englishpod_0102
Global View-Global Warming(C0102)
A:And therefore,global warming is the greatest de-ception of the early21st century.Questions?
B:Uh…yeah.In the lecture you said there’s more evidence in the scienti?c record supporting global cooling?
A:Well,yes,essentially,the historical record sup-ports a theory of climate cycles.Warming and cooling are cooperating processes in the plane-tary eco-system.
B:If that’s true and the planet is getting cooler, what explains the rapid melting of the polar ice caps and the dramatic rise in the global average temperatures?
A:But are global temperatures rising?If you look at the data from nineteen seventy-?ve you’ll…
B:Y ou’ll be misled.If you were serious,you would look at the record starting in the1880’s.Then you would see how dramatically the earth’s tem-perature has changed.
A:Y oung lady,I beg to differ.Look,the point of the lecture was to emphasize that there is evi-dence for both sides,and I’m putting forth the ar-gument that there’s greater evidence in support of the global cooling hypothesis.Look,it’s an indis-putable fact that the public is being manipulated and scared into believing there’s some kind of climate crisis;this scaremongering is done,quite simply,for political reasons.
B:But even without the uncomfortable reality that greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide contribute to global warming,isn’t the topic appropriate for politicians to discuss?
A:Not if they want to use your tax dollars and mine to fund completely unnecessary initiatives.
B:Y eah,like conservation,protecting endangered species and investing in renewable energy.At the very least,you have to concede that this debate has the potential to end our dependence on for-eign oil.Buying oil supports autocratic countries that use these revenues to devastating ends.
A:Why,I’ve never been so disrespected in all of my days.I’m a professor,a scientist and researcher of high regard.
B:Y eah,and a duplicitous one at that.Everyone knows you’re in the pocket of the oil lobby.
Why should we trust your so-called?ndings more than tobacco institute studies which say smoking doesn’t harm health?Y ou’re full of it.
A:Some people just cannot handle civil debate!
Key Vocabulary
planetary Adjective of or relating to planets
eco-system common
noun,sin-
gular everything that exists in a certain environ-ment
mislead verb be led to make believe
something not true
global warm-ing common
noun,non-
variable
the increase of the
world’s temperature
due to po
beg to differ phrase a polite way to show
you do not agree with
someone
deception common
noun,sin-
gular the act of making oth-ers believe something false
polar ice cap common
noun,plu-
ral the thick layer of ice or snow on the poles
emphasize verb highlight
put forth verb give out,announce the
public
indisputable Adjective so true that does not
need to be discussed
anymore manipulate verb in?uence someone’s
ideas for your own
bene?t
scaremongering common
noun,non-
variable saying something so as to frighten people
greenhouse gas common
noun,plu-
ral
a gas that increases the
global temperature
endangered species common
noun,plu-
ral
type of animal in dan-
ger of dying out
concede verb to say that you do not
deny something’s true autocratic Adjective with total power
end common
noun,plu-
ral
result or outcome duplicitous Adjective deceiving,dishonest
in the pocket of phrase being illegally bribed or
paid by someone
so-called Adjective used to show the name
is not really suitable Supplementary Vocabulary
climate change common
noun,non-
variable
the change in the
world’s temperature
and weather patterns
fossil fuel common
noun,sin-
gular fuel made with dead an-imals or plants such as oil,gas,natural gas
deforestation common
noun,non-
variable the action of cutting down forests
emission common
noun,sin-
gular
the act of producing gas endorse verb support a point of view