很多人都喜歡溫暖晴朗的天氣，但科學研究表明，未來的夏天可能會變得太熱而讓人無法忍受。如果全球溫室氣體排放量繼續上升，氣候將會改變。在一些地方，炎熱的夏天和溫暖的冬天可能會讓堆雪人和滑雪橇成為過去。

詞匯：climate 氣候

As winter takes its icy grip, and we head outside into a cold and crisp morning, we might be dreaming of warmer and sunnier days that lie ahead. Although, for many, summer might give us the most clement weather, our changing climate might mean that our chilly winter season becomes a thing of the past. So maybe we should enjoy it while we can.

Last year, the World Meteorological Organization found that the Earth continued to endure a period of significant heating, making it one of the three hottest years on record. The most notable warmth was in the Siberian Arctic, where temperatures were 5°C above average. The evidence shows that much of this climate warming is driven by human activity.

With a shift in meteorological conditions, we’re likely to see more record-breaking temperatures, where, in certain places, summers will be scorching hot and winters mild. This means for some, snowy winters could become a thing of the past. In the UK, a series of projections, based on accelerating global emissions, found that the average coldest day would not drop below freezing point. Dr Lizzie Kendon, a senior Met Office scientist, told the BBC: “It could mean the end of sledging, snowmen and snowball fights… the overarching picture is warmer, wetter winters; hotter, drier summers.” She’s described this as ‘a wake-up call’.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the obvious way to slow the rate of change in our climate. Some nations are promising to do this, but already we’re experiencing less snowfall and fewer frosty mornings. And on a bigger scale, glaciers are melting. According to modelling by Aberystwyth University in the UK, up to 92% of glaciers in the Alps could be lost by the end of the century due to climate change. So, if you’re lucky enough to be looking out on a winter wonderland, get outside and make the most of it before it melts.

詞匯表

icy grip 冰冷刺骨
crisp 干冷的
clement 溫和的
chilly 冷颼颼的
heating 升溫
warmth 溫暖
temperature 溫度
climate warming 氣候變暖
meteorological conditions 氣象條件
record-breaking temperatures 破記錄的氣溫
scorching 灼熱的，炎熱的
mild 溫和的
snowy 下雪的，多雪的
global emissions 全球排放
freezing point 冰點
sledging 滑雪橇
snowman 雪人
snowball fight 打雪仗
greenhouse gas emissions 溫室氣體排放
snowfall 降雪
frosty 霜凍的
glacier 冰川
melt 融化
winter wonderland 冬日仙境

測驗與練習

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. What was significant about last year’s weather?

2. When might the average temperature drop below freezing in the future?

3. What could reducing greenhouse gas emissions do to the rate of change in our weather?

4. True or false? Warmer winters mean less chance of having snowball fights.

5. Where might 92% of glaciers melt by the end of the century?

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. Using a payphone to make a call has become _______.

a past thing             things of the past         a thing of the past       a passing thing

2. Turn the heating down. It’s _______ in here!

warmth                   scorching                      chilly                           cold

3. His terrible test results were a _______ to study harder before his next exams.

wake-up call           waking call                    woke-up call               wake-up calling

4. Eat up quickly. Your ice cream is _______.

freezing                  melting                          glaciers                       heating

5. The weather is getting better. Winter must be losing its _______.

ice gripping             icy grip                          icy grips                      ice grip

答案

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。  

1. What was significant about last year’s weather?
Last year was one of the three hottest years on record.

2. When might the average temperature drop below freezing in the future?
Never. Based on projections, the average coldest day would not drop below freezing point.

3. What could reducing greenhouse gas emissions do to the rate of change in our weather?
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the obvious way to slow the rate of change in our weather.

4. True or false? Warmer winters mean less chance of having snowball fights.
True. Dr Lizzie Kendon, a senior Met Office scientist, told the BBC changes in climate could mean the end of sledging, snowmen and snowball fights.

5. Where might 92% of glaciers melt by the end of the century?
According to modelling by Aberystwyth University in the UK, up to 92% of glaciers in the Alps could be lost by the end of the century due to climate change.

2 .  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. Using a payphone to make a call has become a thing of the past.

2. Turn the heating down. It’s scorching in here!

3. His terrible test results were a wake-up call to study harder before his next exams.

4. Eat up quickly. Your ice cream is melting.

5. The weather is getting better. Winter must be losing its icy grip.