Unit 4: CLIMATE CHANGE

WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE? The earth is getting warmer. Over the past 100 years Earths temperature rose by about 1F. Scientists predict that Earth will continue to warm by about 26F over the next 100 years. That may not sound like much, but think about this: During the last Ice Age, Earth was only 9F cooler than it is today, and large sheets of ice called glaciers covered large parts of North America! The warming of Earths climate is called global warming. WHAT CAUSES CLIMATE CHANGE? Scientists are not sure of what causes climate change. Earth could be warming on its own, however, most scientists believe that human activity is speeding up the climate change. Earth warms itself through a process called the greenhouse effect. When sunlight enters Earths atmosphere, it passes through a layer of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases occur naturally, but humans also create them by burning fossil fuels. When sunlight hits Earths surface it bounces back toward the sky. The greenhouse gases trap some of the sunlight on Earth and allow the rest to go back into space, making Earths temperature warm. The process works much in the same way as a greenhouse, hence its name. If there are too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, too much sunlight may be trapped, making Earth warmer. WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE? Scientists cannot predict exactly what will happen as Earths temperature rises. They believe a rapid climate change could upset the balance of the ecosystem, causing some land and marine life to become extinct. As temperatures rise, the worlds glaciers will melt into the ocean, causing sea levels to rise between several inches to three feet during the next 100 years. Higher sea levels could cause flooding of coastal lands. Warmer ocean water could cause increased storm activity on the coasts while areas away from the coasts may experience droughts. These are just a few of the possible effects of global warming. (327 words)
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Meaning in Context: Match or Mismatch? Match each target word with its appropriate meaning in context. You can look back to the passage above to make sure that the meaning given is referred to what the context needs. Also, its part of speech needs to be identified. The example was given for PREDICT. Target words Predict Glaciers Climate Globe Process Layer Occur Create Fossil Fuels Bounces Hence Atmosphere Ecosystem Extinct Costal Areas Droughts Meanings (Thai or English) Parts of speech Verb

Play on Word Families Find another form of the target words if possible. Then write it in the correct column that indicates its part of speech. The sample for PREDICT was given. Target words Predict Glaciers Climate Verb Predict Noun Prediction Adjective Predictable Adverb Predictably

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Target words Globe Process Layer Occur Create Fossil Fuels Bounces Hence Atmosphere Ecosystem Extinct Costal Areas Droughts

Verb

Noun

Adjective

Adverb

Grammar Focus: Modal verbs: All the auxiliary verbs except be, do, and have are called modals. Unlike other auxiliary verbs only exist in their helping form, they cannot act alone as the main verb in a sentence. The modal verbs are: CAN / COULD / MAY / MIGHT / MUST / SHALL / SHOULD / WILL / WOULD Modal Can Could May Might Must Example - We can control our own budgets. - I cannot join the party. - I think they could pass the exam. - Could you please say it again? - Thailand may become a major economic country in Southeast Asia. - May I come in? - He might become the winner of the competition. - You must be home by 10. - They mustnt disturb our meeting.
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Uses - Ability / Possibility - Inability / Impossibility - Future Possibility - Request - Future Possibility - Asking for permission - Future Possibility - Obligation / Necessity - Prohibition

Modal Shall Should Will Would

- Shall we eat now? - I think we should do it tomorrow. - The population figures in Thailand should increase next year. - I will help you find your father - The population figures in Thailand will increase next year. - Would you mind if I smoke here? - Would you pass that sugar please? - Would you like to play tennis this weekend?

Example

Uses - Suggestion - Recommendation - Uncertain prediction - Promise - Certain prediction Asking for: permission request invitation

Vocabulary: Word usage Complete the following sentences with the words given. atmosphere process predict create extinct glaciers global coastal ecosystem bounces

1. The greenhouse effect is a _____ which Earth can warm itself. 2. Earth warmer could occur if there are too many greenhouse gases in the ______. 3. People also ______ greenhouse gases by burning fossils fuels. 4. Scientists ______ that Earth will become much warmer over the next hundred years. 5. ______ can be been in large areas of North America. 6. Some land and marine creatures could become ______ because of a rapid climate change. 7. Scientists believe that higher sea levels could cause flooding of ______ lands. 8. The warming of Earths climate is known as ______ warming. 9. Sunlight ______ back toward the sky when it hits Earths surface. 10. Scientists believe that a rapid climate change could disturb the ______, casing the extinction of some land and marine life. Make each sentence as T (true) or F (false) according to the information in the passage above. Use the dictionary to help you understand the words you are not sure of. ____1. The Earth will become much warmer over the next 10 years ____2. Some parts of North and also South America have been covered with large sheets of ice called glaciers. ____3. Every Scientist is certain that human activity causes the climate change. ____4. The greenhouse gases are the process that Earth warms itself.
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____5. Greenhouse gases can occur without burning fossils fuels. ____6. Earth warm id derived from too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. ____7. What will happen as Earths temperature rises is surely predictable. ____8. Scientists believe a rapid climate change will definitely upset the balance of the ecosystem. ____9. Higher sea levels can cause increased storm activity on the coasts. ____10. The worlds glaciers may cause flooding of costal lands. Modal Verbs VS Uses Read the following sentences and put the correct modal verb in the blank. will wont cannot could may

1. Scientists predict that Earth ________ continue to warm by about 2-6 F over the next 100 years. 2. Earth ________ be warming on its own. However, most scientists believe that human activity is speeding up the climate change. 3. If there are too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, too much sunlight _________ be trapped, making Earth warmer. 4. Scientists ___________ predict exactly what _________ happen as Earths temperature rises. 5. As temperature rise, the worlds glaciers ________ melt into the ocean, causing sea levels to rise between several inches to three feet during the next 100 years. 6. Scientists believe a rapid climate change __________ upset the balance of the ecosystem, causing some land and marine life to become extinct. 7. Higher sea levels __________ cause flooding of coastal lands. 8. Warmer ocean water _________ cause increased storm activity on the coasts while areas away from the coasts _________ experience droughts.

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