1 . Grasses and short trees are growing and expanding around Mount Qomolangma and across the Hi ma lay an region as the area continued to experience the consequences of global warming, researchers have found. Using satellite data from 1993 to 2018, scientists measured “small but significant” increased between 4,150 and 6,000 meters above sea level. “There are now more areas that are covered in plants than there were in 1993,” said Anderson, a scientist who led the research.
While it is still too early to tell what impact this new growth could have on the region, “urgent research” on the potential effects is needed. “We don't know what the impact is — it might be the plants that cause the snow to melt more quickly,” Anderson added.
1.4 billion people depend on water collected in the region. Changes to water supplies could have great impacts on communities in different countries. “We know that plants and the water cycle are coupled,” Anderson explained. “Wherever you have plants growing, it changes the way the water cycle behaved in those areas. This is particularly important in the Himalayas because glaciers are reducing. We know from lots of scientific research that this is already having an impact on water supplies in this region and it will continue to do so as li-mate change continued.”
Climate change is already having an impact on Himalayan communities, A 2019 study found that Hi ma lay an glaciers have been losing almost half a meter of ice each year since the start of this century. This has already resulted in local communities being flooded — and could ultimately result in drought. Last year, a researcher from the International Centre found that at least a third of the ice in the region, which is home to Mount Qomolangma, could melt by the end of the century.
1. What changes happened to Mount Qomolangma from 1993 to 2018?| A．Sea levels rose quickly. | B．More plants grew there. |
| C．Grasses died out there. | D．Temperatures declined. |
| A．To explain the causes of climate change. | B．To prove the effects of glaciers melting. |
| C．To present the reasons for plants growing. | D．To show the necessity of the urgent research. |
| A．The way of the water cycle. | B．The varieties of plants. |
| C．The large population. | D．The increasing glaciers. |
| A．It seldom snows there. | B．They have great floods these years. |
| C．The glaciers would disappear. | D．More plants will grow there. |
2 . On August 8, 2021, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its first assessment of climate science since 2013. The news was not good. The report stated that this past decade was the hottest in 125,000 years and that the atmospheric carbon levels are the highest in at least 2 million years. Glaciers are melting faster than any time in over 2,000 years, and ocean levels are rising at twice the rate since 2006.
At the current pace, the researchers expect global temperatures to rise by at least 1.5°, compared to pre-industrial levels, within the next 20 years. The temperature increases will result in significant changes to the planet’s water cycle. Areas that currently receive a lot of rain will get significantly more, while dry regions will become increasingly likely to droughts.
The IPCC’s findings come as no surprise to the millions of people worldwide currently feeling the impacts of climate-related disasters. America and many European countries are battling wildfires. Meanwhile, an unprecedented (史无前例的) week-long storm in July 2021 caused flash floods and mudslides in Western Europe. Climate change is even impacting the Earths coldest and most remote regions which experienced the first rainfall event in recorded history.
The situation may sound hopeless. However, many experts believe it is still not too late to turn things around, if we all act now. While governments need to do their share by introducing and obey stricter carbon emission laws, individuals can also help. Driving less, conserving water, and reducing electricity usage are some great ways to start. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle will help conserve natural resources and energy. It will also save you and your community. Be sure to start doing your part to save our beautiful home today!
1. Why did IPCC release its first assessment of climate science?| A．To appeal to people to reduce carbon levels. |
| B．To state the earth’s temperature hits a record high. |
| C．To inform readers climate change is severe. |
| D．To report ocean levels are rising higher. |
| A．The rise of global temperatures. | B．The fast development of industry. |
| C．The heavy rainfall of the earth. | D．The terrible droughts in dry regions. |
| A．Effects of climate change. | B．Facts of rainfall disasters. |
| C．Losses caused by natural disasters. | D．Weather phenomena in many regions. |
| A．Fighting against climate change is relatively simple. |
| B．Stricter carbon emission laws has been tightened up. |
| C．The author is opposed to consuming natural resources. |
| D．The author urges immediate action on climate change. |
