Unlocking
Word Meanings
Read
the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1.
emission
(n.) [ih-mish-uhn] – a substance released (usually to the air)
Example:
Carbon dioxide emissions from cars
add up to air pollution.
2.
reflect
(v.) [ri-flekt] – to throw or bend back (like light) from a surface
Example:
White clothing has a cooling effect because it reflects sunlight.
3.
cancel
out (v.) [kan-suhl] [out] – stop the effect of
something
Example:
Lessening CO2 emission will cancel out
global warming.
4.
culprit
(n.) [kuhl-prit] – a person responsible for something wrong or unpleasant
Example:
Humankind is the main culprit for
global warming because of the excessive C02 emissions they have created.
5.
shoot
up (phrasal verb) [shoot] [uhp] – to increase
in amount
Example:
The sulphur emissions from Asian countries shoot
up due to human coal-fuel industries.
Article
Read
the text below.
Sulphur
emissions in Asia caused global warming to stop between 1998 and 2008,
according to researchers from US and Finland.
Data show
that global temperature stopped increasing within this period mainly because
the amount of sulphur emission in Asia increased
significantly. This increase resulted from industries burning coal as fuel.
Sulphur in
the atmosphere is known to have a cooling effect. It allows water vapor to form
in the air which then reflects the sunlight back into outer
space.
Despite the
increase of carbon emission in that period, temperatures remained cool because
the sulphur cancelled out the heat. As such, researchers conclude that the
sun may have played a more significant role in global warming. However, the
sun’s heat was low according to records.
Based on
this conclusion, doubts have arisen on whether human activities cause global
warming. UN experts, though, are 90% certain that humankind is the main culprit in this global problem.
Regardless
whether nature or humans cause the earth to heat up, researchers are more
concerned with the long-term situation. Sulphur may temporarily keep
temperatures low, but as soon as Asians decide to clean up their air,
temperatures will surely shoot up. Researchers say
cutting down carbon emission will solve the problem more
effectively.
Viewpoint
Discussion
Enjoy
a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Can you give
examples of human activities that contribute to global warming?
·
What other factors
contribute to global warming besides human activities?
Discussion B
·
Do you think
global warming is natural?
·
What are the
effects of global warming to human beings?
