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Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. melt
    • ex. The ice cream began to melt in the hot sun, so we ate it quickly.
  2. record-high
    • ex. Last summer, the city experienced a record-high temperature of 40 degrees Celsius.
  3. impossible
    • ex. Before airplanes, it was impossible to travel to another country in a few hours.
  4. a current
    • ex. The river's current was fast after the heavy rain, making it dangerous for small boats.
  5. a coastline
    • ex. We walked along the coastline and enjoyed the beautiful view of the ocean.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Scientists reported that climate change caused by humans made Iceland and Greenland much hotter than normal in May. The strong heat wave made the ice in Greenland melt faster than usual, with some areas seeing record-high temperatures. In Iceland, some areas were more than 10°C warmer than normal. On May 15, Egilsstadir Airport reached 26.6°C, the hottest May Day ever there.

The group World Weather Attribution studied the heat wave. The group said it is very rare to see such heat without human influence. According to climate professor Friederike Otto, before factories and machines became common, a heat wave like this was almost impossible.

Scientists are worried because the ice melting in the Arctic can affect weather in many parts of the world. As the ice melts, fresh water flows into the ocean. This could slow down a big ocean current and change weather in many places. Also, when the ice melts, it adds more water to the ocean, so sea levels go up. This can affect coastlines and small islands. Scientists warn that a longer melting season could make things worse.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Heat Waves

  • Have you ever experienced a heat wave? Discuss.
  • Why do you think record-high temperatures are dangerous for the environment? Discuss.
  • Heat waves are getting stronger because of human actions. Do you believe nature can recover from climate damage if we change our actions? Why or why not? Discuss.

Ice Melting in Iceland and Greenland

  • How do you feel about the ice melting in Iceland and Greenland (ex. it’s alarming, I’m not worried)? Discuss.
  • Do you think it is possible to stop or slow down Arctic ice from melting? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • According to the article, the melting of ice can change weather and increase sea levels. Which of these two makes you feel more concerned? Discuss.