The greenhouse effect 溫室效應

由於溫室效應，地球正在升溫。當化石燃料燃燒時，釋放出的二氧化碳進入大氣層，像毯子一樣將地球裹起來，這意味著熱輻射無法發散，使地球表面溫度升高。這個現象是地球上出現越來越多極端天氣事件的原因之一。為減緩這種狀況的加劇，人們可以在傢裡使用更節能的電器、嘗試以蔬菜為主的飲食結構。本期節目介紹什麼是溫室效應。

詞匯：climate change 氣候變化

Our planet is heating up due to something called the greenhouse effect. This is one of the reasons why Earth is seeing more extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, forest fires and floods each year. But what exactly is the greenhouse effect, and what can we do to reduce it?

Let’s first think about a greenhouse – you may have one in your garden! It’s a glass structure that protects plants against low temperatures by trapping heat inside. But, while this helps your plants grow, Earth is trapping heat in the same way, and it’s causing global warming. When fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, are burnt for power, carbon dioxide is released as a waste product. It enters the atmosphere and acts like a blanket around the planet, which means heat radiation can’t escape and the temperature increases.

The impact of gases on the Earth’s climate was first investigated in the 1820s. Eunice Foote, a scientist and women’s rights activist, tested the effects of sunlight on different gases that she put into glass cylinders. Her results showed that carbon dioxide traps heat more than other gases. The idea of the greenhouse effect was born.

So, what can we do to reduce the greenhouse effect? The UN recommends using more energy-efficient electrical appliances at home and switching to LED lightbulbs. Also, by washing your clothes at 30° instead of a higher temperature, around 40% less electricity is used over a year, according to the Energy Saving Trust. A change in diet is also something to consider. The charity A Well-Fed World, claim that plant-based foods, as opposed to meat and dairy, need less land and water to be produced. So, switching saves energy and lowers emissions, which contribute to climate change.

We only have one planet, so let’s try and take care of it as much as we can.

詞匯表

heat up 變暖
greenhouse effect 溫室效應
extreme weather 極端天氣
heatwave 熱浪，酷暑期

greenhouse 溫室，暖房
temperature 氣溫
trap 吸收，保存
global warming 全球變暖
fossil fuel 礦石燃料
carbon dioxide 二氧化碳
waste product 廢物
atmosphere 大氣層
radiation 輻射

gas 氣體
climate 氣候
sunlight 陽光
energy-efficient 節能的，高能效的
LED lightbulb 發光二極管燈泡
plant-based 僅有蔬菜的，全素的
emission 排放

測驗與練習

1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。

1. What is a greenhouse?

2. What does carbon dioxide do when it enters the atmosphere?

3. Who first investigated the impact of gases on the climate?

4. True or False? Washing your clothes at 40° saves around 30% less electricity over a year.

5. How can eating plant-based foods help the environment?

2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. Don’t make the coffee yet. We need to wait for the water to _______.

heat up trap burn investigate

2. We’re planning to move to a country with a warmer _______ next year.

sunlight radiation emission climate

3. According to the weather forecast, there’s going to be another _______ next week!

temperature heatwave atmosphere fossil fuel

4. Do you have a _______ in your garden?

greenhouse effect global warming gas greenhouse

5. I’m not sure whether to have the meat or _______ burger.

glass plant-based LED energy-efficient

答案

1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。

1. What is a greenhouse?

It’s a glass structure that protects plants against low temperatures by trapping heat inside.

2. What does carbon dioxide do when it enters the atmosphere?
It acts like a blanket around the planet, which means heat radiation can’t escape and the temperature increases.

3. Who first investigated the impact of gases on the climate?
Eunice Foote, a scientist and women’s rights activist.

4. True or False? Washing your clothes at 40° uses around 30% less electricity over a year.
False. By washing your clothes at 30° instead of a higher temperature, around 40% less electricity is used over a year.

5. How can eating plant-based foods help the environment?
Plant-based foods, as opposed to meat and dairy, need less land and water to be produced. So, switching saves energy and lowers emissions.