VOA常速：南极冰川大量融化
燕山大学 刘立军 编写
◆TRANSCRIPT
Daily temperatures everywhere in the world rise and fall according to the local weather, so it is hard to notice the average annual rise of a degree or two. But Professor Martin Siegert of Imperial College in London, the co-author of the new study says when we look at the impact of rising temperatures on Antarctica, the picture is dramatic.
We’re noticing the ice sheets being lost, reducing in mass. We’re seeing wind patterns that are changing. We’re seeing ocean temperatures increasing, ocean acidity increasing, changes to biodiversity. In fact, everything that we look at in Antarctica and we’ve got records going back several decades now are pointing to change.
Computer models based on more than 150 measurements made on the ground and from space over the last 30 years show an alarming trend. From 1992 to 2011, Antarctica lost an average of 76 billion tons of ice each year, but in the five years that followed, the annual loss nearly tripled to more than 219 billion tons.
So it’s completely possible for Antarctica to contribute several tens of centimeters in this century. Scientists say the main culprit is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but if we act now, there may still be a chance to reverse the trend. And so we have to ask ourselves: Is that the world that we want our future to be like, and of course the answer is: It can’t be. It can’t be that. And what we’re saying in this paper is (that) we need to recognize that Antarctica is changing and is heading a certain way and we need to act now. Choices we make now are going to shape what the future of the southern continent is going to be like.
But some say it may already be too late. The study shows some of the ice shelves have been irreversibly lost, and the rise in acidity of the ocean water is likely to lead to the extinction of some marine life.
George Putic, VOA news.
Adapted from http://www.kekenet.com/broadcast/201807/557202.shtml
◆VOCABULARY
1. biodiversity n. the existence of a large number of different kinds of animals and plants which make a balanced environment 生物多样性（维持着生态环境平衡的大量各种生物的共存）
2. culprit n. a person or thing responsible for causing a problem 肇事者；引起问题的事物。例如：The main culprit in the current crisis seems to be modern farming techniques. 当前这场危机的罪魁祸首好像是现代农业技术。
3. irreversibly adj. that cannot be changed back to what it was before 无法复原（或挽回）的；不能倒转的。例如：
● an irreversible change / decline / decision不可逆转的变化；不能挽救的衰落；不可撤回的决定
● irreversible brain damage (= that will not improve) 无法治愈的脑损伤
4. acidity n. the state of having a sour taste or of containing acid 酸味；酸性
◆QUESTIONS
Listen to the news and choose the best answer to each question you hear.
(Q1) Which of the following is not the impact of rising temperatures on Antarctica?
(A) Changing wind patterns.
(B) Ocean temperatures increasing.
(C) Ocean acidity increasing.
(D) Changes to plant diversity.
(Q2) What’s the main culprit for Antarctica to contribute several tens of centimeters in this century?
(A) The release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
(B) The release of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere.
(C) The release of nitric oxide into the atmosphere.
(D) The release of nitrogen dioxide into the atmosphere.
(Q3) What does the news want to tell us?
(A) It’s completely possible for Antarctica to contribute several tens of centimeters in this century.
(B) It’s impossible for Antarctica to contribute several tens of centimeters in this century.
(C) Antarctica is changing for the worse and is heading a certain way and we need to act now.
(D) Antarctica is changing for the better and we needn’t worry about it now.
(Q4) What’s likely to lead to the extinction of some marine life?
(A) The rise in petroleum of the ocean water.
(B) The rise in acidity of the ocean water.
(C) The changing of wind patterns.
(D) The increasing of ocean temperatures.
◆KEY
(Q1) D。细节题。命题出处：We’re noticing the ice sheets being lost, reducing in mass. We’re seeing wind patterns that are changing. We’re seeing ocean temperatures increasing, ocean acidity increasing, changes to biodiversity.
(Q2) A。细节题。命题出处：So it’s completely possible for Antarctica to contribute several tens of centimeters in this century. Scientists say the main culprit is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but if we act now, there may still be a chance to reverse the trend.
(Q3) C。推断题。命题出处：And what we’re saying in this paper is (that) we need to recognize that Antarctica is changing and is heading a certain way and we need to act now.
(Q4) B。细节题。命题出处：But some say it may already be too late. The study shows some of the ice shelves have been irreversibly lost, and the rise in acidity of the ocean water is likely to lead to the extinction of some marine life.