Global warming mp3课文听力下载

　　During the 20th century the temperature of the earth rose about one degree Fahrenheit. That probably does not seem much to you or me, but it is a rapid increase when compared to other natural changes. So how has this come about and does it matter? Earth Care's Sophie Armstrong explores these questions.

　　There is no doubt that the earth is becoming warmer (see Graph 1) and that it is human activity that has caused this global warming rather than a random but natural phenomenon.

　　All scientists subscribe to the view that the increase in the earth's temperature is due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and oil to produce energy. Some byproducts of this process are called "greenhouse" gases, the most important one of which is carbon dioxide. Dr Janice Foster explains: "There is a natural phenomenon that scientists call the 'greenhouse effect'. This is when small amounts of gases in the atmosphere, like carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour, trap heat from the sun and therefore warm the earth. Without the "greenhouse effect', the earth would be about thirty-three degrees Celsius cooler than it is. So, we need those gases. The problem begins when we add huge quantities of extra carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It means that more heat energy tends to be trapped in the atmosphere causing the global temperature to go up."点击阅读Global warming课文全文及中文翻译。
　　
　　（图为Global warming电子书部分内容）

 

　　consume vt. 消费；消耗；耗尽；吃完

　　△ renewable adj. 能再生的；可更新的

　　△ greenhouse n. 温室；花房

　　△ Fahrenheit adj. (温度)华氏的 n. 华氏温度计

　　come about 发生；造成

　　△ Sophie 索菲(女名)

　　△ Armstrong 阿姆斯特朗(姓)

　　graph n. 图表；坐标图；曲线图

　　random adj. 凌乱的；任意的

　　phenomenon (复数 -ena) n. 现象

　　subscribe vi. 同意；捐赠；订阅 vt. (签署)文件；捐助

　　subscribe to 同意；赞成；订购

　　△ fossil n. 化石；(从地下采掘出来的)矿物

　　fuel n. 燃料

　　△ byproduct n. 副产品

　　△ Janice 贾尼丝(女名)

　　△ Foster 福斯特(姓或男名)

　　△ methane n. 甲烷；沼气