2020-2021学年度第2期总第801期
Threatened by Arctic changes (P6)
山东省烟台第二中学 孔洁

Activity 1
What do you know about climate change?
 
Causes
Greenhouse gases
Deforestation
Emissions  
Effects
Melting sea ice
Extinction of animals
Disasters
Food shortage  

According to Science Daily, the Arctic, the only natural habitat for polar bears, is in danger. Sea ice in the area could disappear completely by 2035. This is undoubtedly bad news for this animal, as they use the floating sea ice to hunt.   

Activity 2

Read the passage quickly and figure out the main idea and complete cause/effect flow chart.  

•It mainly focuses on the impact of sea ice melting on the extinction of some animal species.

Activity 3
Think and share

Activity 4 Language focus

Paraphrase the following sentences.

•1. If what’s happening to the Arctic right now is anything like the last interglacial period, there’s a chance it could be virtually free of sea ice in only 15 years.
•2. To save the northernmost region of Earth, what we should be doing is “focusing all our minds on achieving a low-carbon world as soon as humanly feasible”.

•1. If what’s happening to the Arctic right now is anything like the last interglacial period, there’s a chance it could be virtually free of sea ice in only 15 years.
• If the conditions in the Arctic now are similar to those of the last interglacial period, the sea ice could disappear in 15 years.

•2. To save the northernmost region of Earth, what we should be doing is “focusing all our minds on achieving a low-carbon world as soon as humanly feasible.
• To save the Arctic, we should concentrate on creating a low-carbon world as soon as possible.

Activity 5 Further learning
• What is a carbon footprint?
• A carbon footprint is the sum of all the greenhouse gas emissions you produce through your day-to-day activities.

• How does a car contribute to a carbon footprint?

• What can we do to reduce our carbon footprint?
• Take public transportation.
• Use energy-efficient appliances.
• Reduce use of heating and air conditioning.
• Consume food that doesn't require as much transportation and energy.
• Spend less time in the shower to conserve water.
• Choose reusable products.
• Replace regular light bulb with LED bulbs.
• Add a couple of meatless meals to your diet.
• Plant trees.

Assignment
• Write a composition about the causes and effects of climate change and figure out some solutions.