton are the base of the food web. “If certain kinds begin to disappear from the ocean,” Dutkiewicz said, “it will change the type of fish that will be able to survive.” Those kinds of changes could affect the food chain.
Whatever color changes the ocean may experience in the coming decades will probably be too gradual and unnoticeable, but they could mean significant changes. “It’ll be a while before we can statistically show that the changes are happening because of climate change,” Dutkiewicz said, “but the change in the color of the ocean will be one of the early warning signals that we really have transformed our planet.”
1. What is the major cause that directly results in changes in the ocean’s color?A.The temperature of sea water. |
B.The type and concentration of phytoplankton. |
C.The oxygen given off by phytoplankton. |
D.The amount of carbon dioxide in the area. |
A.Phytoplankton have been used to control global climate. |
B.Phytoplankton are of little significance in Dutkiewicz’s research. |
C.Phytoplankton are not sensitive to the warming trend in the ocean. |
D.A warming trend helps phytoplankton grow and oceans may appear greener. |
A.To describe the importance of phytoplankton. |
B.To explain the effects of climate change on oceans. |
C.To introduce a new approach to phytoplankton study. |
D.To assess the consequences of changes in ocean color. |
【推荐2】Based on new analysis, we are rapidly approaching major climate change and the effects on society and the environment could be quite severe. Geographers predict that within the next eighty years, current world climate zones could shift and some could completely disappear. Polar regions will get colder while tropical regions will get even hotter, forcing animals to migrate (迁徙) north.
Climate changes like these could lead to the spread of diseases. Tropical storms and hurricanes will not only increase but may also become more intense. If the changes come too quickly, animal and plant species may not be able to adapt fast enough and could disappear.
According to Science Daily, a new study predicts that by the year 2100, many of today’s familiar climates will be replaced by climates unknown in today’s world. It is urgent that we reduce the risks of these far-reaching consequences for the whole world. The planet itself has been showing signs of change. In 2004, a serious tsunami created by a major earthquake killed thousands in Sumatra and in 2008, thousands died in China because of another severe earthquake. Egypt was hit in 2009 with a major earthquake and Haiti was devastated in 2010 by yet another massive earthquake.
Within just the last few months, new reports from around the world have been coming in and most agree that our climate situation is much worse than previously thought. At this point, it doesn’t matter what is causing it, but rather, what can be done about it. What’s more, our world is getting more and more unstable every year. There is war and threat of war everywhere. Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and serious.
However, other planets are experiencing global warming as well as our own and some scientists believe there may be some connection between this. No one knows anything for sure at this point because there is simply not enough data.
1. What is the major function of paragraph 1?A.To arouse the reader’s concern. |
B.To introduce the theme of the whole passage. |
C.To summarize the whole passage. |
D.To state how climate changes. |
A.To show major changes are taking place on the planet. |
B.To remind people to prevent future earthquakes. |
C.To show the damage earthquakes caused. |
D.To tell us more earthquakes will happen in the future. |
A.Animal and plant species may not be able to adapt fast enough and could disappear. |
B.It could lead to the spread of diseases. |
C.Current world climate zones could shift and completely disappear. |
D.Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and serious. |
A.Animals and plants won’t die out as long as climate changes slowly. |
B.There’s enough data for us to predict the future of climate change. |
C.The world is getting more unstable because of animal migration. |
D.The earth is not the only planet that is experiencing climate change. |
【推荐3】Connie Monroe clicks a button, flicks her wrist and watches as her neighborhood floods. The shorelines are first to go. Then, the baseball fields at Fleming Park. By the time seawater reaches the senior center, it has flooded streets and over a dozen brick homes. Monroe moves her head up and down, side to side, taking in the simulated (仿真的) view. This is what could happen to Turner Station, a historic African American community southeast of Baltimore, as sea levels rise.
Climate change presents many challenges to coastal communities and to those trying to prepare for its impacts, but one of the most basic is also one of the most vexing: How do you show people and convince them of a possible future?
Communicating the realness and immediacy of the climate threat is hugely important to climate researchers and those aiming to lessen its causes. But it’s also the most important to communities faced with coming changes that are already unavoidable. These projects need public support and input. That’s why Monroe and other residents are being directed to sit in metal chairs, put on virtual reality headsets and watch their homes flood.
Turner Station, a community which gets flooded easily, is trying to prepare. It has partnered with the Port of Baltimore, a few nonprofits and a local landscape architecture firm to adopt a range of tools and ways to communicate climate change to the public, because every person is different and every place is different.
The virtual reality program is only the most recent, and perhaps the most effective step. Virtual reality is an immersive experience that can trick the human brain into thinking it’s real. But tricking people is not the goal of the sea level rise simulation being used at Turner Station, says Juiano Calil, one of the program’s developers. ‘‘The goal,” he says, ‘‘is to start a conversation and help folks visualize the impacts of climate change and the solutions, and also discuss the trade-offs between them.”
1. Who is Monroe?A.An architect. | B.A climate researcher. |
C.A VR program developer. | D.A coastal community citizen. |
A.Original. | B.Bothersome. |
C.Dramatic. | D.Convincing. |
A.It can introduce technology to the residents. |
B.It can predict the climate change accurately. |
C.It can cut down the possibilities of climate change. |
D.It can show severe results of climate change. |
A.To inform the residents of the solutions. |
B.To advocate the application of VR. |
C.To win the residents’ cooperation. |
D.To trick more people to believe. |
【推荐1】Mya Le Thai is a scientist studying at the University of California, Irvine. She recently discovered a process that may result in batteries that last forever. Thai said she had been discouraged that the batteries for her wireless devices degrade. Over time, they fail to charge fully.
