Climate change - Can we stop it?

A. The world is getting hotter. We have to take drastic measures to combat global
warming; but can we do this quickly enough, or are we going towards a climate
catastrophe?
There are still some people who say that climate change is not real ! Others say that it is
real, but we cannot do anything to stop it, so we need not try. A few people even say that
climate change is not caused by human beings. But most people now understand that our
world is getting hotter, and we have to do something about it. We only have one Earth,
and we can't get another one.

B. Twenty years ago, people could perhaps imagine that climate change was not a real
problem, because some scientists still had doubts. Today almost all the world's scientists
agree: the world is getting hotter, and it is the fault of human beings. Our planet is going
towards a climate catastrophe, but we can stop its worst effects. Indeed we must do
everything possible to stop them.

C. In November 2021, world leaders (or most of them) met in Glasgow, in Scotland, for
the COP26 summit. They took quite a few decisions, to try and stop the Earth getting too
warm. Many countries promised to become "carbon neutral" before 2050. Some have
promised to become carbon-neutral even faster. World leaders agree that we have to stop
using coal and oil to generate heat and electricity; we should use green energy sources
instead, known as "renewables."

D. Before the year 2100, all the energy that we use may perhaps come from renewable
sources; the sun, the sea, the wind and rivers can produce more than enough energy for
everyone on our planet, but we still have a long way to go.
The green energy revolution has already begun, but the challenges are still enormous.
"Going green" will cost an enormous amount of money, and use some kinds of
technology that do not yet exist. Also there are some people who believe that it will be
too expensive.

E. Although most people care about our planet and know that we have to act now to
avoid a climate catastrophe, there are other people who have different priorities. There
are people who just don't care, and there are people who care more about themselves
than about the world around them. There are people and big companies that just want to
make money, and are not interested in anything that gets in their way. Most importantly,
there are politicians who are frightened of doing anything that other people will not like;
they make promises, but they do not keep them.

F. At COP26, people agreed that we will have to stop using coal as soon as possible,
because it is the dirtiest of fuels. Yet for some countries this will be very difficult. Most
of their electricity is generated by burning coal, so if they stop using coal, people will not
have enough electricity. In developed countries, everyone uses electricity, and industry
uses lots of electricity. No countries can stop using coal unless they have another source
of electricity to use instead.

G. The cleanest electricity comes from the wind and the sun, but it takes time to build
enough solar power plants and wind turbines for a whole country. Then there is another
big problem; we cannot depend on solar power and the wind, because the sun does not
shine at night, and the wind does not blow all the time. These kinds of green power are
not reliable, so we need other ideas too.

H. Climate change is mostly caused by CO2 and other gases in the air. Many countries
are now producing less CO2 and less air pollution than they used to. Cars are cleaner,
heating is cleaner, more things are being recycled. The problem lies in poorer countries
which cannot afford the new technology, and do not have the systems in place; it also lies
in countries like China or Poland or Greece, where coal is still a vital source of energy, of
jobs or of exports.
Some people believe that we cannnot afford to fight climate change because it will cost
too much. The truth is that we cannot afford not to fight against climate change, because
the cost of a climate catastrophe will be even higher.

https://linguapress.com/intermediate/climate-change.htm

Part 1: Matching
Sample Passage 5 has eight paragraphs, A-H.
Which paragraphs contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A-H in boxes 1-10 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.

1. How humans react with a climate disaster.

2. The lists of renewable energy.
3. Scientists confirm the main cause of climate change is humans.
4. Countries' attempts to minimize emissions in the environment.
5. The importance of using coal.
6. Renewable energy's limits.
7. The future orientation of countries.
8. Climate change is constantly present and cannot be eliminated.
9. People's different opinions about climate change.
10. Going green is going to be demanding.

Answers:

1. How humans react with a climate disaster. E

(There are people who just don't care, and there are people who care
more about themselves than about the world around them... there are
politicians who are frightened of doing anything that other people will not
like; they make promises, but they do not keep them.)
2. The lists of renewable energy. D
(all the energy that we use may perhaps come from renewable sources;
the sun, the sea, the wind and rivers can produce more than enough
energy for everyone on our planet )
3. Scientists confirm the main cause of climate change is humans. B
(Today almost all the world's scientists agree: the world is getting hotter,
and it is the fault of human beings)
4. Countries' attempts to minimize emissions in the environment. H
(Many countries are now producing less CO2 and less air pollution than
they used to. Cars are cleaner, heating is cleaner, more things are being
recycled.)
5. The importance of using coal. F
( In developed countries, everyone uses electricity, and industry uses lots
of electricity. No countries can stop using coal unless they have another
source of electricity to use instead )
6. Renewable energy's limits. G
(we cannot depend on solar power and the wind, because the sun does not
shine at night, and the wind does not blow all the time. These kinds of
green power are not reliable, so we need other ideas too.)
7. The future orientation of countries. C
(Many countries promised to become "carbon neutral" before 2050. Some
have promised to become carbon-neutral even faster...)
8. Climate change is constantly present and cannot be eliminated. H
(Some people believe that we cannnot afford to fight climate change
because it will cost too much. The truth is that we cannot afford not to
fight against climate change, because the cost of a climate catastrophe
will be even higher.)
9. People's different opinions about climate change A
(There are still some people who say that climate change is not real !
Others say that it is real... A few people even say that climate change is
not caused by human beings.)
10. Going green is going to be demanding. D
(Going green" will cost an enormous amount of money, and use some
kinds of technology that do not yet exist. Also there are some people who
believe that it will be too expensive )

Part 2: Vocabulary
No Words Meaning Example
1 Drastic (a) severe and sudden or having Many employees have had
very noticeable effects to take drastic cuts in pay.
2 Catastrophe (n) a sudden event that causes A chemical plant leak could
great suffering or destruction cause an environmental
catastrophe.
3 Neutral (n) a state of no activity or After two years in neutral,
development the economy is finally
moving forward again.
4 Summit (n) an important formal meeting The economic summit did
between leaders of not accomplish all that the
governments from two or President had hoped it
more countries would.
5 Renewable (a) Renewable forms of energy Sorghum is a brand new
can be produced as quickly cash crop that can be burned
as they are used as a fuel and is therefore a
renewable source of energy.
6 Priority (n) something that is very The management did not
important and must be dealt seem to consider office
with before other things safety a priority.
7 Frightened (a) feeling fear or worry She gets frightened when he
shouts at her.
8 Get in their way try to stop them I was trying to clean the
floor but the kids kept
getting in my way.
9 Generate (v) to produce energy in a The wind farm may be able
particular form to generate enough
electricity/power for 2,000
homes.
10 Vital (a) necessary for the success or She had found out some
continued existence of information of vital
something; extremely importance.
important