Unit 8 Focus on Global Warming Text comprehension I. A

II. 1. T; 2. T; 3. F; 4. F; 5. F. III.

1. Paragraph 2. Because global warming may be the single largest threat to our planet（the earth）. Low-lying nations could be awash in seawater, rain and drought patterns across the world could change, hurricanes could become more frequent, and El Ninos could become more intense.

2. Paragraph 3. Our factories, power plants, and cars burn coal and gasoline and spit out carbon dioxide, produce methane by allowing our trash to decompose in landfills and by breeding large herds of methane-belching cattle, and release nitrogen oxide by using nitrogen-based fertilizers.

3. Paragraph 4. The increased concentrations of greenhouse gases prevent additional thermal radiation from leaving the Earth, so cause the global warming.

4. Paragraph 7. A slight increase in heat and rain in equatorial regions would increase vector-borne带菌媒介引起的diseases such as malaria; more intense rains and hurricanes could cause more severe flooding and more deaths in coastal regions and along riverbeds; even a moderate rise in sea level could threaten the low-lying islands; hotter summers couldlead to more cases of heatstroke, hospital admissions and deaths among vulnerable people with heart problems or respiratory problems.

5. Paragraph 8 and 10. We can curb our consumption of fossil fuels and use technologies to reduce the emission of heat-trapping gases like carbon二氧化碳 dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides, and protect the forests in the world, and we can also advocate policies that will combat global warming over the long term, things like clean cars, environmentally responsible renewable energy technologies, and stopping the clear-cutting of valuable forests. IV.

1. Global warming will probably be the most serious threat to our Earth, if we do not take into account of some other possible disasters, such as another world war, collision of our Earth with some small orbiting planet, or spread of incurable diseases.

2. In terms of human health, the people of the poorer countries will suffer most, because their countries do not have money to protect them when climate changes.

Structural analysis

Sub-ideas in the second part.

1) the causes of the rising concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (Paragraphs 3 and 4)

2) the effect of such concentration on climate change (Paragraphs 5 and 6)

3) the potential threat of global warming to human health and survival (Paragraph 7)

Part one. Vocabulary 1 Phrase

1. with the exception of: except, apart from 除……之外， 不包括……在内

2. In essence = essentially, basically 本质上，根本上

3. wherever possible: whenever it is possible 只要可能

4. over the long term: over a long period 从长远看

5. alternative = substitutable, different, replaceable II.

1. focus; 2. much the same; 3. consciousness; 4. threat; 5. deserved; 6. decomposed; 7. revealed; 8. frequent.

III. Word derivation

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate forms of the given words.

1. Her natural good sense was improved by the perusal (peruse) of the best books.

2. Efforts to reach the injured men have been intensified (intense) because of a sudden deterioration of weather conditions.

3. I knew he deserved to be punished but making him stay in every night for a year is a little excessive (excess).

4. Theories of the origin of life are partly speculative (speculate), since there is so little direct evidence available.

5. This is a book that contains an abundance (abundant) of valuable information.

6. The cost of the flights, accommodation and car rental is two thousand dollars inclusive (include).

7. When an iron object is heated in a fire, it glows red and emits (emission) radiation. 8. We hardly ever go into London. Whatever we need we can buy locally (local).

1. peruse v. 熟读，精读

perusal n. 熟读，精读；仔细研究 e.g. 他每天都要读各种报纸。

He perused the newspapers every day.

2. intense a. 强烈的，剧烈的，热烈的 intensify v. 增强，强化；加剧 intensive n. 强烈的；密集的

intensification n. 增强，加强，强化

e.g. 我的工作非常紧张，以至于我没有时间休息。

My work is so intense that I even have no time to take a rest. 我的初次失败更坚定了我成功的信念。

My first failure only intensified my desire to succeed. 我们有十天的强化训练。

We have ten days of intensive training.

3. excess a. 过量的，额外的 excessive a. 过多的，过分的

e.g. 这个胖男孩节制饮食以减轻过量的体重。

The fat boy went on a diet to get rid of his excess weight.

4. speculate v. 推测，好奇

speculation n. 沉思，推测；投机

speculative a. 推测的，推理的；投机的 speculator n. 投机者，投机商人 e.g. 我猜想的全错了。

My speculations proved totally wrong. 他是一个冷酷的投机者。 He is a ruthless speculator.

5. abundant a. 丰富的，充裕的 abundance n. 丰富，充裕

abundantly ad. 大量地，丰富地 e.g. 今年的农产品很丰富。

The agricultural commodities are abundant this year. 这个国家拥有丰富的资源。

This country has an abundance of valuable resources.

6. include v. 包括，包含 including prep. 包含，包括

inclusive a. 包含……在内的，包罗广泛的 e.g. 账单中包含服务费。 The bill includes service.

他们有很多宠物，狗就有三只。

They have many pets, including three dogs.

7. emission n. 散发；发射 emit v. 发出，放射；吐露 e.g. 干酪散发出强烈的气味。

The cheese was emitting a strong smell.

8. local a. 地方性的；当地的，局部的 locally ad. 在本地，在当地

e.g. 当地大多数的居民靠打渔为生。

Most of the local population depend on fishing for their income.