1 . Life-threatening heat waves in the U. S. and Europe, along with China’s record-setting heat, are directly linked to human-caused climate change, according to international researchers. These extreme temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere this summer, breaking over 2,000 high-temperature records in the U. S. alone, are heightened by global warming. Palermo, Sicily, saw a historic 117-degree Fahrenheit temperature, while a northwest Chinese town experienced its highest recorded temperature.
The team, including experts from the World Weather Attribution group, stressed that such events would be nearly impossible without climate change. The influence of El Niño, a natural pattern, is noted, but the burning of fossil fuel (化石燃料) is the main driver of severe heatwaves. Human activities have driven a nearly 2-degree Fahrenheit global temperature rise since the Industrial Revolution’s onset. The researchers utilized weather data and computer models to analyze the impact of warming on ongoing heatwaves. Their rapid attribution report, though yet to be peer-reviewed, indicated that greenhouse gas release increases the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events. Bernadette Woods Placky, chief meteorologist at Climate Central, agreed with this conclusion, stressing the connection between rising greenhouse gases and heat occurrences.
Even a slight temperature rise poses serious health risks, as indicated by the World Health Organization. Heat-related illnesses, heart attacks, and strokes become more probable. Vulnerable communities, including low-income areas and communities of color, face heightened risks due to rising temperatures.
Last year, Europe’s heatwaves killed around 61,000 lives, predominantly among women. Similarly, a heat dome in the Pacific Northwest in 2021 led to hundreds of deaths in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. Michael Wehner, a climate scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, warned that dangerous climate change is a present reality and demanded heightened awareness of its results.
In reality, the current heatwaves devastating various regions are basically linked to human-induced climate change. As the world experiences extreme temperatures, it is necessary to recognize the urgency (紧急) of solving this dangerous situation through sustainable practices and policies (政策).
1. What happened to the U. S., Europe and China this summer?| A．Global warming. | B．Extreme heat. | C．Climate change. | D．Setting records. |
| A．The findings from experts. | B．The researchers’ hard work. |
| C．The effects of human activities. | D．The reasons for high temperatures. |
| A．They cause damage to people. | B．They lead to people’s escape. |
| C．They encourage people to fight. | D．They make people become strong. |
| A．To tell the causes of heatwaves. | B．To call on people to take action. |
| C．To introduce phenomena of heatwaves. | D．To find ways to protect the environment. |
| A．Her gloves. | B．Her scarf. | C．Her coat. |
1. Which road will stay closed?
| A．M16. | B．M30. | C．M43. |
| A．It is under repair. | B．There is an accident. | C．There is much snow. |
| A．By visiting a website. | B．By reading a magazine. | C．By making a call. |
| A．Snowy. | B．Windy. | C．Sunny. |
| A．The weather. | B．The food. | C．The people. |
1. How long will the woman stay in Ireland?
| A．For two weeks. | B．For a month. | C．Half a year. |
| A．Rainy. | B．Hot. | C．Cold. |
| A．The weather. | B．The scenery. | C．The traffic. |
1. What’s the weather like in the man’s city now?
| A．Windy and snowy. | B．Sunny and windy. | C．Cold and wet. |
| A．A violent storm. | B．A heavy snow. | C．A light wind. |
| A．Get ready for the hurricane. | B．Go to the beach. | C．Call the man this evening. |
8 . The South Pole has been warming at more than three times the global average over the past 30 years, according to research led by Ohio University professor Ryan Fogt, and Kyle Clem, who is a current postdoctoral research fellow in climate science. According to the study, this warming period was mainly driven by natural tropical climate variability and was likely strengthened by increases in greenhouse gases.
Clem and his team analyzed weather station data at the South Pole, as well as climate models to examine the warming in the Antarctic interior (内陆). They found that between 1989 and 2018, the South Pole had warmed by about 1.8℃ over the past 30 years at a rate of 0.6℃ per decade—three times the global average.
The study also found that the strong warming over the Antarctic interior in the last 30 years was mainly driven by the tropics, especially warm ocean temperatures in the western tropical Pacific Ocean. The warm temperatures changed the winds in the South Atlantic near Antarctica and increased the delivery of warm air to the South Pole. They suggest these atmospheric changes along Antarctica’s coast drove climate anomalies (异常事物) in its interior.
Clem and Fogt argued that these warming trends were unlikely the result of natural climate change alone, stressing the effects of added warming related to human activities on top of the large tropical climate signal on Antarctic climate have worked together to make this one of the strongest warming trends worldwide.
“From the very beginning, Kyle and I worked very well together and were able to accomplish more as a team than we were individually,” Fogt said. “We have published every year together since 2013, with one of our continuing collaborations being the annual State of the Climate reports. Our work on this project together each year finally led to this publication documenting the warming at the South Pole. However, most importantly for my family and me, apart from being a fantastic scientist and collaborator, Kyle is also considered as one of our closest friends.”
