The World is in Danger
Our world is in danger. We must do something to protect the environment. But what are the main problems we face?
The greenhouse effect
The atmosphere (大气层) around the Earth is necessary for all living things. It is like the glass of a greenhouse, letting sunlight in and keeping heat from getting out. Without it, the Earth would be the same as the Moon—cold and lifeless.
When we burn fuels (燃料) such as petrol and coal, we produce a gas called carbon dioxide (CO₂). Too much of this gas pollutes the atmosphere, and causes it to keep in too much heat. As a result of the greenhouse effect, the Earth’s temperature is increasing. This causes sea level to rise, and in the future may cause cities to disappear.
Cutting down forests
Every year, we destroy (破坏) nature by cutting down many forests. This makes the greenhouse effect worse because trees take in CO₂ and produce oxygen (O₂). Cutting down trees also destroys the homes of animals that live in forests, and causes the surface of the soil to be easily destroyed by rain. This can result in floods and even more damage (伤害) to the environment.
Bad habits
Many of our habits cause pollution. People often use things once and then throw them away, or leave them on the ground as litter. To protect the environment, we need to take proper action. We should be different from many consumers and become “green consumers”. This means that we should only buy and use products friendly to the environment. We should also recycle as many things as we can. We can reuse things for the same purpose as before, or we can use them for new purposes. Then, we can make a difference.
【小题1】Why is the atmosphere around the Earth necessary for all living things?| A．Because the Moon is cold and lifeless. |
| B．Because it is like a greenhouse. |
| C．Because it lets sunlight in and keeps heat from getting out. |
| D．Because with it the Earth is cold and lifeless. |
| A．Many seaside cities may disappear. | B．The atmosphere keeps in too much heat. |
| C．The Earth’s temperature will rise. | D．The sea level will increase. |
| A．People who make friends with green consumers. |
| B．People who sell products friendly to the environment. |
| C．People who buy products nice to the environment. |
| D．People who recycle as many things as they can. |
| A．To tell us what to do in the future. |
| B．To teach us why and how to protect the environment. |
| C．To inspire us how to make a difference. |
| D．To encourage us to live in new and different ways in the future. |
