University Hassan II

Faculty of Science
Unit 3: Ecology

Reading: Global Warming

The climate of the world has changed many times. Sometimes the temperature falls
and we have an ice age. Recently most of Europe was covered in ice, just like Greenland. But
don't worry! That ended about 10.000 years ago. Nowadays scientists are worried that the
weather has changed and the world is getting warmer. They call this Global Warming. What
is causing it? And why is it a serious problem?

Unfortunately, we are one of the main causes. There are now millions of cars burning
petrol. When we burn fuels like coal, oil and wood, they produce carbon dioxide (CO2).
These gases rise into the atmosphere. The sun's heat can pass through these gases, but cannot
escape. We call them 'greenhouse gases'. A greenhouse has glass walls. The sun's heat goes
through the glass, but cannot escape, and the greenhouse gets hotter. In the same way,
greenhouse gases are making the world hotter. They also cause 'acid rain', which kills trees.

Does this matter? Isn't it better to be warm? The problem is that a very small he is the
temperature of the earth can completely change the climate. In recent years, deserts grown
larger; Northern Europe has grown wetter; the ice on mountains and at the poles begun to
melt; and the level of the oceans has risen, Some small islands in the Pacific a disappeared.

So what is the answer? Most scientists agree that we must use less energy and cut
down the amount of greenhouse gases and other serious kinds of pollution. Governments
slowly beginning to deal with this problem. But we must all do our bit to help. After all,
world depends on us.

COMPREHENSION

1- Are the following statements true or false? Circle the correct answer.

a- Human beings are one of the global warming causes.

b-The weather is becoming colder because of greenhouse gases. True

c- It is better to be warm.

d- More energy reduces greenhouse gases.

e-Governments of the world are worried about global warming

f-Every citizen must do his well to reduce greenhouse gases.

2- Answer the following questions.

a- Why are scientists worried?

b- Give a definition to Global Warming.

c-How are we one of the causes of global warming?

University Hassan II
Faculty of Science
Unit 3: Ecology

d- What are greenhouse gases?

e- Why have some islands in the pacific disappeared? (1. 20).

f- From the context, what is meant, in lines 17-18, by "...cut down the amount of greenbe
gases"?

g-What does the writer mean by: "the world depends on us" "

3-What do the underlined words refer to?

a- that: ………………….. b- they: ………………….. c-it: ………………………

d- they: ………………….. e- them: ………………….. f- this: …………………..

4- Find opposites in the text of:

a- fall: ………………….. b- use more: ……………… c- colder: …………………..

5- Sum up the article