COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN ENGLISH-15CP01E UNIT-3: GLOBAL WARMING NOTES

 COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN ENGLISH-15CP01E

UNIT-3: GLOBAL WARMING

COMPREHENSION

I Answers:

1. Global warming is the term used to describe a gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and its oceans. It is the warming near the earth’s surface which results when the earth’s atmosphere traps the sun’s heat.

2. People are warming the earth’s atmosphere by burning fuels, cutting down forests (Deforestation), and by taking part in other activities that release certain heat trapping gases into the air. These are some of the causes of global warming.

3. The worldwide consumption of fossil fuel has increased dramatically. According to the available statistics, the world now burns at least five billion tons of fossil fuel each year.

4. As we are burning enormous amount of fossil fuel at a rapid rate, we are putting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere much faster than the natural processes are taking it out. There is no longer a balance between the amount of carbon dioxide being added to the air and the amount of carbon dioxide being removed. In this way, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air is steadily increasing.

5. Greenhouse effect means, “The solar radiation is trapped by the atmosphere. This is caused by atmospheric gases that allow sunshine to pass through and absorb heat that is radiated back from the warmed surface of earth”.

6. Some researchers think that the large-scale burning of forests around the world adds at least one billion tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere each year.

7. We can take care of our environment and do our bit to solve the problem of global warming. One solution is to reduce the production of carbon dioxide gas. We can do this by switching from oil, coal and gas to renewable sources of energy. Another solution is to plant more trees. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Oxygen sustains life. A third solution is to use less energy and to recycle more products. These are some of the steps that can be taken to save our environment.

8. The effects of global warming are:

a. One of the possible problems of global warming is rising of the sea level. This could result in the flooding of low lying coastal areas and cities, such as Egypt, the Netherlands, and Bangladesh. Some countries may possibly disappear as a result of rising of sea levels.

b. Secondly, the global warming may cause drastic changes in weather patterns. Many areas of the world are experiencing increased incidence of hazards such as hurricanes, floods, and other unusual weather patterns.

c. A third problem associated with global warming is the effect on animals. Fish populations could be affected, while some insects which spread disease might become more common.

d. Heat and draught may cause forests to die and food crops to fail.

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II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of not more

than 80 to 100 words each:

1. Discuss the causes and effects of global warming.

The major problem that our world is facing today is Global warming. The major cause of global warming is the use of fossil fuels. The world now burns at least five billion tons of fossil fuel each year. There is no balance between the amount of carbon dioxide being added to the air and the amount of carbon dioxide being removed. As a result concentration of carbon dioxide is increasing. Forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate. Deforestation destroys all the plants and kills or drives off the animals. It even leads to Green house effect.

The effects of global warming are numerous. It results in rise of the sea level which would result in flooding of low lying coastal areas and cities. Drastic changes in weather pattern such as hurricanes, floods and other unusual weather patterns. It effects animals and increases the number of insects that spread disease. Earth may be hotter in the next fifty to hundred years. Heat and drought may destroy the forests and food crops. Totally global warming affects weather, plants, animals and people everywhere.

2. How does deforestation affect our environment?

Forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate. Enormous numbers of trees are being cut down, both to provide timber and to clear the land for forming or ranching. This destructive process is called deforestation. In order to clear forests for agriculture, people cut down and burn all the trees in area. When the flames die down, nothing is left but acres of blackened lifeless country side. The fire destroys all the plants and kills or drives off animals. Deforestation makes the problem of green house effect worse in two ways i) when the trees are burnt; carbon dioxide is released into the air. Reports say that at least one billion tons of carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere each year. ii) Deforestation eliminates countless number of carbon dioxide

absorbing trees from the environment. As there is less number of trees left out, absorbing carbon dioxide, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases faster and faster. Deforestation also results in shortage of rain fall, which indirectly affects the agriculture.

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Auxiliaries:

Auxiliaries are of two types: primary and modal. ‘Be’, ‘have’ and ‘do’ are the primary auxiliaries in English. They can also be used as main verbs. The following table specifies their different uses.

Primary Auxiliaries

As main verbs

As auxiliaries

Function of the auxiliaries

Be

He is my teacher. /

I am a teacher.

I am studying.

Continuous tense

Have

She has a bag.

I have done the home work.

Perfect tense

Do

They do their exercises promptly.

I do agree with you.

Emphasis

Shall(should), will(would), can(could), may(might), must, need, and ought to are called modal auxiliaries because they suggest the mood of the user (speaker or writer).

Modals

Example

Function

Shall

We shall go by train tomorrow.

Future tense

I shall work for you.

Willingness

Will

I will go to Bangalore next week.

Future tense

Can

Chandan can score 90 marks in English.

Ability

You can go back once you have completed the work.

Request or permission

May

The train may be cancelled.

Possibility

May I come in, Sir?

Permission

Must

You must do your homework.

Obligation

He must be in a good mood as he is singing.

Possibility

Need not

I need not go to the market now.

No obligation

Ought to

You ought to help other.

Obligation