READING COMPREHENSION

Before Reading

1 Which expressions in the following box are related to climate change? Use the Glossary if necessary. global warming, melting glaciers, stronger storms, weather conditions animal protection • global warming • melting glaciers • stronger storms • water waste • weather conditions

2 Before reading the following text, take a look at its layout, title, subtitle and picture. What do you expect to read about in the text?

(Global) climate change.

Reading

3 Now read the text to check your predictions.

https://archive.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/basics/index.html

Home Learn the Basics Learn the Basics

The Earth’s climate is changing, and people’s activities are the main cause.

Our world is always changing. Look out your window long enough, and you might see the weather change. Look even longer, and you’ll see the seasons change. The Earth’s climate is changing, too, but in ways that you can’t easily see.

The Earth is getting warmer because people are adding heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere, mainly by burning fossil fuels. These gases are called greenhouse gases. Warmer temperatures are causing other changes around the world, such as melting glaciers and stronger storms. These changes are happening because the Earth’s air, water, and land are all linked to the climate. The Earth’s climate has changed before, but this time is different. People are causing these changes, which are bigger and happening faster than any climate changes that modern society has ever seen before.

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. Learn the basics. 5 set. 2017. Disponível em: https://archive.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/basics/index.html. Acesso em: 25 jun. 2022.

Language Note

Weather × Climate

Weather is a specific event or condition that happens over a period of hours or days. Climate refers to the average weather conditions in a place over many years (usually at least 30 years).

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. Climate concepts. 5 set. 2017. Disponível em: https://archive.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/basics/concepts.html. Acesso em: 25 jun. 2022.

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Lembre aos/às estudantes que um texto pode ser lido com diferentes objetivos e com diferentes estratégias. Nesta primeira leitura, o objetivo é verificar se as previsões feitas se confirmam. Oriente-os/as a se apoiarem nas palavras transparentes e no vocabulário já conhecido.

F: Suggested answers: Today’s climate changes are bigger and happening faster than climate changes in the past./Today’s climate changes are bigger and happening faster than any climate changes that modern society has ever seen before.

4 What is the main aim of the text? Choose a or b a. To provide students with basic information about climate change. b. To encourage students to take simple steps to stop global climate change. a. The Earth is getting warmer. b. It’s easy to see that the Earth’s climate is changing. c. Human activities are the main cause of climate change. d. Climate changes in the past were bigger and happened faster than today’s climate changes. burning fossil fuels

F: Suggested answers: It’s not easy to see that the Earth’s climate is changing./The Earth’s climate is changing in ways that you can’t easily see.

5 In your notebook, write T (True) or F (False). Then, correct the false statements.

6 The picture you see here illustrates a human activity that causes climate change. Based on the text, what is it called?

7 The following photos are examples of two changes around the world that are being caused by warmer temperatures. Based on the text, what are they called?