1. What is the major cause of the South Pole’s warming according to the research?| A．The weather station. | B．Natural tropical climate change. |
| C．Increases of greenhouse gases. | D．Lack of winds. |
| A．The effect of human activities on the warming trends. |
| B．The influence of climate change on the Pacific Ocean. |
| C．The unpleasant consequences of natural climate change. |
| D．The detailed explanation for the South Pole’s warming. |
| A．Getting science paper published is difficult. |
| B．Cooperation is valued in scientific research. |
| C．Friendship is more important than science. |
| D．Family support plays a key role in science. |
| A．A chemistry textbook. | B．A travel brochure. |
| C．A science magazine. | D．A science novel. |
9 . Since the beginning of the summer in 2022, China has been very hot under the worst heatwave in decades. A number of people in Zhejiang, Henan, Jiangsu and Sichuan provinces were diagnosed with thermoplegia (热射病), the most severe form of heatstroke (中暑), and some even died of this disease.
In a warming world, the hazards of heatwaves are increasing. According to a study, the number of deaths caused by heatwaves in China has increased rapidly since 1979, from 3,679 persons per year in the 1980s to15, 500 persons per year in the 2010s.
High temperatures would accelerate the loss in soil moisture (水分) and hurt the growth of corn, cotton, trees and fruits. What’s more, each additional degree of warming will increase crop losses to insects by 10-25 percent, threatening food security for billions of people. China has witnessed a range of extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall, flooding, tornadoes and record heatwaves this year. Meteorological officials said the country had an average temperature of 21.3 degrees Celsius in June, 0.9 degrees Celsius higher than the same period on average, and the highest record for the same period since 1961.
Experts say that while extreme summer heat is not entirely new, these sorts of occurrences could be something that becomes a standard part of life, requiring people to start learning how to cope with heatwaves that may continue for the rest of summer and well into the future.
Remember that even healthy, young athletes can be harmed by extreme heat, so every activity, indoors or outdoors, should be evaluated when extreme heat hits. There are some ways to stay safe during extreme heat events, such as drinking plenty of water, looking for shade or remaining in shade when outside, and avoiding cooking large meals that can add heat to your indoor environment.
1. Why does the writer mention the four provinces in China?| A．To introduce the topic. |
| B．To identify the impact of the worst heat wave. |
| C．To show the rising growth of population. |
| D．To offer the accurate data for the thermoplegia. |
| A．Benefits | B．Outcomes. |
| C．Dangers. | D．Expenses. |
| A．Rural areas suffer more from heat waves than cities. |
| B．China has witnessed the worst climate ever in 2022. |
| C．Climate change results in the decline in insect species. |
| D．High temperatures have negative effects on agriculture. |
| A．The tendency of heat waves in the future. |
| B．Ways to deal with extreme heat. |
| C．Effects of global warming on the environment. |
| D．The significance of keeping healthy in summer. |
10 . The Amazon rainforest is as undisturbed a place as most people can imagine, but even there, the effects of a changing climate are playing out. Now, research suggests that many of the region’s most sensitive bird species are starting to evolve in response to warming.
Birds are often considered sentinel (哨兵) species — meaning that they indicate the overall health of an ecosystem — so scientists are particularly interested in how they’re responding to climate change. In general, the news has not been good. For instance, a 2019 report by the National Audubon Society found that more than two-thirds of North America’s bird species will be in danger of extinction by 2100 if warming trends continue on their current course.
For the new study, researchers collected the biggest database so far on the Amazon’s resident birds, representing 77 non-migratory species and lasting the 40 years from 1979 to 2019. During the study period, the average temperature in the region rose, while the amount of rainfall declined, making for a hotter, dryer climate overall. According to the report on November 12 in the journal Science Advances, 36 species have lost substantial weight, as much as 2 percent of their body weight per decade since 1980. Meanwhile, all the species showed some decrease in average body mass, while a third grew longer wings.
Because of the study’s long time series and large sample sizes, the authors were able to show the morphological (形态学的) effects of climate change on resident birds. However, the researchers themselves are unsure and wonder what advantage the wing length changes give the birds, but suppose smaller birds may have an easier time keeping cool. In general, smaller animals have a larger rate of surface area to body size, so they dissipate more heat faster than a bigger animal. Less available food, such as fruit or insects, in dryer weather might lead to smaller body size.
1. Why are scientists fond of doing research on birds?| A．They have small body sizes. | B．They are sensitive to hot weather. |
| C．They are ecological balance indicators. | D．They live in an undisturbed rainforest. |
| A．Two-thirds of species showed a considerable decrease in weight. |
| B．About 26 species responded to climate change with longer wings. |
| C．36 species lost 2% of their body weight every year from 1979 to 2019. |
| D．A third of species have been extinct for a decade due to the hotter climate. |
| A．Put off. | B．Give off. | C．Put away. | D．Give away. |
| A．Why it is easier for smaller animals to keep cool. |
| B．Why the Amazonian birds have lost substantial weight. |
| C．Whether bird species in Amazon will be extinct in 2100. |
| D．What effects the wing length changes have on birds. |
