The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

The Main Reading Text

Our Earth has a special, invisible blanket. You cannot see it. This blanket is made of different gases in the air. When the sun shines on the Earth, this blanket helps to trap some of the heat. This is the greenhouse effect. It is a natural and important process. Without it, the Earth would be too cold for people, animals, and plants to live.

One of the main gases in this blanket is carbon dioxide, or CO2. Animals and people breathe out CO2. Plants use it with sunlight to make their food. This is a normal part of nature.

The problem starts when there is too much CO2 in the air. Human activities, like driving cars and running factories, burn a lot of fuel. Burning fuels, such as coal and oil, releases extra CO2. This extra CO2 makes the Earth's blanket thicker.

When the blanket becomes thicker, it traps more heat. This causes the Earth's temperature to rise. This is often called global warming. Global warming can lead to climate change, which means big changes in our weather. We might see more very hot days or stronger storms. Understanding this helps us think about using cleaner energy to protect our Earth.

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Key Learning Points

點擊下方的頁籤，切換不同的學習重點。

invisible

a.

[ɪnˋvɪzəbl] — 看不見的；無形的

Impossible to see.

• Our Earth has a special, invisible blanket.
  我們的地球有一層特別的、看不見的毯子。
• The air around us is invisible.
  我們周圍的空氣是看不見的。

blanket

n.

[ˋblæŋkɪt] — 毯子；覆蓋層

A thick covering of a substance. In this text, it is used as a metaphor for the atmosphere.

• This extra CO2 makes the Earth's blanket thicker.
  這些額外的二氧化碳使地球的「毯子」變得更厚。
• A blanket of snow covered the ground.
  一層厚厚的雪覆蓋了地面。

trap

v.

[træp] — 困住；捕捉

To keep something in a particular place, especially so that it cannot escape.

• The blanket helps to trap some of the heat.
  這層毯子有助於留住一些熱量。
• The mouse was trapped in the cage.
  老鼠被困在籠子裡。

process

n.

[ˋprɑsɛs] — 過程

A series of actions that you take in order to achieve a result.

• It is a natural and important process.
  這是一個自然且重要的過程。
• Learning a language is a long process.
  學習一門語言是一個漫長的過程。

release

v.

[rɪˋlis] — 釋放

To allow a substance to flow out from somewhere.

• Burning fuels releases extra CO2.
  燃燒燃料會釋放出額外的二氧化碳。
• He was released from prison after ten years.
  十年後他從監獄獲釋。

temperature

n.

[ˋtɛmprətʃɚ] — 溫度

The measured amount of heat in a place or in the body.

• This causes the Earth's temperature to rise.
  這導致地球的溫度上升。
• The temperature today is 30 degrees Celsius.
  今天的溫度是攝氏30度。

climate change

n.

[ˋklaɪmət tʃendʒ] — 氣候變遷

Changes in the world's weather, particularly the increase in temperature, caused by human activity.

• Global warming can lead to climate change.
  全球暖化可能導致氣候變遷。
• Climate change is a serious issue for our planet.
  氣候變遷對我們的星球來說是一個嚴重的問題。