Thai did not like to have kept her wireless laptop connected to an electrical outlet. She decided to do something about that problem.
At first, she and her team thought about inventing a new battery. But as they experimented, Thai discovered something that might permit lithium-ion(锂离子) batteries to last forever. Lithium-ion batteries power most wireless devices. Over time, the batteries lose the ability to hold a charge. Most of these batteries have a life span of about 7,000 charging cycles before they die.
One of the reasons lithium-ion batteries degrade is their use of nanowires(纳米线) to carry electricity. Nanowires are extremely thin. A human hair is thousands of times thicker, for example. Nanowires are extremely efficient carriers of electricity, which makes them useful in batteries. But Thai said their thinness also makes them weak. “Nanowires break over time,” she said. “That's why they lose capacity(能力).”
But, Thai had a theory: The nanowires might last longer if covered with a material. She and the team tested her theory. The team tried many coverings for the wires. PMMA was one of them. The nanowires were coated with PMMA and cycled through charges 200,000 times. The PMMA coated nanowires showed no evidence of damage. The results suggest that batteries could last forever, without losing charging ability.
Thai hopes to continue her research to understand why this material works so well and to see if any other material could create better results.
“It's kind of cool,” she said, “I'm really glad people are showing interest in my work and not just in the work itself, but also in technology and energy.”
1. What caused Thai to do research on the batteries?A.Weak power of the batteries. | B.Her habit to use her computer. |
C.Inconvenient use of batteries. | D.Her preference for batteries. |
A.They have a limited service life. | B.They need charging very often. |
C.They are not quite dependable. | D.They are easy to break down. |
A.To convey more electricity. | B.To make them a thicker cover. |
C.To make them much safer to use. | D.To protect them from being damaged. |
A.Batteries Would Work Without Recharging |
B.Lithium-ion Batteries Might Come to an End |
C.Batteries Lasting Forever Could Be Near Soon |
D.Batteries Would Be Replaced By A New Power |
【推荐2】The Inuit (因纽特人) live in the far north of Alaska. It is a cold and snowy place. Yet people have survived there for thousands of years. The Inuit have many ancient cultural traditions. However, their way of life has changed. For example, people now have video games and televisions. Young people prefer these to their cultural traditions. Now, the customs and traditions of the Inuit are disappearing. But people are trying to find ways to continue indigenous (土著的) traditions in Alaska. One of these groups is the Cook Inlet Tribal Council.
The Cook Inlet Tribal Council wanted to teach young Inuit people about their traditional stories and cultural history. So they decided to make an educational video game. They began working with Sean Vesce of K-Line Media. He had created many successful video games. Vesce and the Cook Inlet Tribal Council created the world’s first indigenous video game. They called this game Never Alone. Vesce describes the game to the news organization NPR:
“The main story is based on a traditional story called Kunuuksaayuka. It is the story of a snow-storm that never ends. This blizzard is causing a family some problems. In the traditional tale, the son wants to find what is causing this unusual weather. The story goes that this boy goes out. After some time, he finds the cause of the blizzard. He finds a way to stop the blizzard by using his intelligence.”
Soon after the game came on the market, people could play Never Alone. It won many awards. And many gamers gave Never Alone good comments. They said it beautifully designed and interesting play. But the game is also reaching its goal of connecting people to traditional culture.
1. Never Alone was created to________.A.please young Inuit people | B.retell a traditional Inuit story |
C.keep indigenous tradition alive | D.show the changes of Inuit people |
A.He was familiar with indigenous traditions. |
B.He is experienced in creating games. |
C.He was very good at playing video games. |
D.He had created indigenous video games before. |
A.rain | B.wind |
C.snowstorm | D.story |
A.Never Alone is on the market |
B.Never Alone is quite successful |
C.more comments are needled on Never Alone |
D.people have just started to play Never Alone |
【推荐3】You've probably heard the phrase “save the bees”. But on Tuesday, engineers at University of Washington said that they have designed wireless platforms to be worn by bees. The bees may be saving the small drone (无人机). Although drones have become a symbol of future technology,the short battery life on small drones has been a problem. The bumblebee(a large bee)can stay in the air a lot longer.
The researchers call their inventions a flying wireless platform with sensors (传感器) and trackers (追踪器) that rides live insects. The sensor package is a small battery that lasts up to seven hours of flight and is light on the bee weighing 102 mg.
A lot of tests have been done by the researchers. They track the bees through antennas (天线) and radio waves. And it does help that bees are always close to where the bees live. The bee collects data throughout its daily flight. When it returns,the battery can be changed and researchers are sent the data.
The researchers think their design could also help understand the reason why the bee population is becoming extinct. The population of bees is becoming smaller and smaller,which has led to fears that without them, our food industry could be in danger.
The researchers promise the tiny creatures are safe with their new fashionable tech. “We decided to use bumblebees because they're large enough to carry a tiny battery. It is very simple. All we are doing is just putting on a small backpack, and it is very easy for these bees to carry. They go and fly around and are completely fine.”
1. What is the purpose of designing the wireless platforms?A.To stop the small bees from dying out. | B.To improve the work of the smaller drone. |
C.To deal with the problem of poor battery life on drone. | D.To help the flying bees to stay in the air for a longer time. |
A.How researchers do the test. | B.How the battery is changed. |
C.Where the bees collect the data. | D.When the small bees return. |
A.They are safe. | B.Their number is reducing. |
C.They are used as sensors. | D.They are dangerous. |
A.The small drones. | B.The researchers. | C.The bumblebees. | D.The trackers. |