UNIT 53: GREEEN HOUSE EFFECT

The man made agent of climatic change is the carbon dioxide (CO2) that pouring out
of the world's chimneys in ever increasing quantities since the industrial revolution began.
And in the past few years scientists have began to suspect that there is a second man-made
source of CO2 which may be as important as the burning of fossil fuels, namely the steady
destruction of the world's great forests. Computer studies have suggested that if the
concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere were to be twice that of today's, there would be a
rise of between 2 C and 3 C in average temperature. The danger is that the more the
concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, the less sunlight escapes back into space. That is,
some of the sunlight is trapped by CO2, which acts like the glass in a greenhouse, allowing
sunshine and heat to pass in but not out again. Consequently, the temperature rises.

I. VOCABULARY
Greenhouse effect: The build-up of such gasses as carbon dioxide the air and
their causing a gradual rise in the atmosphere by trapping the heat from the sun
To pour out: To flow continuously
Revolution: An important change
To suspect: To think, to believe
Destruction: Causing damage
To trap: To catch, to shut in
Consequently: So, as a result
To suggest: To indicate
Concentration: Intensity
Average: Typical, normal
To escape: To get away
Namely: For example
II. EXERCISE: Complete the sentences with a suitable form of the words defined
above.
1. In December 1983 he was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for "opposing the
................... ".
2. If you ......... that you have shingles see a doctor immediately.
3. "The ; ........age of entry for the diploma course is between 18 and 20, though some
schools accept entrants as young as 17.
4. Before attempting a new definition it would be better to consider two important
factors, ............ the art of the general and the art of the particular.
5. When a few of these dykes reach the surface,, a fissure eruption occurs, and basalt
lavas .......over the surface.
III. READING COMPREHENSION
1. It is clear in the passage that the amount of carbon dioxide is not ..................
a. dangerous.
b. affecting the atmosphere.
c. decreasing.
d. threatening.
e. rising.
2. Man has changed the world's climate by .............
a. building chimneys.
b. using up more carbon dioxide.
c. increasing industrialization.
d. destroying forest and by burning fossil fuels.
e. carrying out computer studies.
3. If the amount of CO, in the atmosphere increases considerably,
a. the world will become warmer.
b. we can expect colder weather.
c. plants will tend to grow faster.
d. we shall have to cut down more forests.
e. the average temperature will decrease.