BBC新闻：研究表明全球变暖引发异常热浪
刘立军 供稿
TRANSCRIPT
A study by an international group of climate scientists says the recent powerful heat waves in Europe and the US would have been virtually impossible without global warming caused by humans.
Georgina Ronald reports.
The scientists behind the study, the World Weather Attribution group, say they are not surprised by the results, concluding that the impact of climate change has caused the extreme peaks in heat seen around the world this month.
In southern Europe and the US, the scientists say the role of climate change was so large that the recent heat waves would have been virtually impossible in pre-industrial times.
Humans have been pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere for decades by burning fossil fuels.
But this study warns that if warming continues at the current pace, intense heat waves will occur every 2 to 5 years.
VOCABULARY
1. virtually adv. almost or very nearly, so that any slight difference is not important 几乎；差不多；事实上；实际上。例如：This year’s results are virtually the same as last year’s. 今年的结果几乎和去年的一样。
2. fossil fuels: fuel such as coal or oil, that was formed over millions of years from the remains of animals or plants 化石燃料（如煤或石油）
QUESTIONS
Listen to the news and choose the best answer to each question you hear.
1. What is the main factor contributing to the recent powerful heat waves according to the World Weather Attribution group’s study?
A. Natural climate variation.
B. Human-induced global warming.
C. Unexplained weather phenomena.
D. Changes in land use patterns.
2. According to the report, how does human activity contribute to the issue of heat waves?
A. By creating artificial weather patterns.
B. Through excessive use of air conditioning.
C. By burning fossil fuels and releasing greenhouse gases.
D. Through deforestation and urbanization.
3. Based on the report, what can be inferred about the future frequency of intense heat waves if the current trend of global warming continues?
A. They will stop occurring entirely.
B. Their frequency will reduce significantly.
C. They will occur every 2 to 5 years.
D. Their occurrence will be unpredictable.
KEY
1. What is the main factor contributing to the recent powerful heat waves according to the World Weather Attribution group’s study?
A. Natural climate variation.
B. Human-induced global warming.
C. Unexplained weather phenomena.
D. Changes in land use patterns.
【答案】B
【解析】细节题。原文中提到这个研究组认为，如果没有人类引发的全球变暖，欧洲和美国近期强烈的热浪几乎是不可能的，因此答案是B。
2. According to the report, how does human activity contribute to the issue of heat waves?
A. By creating artificial weather patterns.
B. Through excessive use of air conditioning.
C. By burning fossil fuels and releasing greenhouse gases.
D. Through deforestation and urbanization.
【答案】C
【解析】细节题。原文明确提到“人类通过燃烧化石燃料将温室气体排放到大气中”，因此答案是C。
3. Based on the report, what can be inferred about the future frequency of intense heat waves if the current trend of global warming continues?
A. They will stop occurring entirely.
B. Their frequency will reduce significantly.
C. They will occur every 2 to 5 years.
D. Their occurrence will be unpredictable.
【答案】C
【解析】推理题。根据文章的内容，如果当前的全球变暖趋势继续下去，那么激烈的热浪将每2到5年发生一次，因此答案是C。
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