1.1.2　Global Warming

Text（课文）

Global warming is a result of the“greenhouse effect”induced by the presence of carbon dioxide and other gases，such as methane，in the atmosphere.These gases trap the Sun's infrared radiation reflected by the ground，thus retaining the energy in the atmosphere and increasing the temperature.An increased Earth temperature results in major ecological damages to its ecosystems and in many natural disasters that affect human populations.

Considering the ecological damages induced by global warming，the disappearance of some endangered species is a concern because this destabilizes the natural resources that feed some populations.There are also concerns about the migration of some species from warm seas to previously colder northern seas，where they can potentially destroy indigenous species and the economies that live off those species.This may be happening in the Mediterranean Sea，where barracudas from the Red Sea have been observed.

Natural disasters command our attention more than ecological disasters because of the amplitude of the damages they cause.Global warming is believed to have induced meteorological phenomena such as“El Niño，”which disturbs the South Pacific region and regularly causes tornadoes，inundations，and dryness.The melting of the polar icecaps，another major result of global warming，raises the sea level and can cause the permanent inundation of coastal regions and sometimes of entire countries.

Carbon dioxide is the result of the combustion of HCs and coal.Transportation accounts for a large share（32% from 1980 to 1999）of carbon dioxide emissions.The distribution of carbon dioxide emissions is shown in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1　Carbon dioxide emission distribution from 1980 to 1999

New words and expressions（单词和短语）

1.New words（单词）

2.Expressions（短语）

Notes to the text（难点解析）

★1.Global warming is a result of the“greenhouse effect”induced by the presence of carbon dioxide and other gases，such as methane，in the atmosphere.全球变暖是“温室效应”的结果，而“温室效应”系由二氧化碳和其他气体（如大气中的甲烷）所引发。

★2.Carbon dioxide is the result of the combustion of HCs and coal.二氧化碳是碳氢化合物和煤燃烧的生成物。

★3.Considering the ecological damages induced by global warming，the disappearance of some endangered species is a concern because this destabilizes the natural resources that feed some populations.因全球变暖引发的生态破坏，某些受损害物种的消失关系到一些人口的自然资源供应的稳定性。

Exercises（练习）

◆1.Translate the following passages（expressions）into Chinese（英译汉）

（1）global warming

（2）natural disasters

（3）The melting of the polar icecaps，another major result of global warming，raises the sea level and can cause the permanent inundation of coastal regions and sometimes of entire countries.

◆2.Translate the following passages（expressions）into English（汉译英）

（1）温室效应

（2）由于自然界灾难引起的伤害之广，使人们对自然界灾难的关注多于对生态灾害的关注。

◆3.Fill in the blanks with the suitable words according to the text

There are also concerns about the______of some species from warm seas to previously colder northern seas，______they can potentially destroy______species and the______that live off those species.

◆4.Directions:Answer the following questions briefly according to the text

What does an increased Earth temperature result in？（Or what will cause global warming？）

Reading material（阅读材料）

The transportation sector is clearly now the major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions.It should be noted that developing countries are rapidly increasing their transportation sector，and these countries represent a very large share of the world population.