Global warming was once considered unlikely to be real. Recently, though, it has become widely accepted as fact. Scientists have calculated that the earth''s atmosphere has gotten approximately 0.75 degrees Celsius warmer since 1900. This may not seem like much, but scientists predict an additional increase of between 1 and 7 degrees Celsius by the year 2100. This slight change could be enough to cause disasters such as extreme weather, crop failure, extinctions, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels.
It''s possible that natural phenomena like volcanoes, solar flares, and shifts in the earth''s orbit could be causes of this change. However, scientists now believe that changes in the atmosphere are primarily to blame for the rise in temperatures. Light from the sun enters the earth''s atmosphere and warms the air, land, and oceans. As heat radiates back through the atmosphere toward space, some of it is trapped by gases and continues to warm the earth. This is called the greenhouse effect, and the gases that trap the heat are greenhouse gases.
Without the greenhouse effect, life couldn''t exist on earth. However, rising levels of greenhouse gases are trapping more and more of the sun''s heat. As people burn fossil fuels or clear forests, carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is released into the atmosphere. As the oceans warm, water vapor, which is also a greenhouse gas, enters the atmosphere. This combination of pollutants and water vapor creates the powerful and dangerous cycle behind global warming. It is a cycle that, if active measures are not taken, could have serious and deadly consequences for all living things in the near future.
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1. Grobal warming can account for the increase of temperature. Although the change is a little, it still bring about disasters. But it is essential for us, we can't lve without greenhouse effect. The combination of pollutants and water vapor are the major cause. If active methods are not taken,creatures will have a serious or fatal consequences for all living things in the near future.
2.
a.
radiate
calculate
Celsius
carbon dioxide
b.
sb be to blame fo
take measures
shift
3. It is wide accepted that grobal warming is an important issue. In the begging, we all need it, or we will die without tempertures. In the end, we all hate the fact that it brings the disasters.
So I think everything has the bright and dark sight. It is judged whoe di you think.
2008年1月8日 星期二
2008年1月3日 星期四
Breaking Gender Stereotypes
Years ago, the roles of men and women were very typical. Men were supposed to bring home the bacon. They would go to work and earn money for their loved ones. During this time, some men would also leave their families in times of war. There were very few jobs and opportunities available for women. Most of them would take over the housework and look after the children because they were expected to stay at home. As the years have gone by, many things have changed. Nowadays, plenty of women work and have successful careers. The traditional stereotype of a woman at work in her home is gone. Women are also breaking gender stereotypes with their job choices. There are many women working in what used to be traditional male professions. Examples of this would be the police officers and the soldiers in the army. Not only are they popular choices for men, but for modern women as well. Women now have the ability to fight crime and defend their countries in war.
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1. Years ago, we all thought men should work to support the family and women should stay home to clean the house. But the years have gone by, we also change the concept. Plenty of women are successful in their career. And women can be the police officers and the soliders. They mean women also have the ability to fight crime and defend their countries in the war.
2.
a. stereotype
b. typical
expect
defend
take over
go by
3. Nowadays, women is unlike the image of we thought in the past. They stand out to prove they also can earn money to support their money. So in some families, it is the mother to bring home the bacon. Women are working in what used to be traditional male professions. I think it make a breakthrough in the past. If you lived in the past, you will not believe that a woman told you that she wants to do the job considered that only you are the man. But I think everything is changing. Women can work harder to certificate their abilities.
===================================================
1. Years ago, we all thought men should work to support the family and women should stay home to clean the house. But the years have gone by, we also change the concept. Plenty of women are successful in their career. And women can be the police officers and the soliders. They mean women also have the ability to fight crime and defend their countries in the war.
2.
a. stereotype
b. typical
expect
defend
take over
go by
3. Nowadays, women is unlike the image of we thought in the past. They stand out to prove they also can earn money to support their money. So in some families, it is the mother to bring home the bacon. Women are working in what used to be traditional male professions. I think it make a breakthrough in the past. If you lived in the past, you will not believe that a woman told you that she wants to do the job considered that only you are the man. But I think everything is changing. Women can work harder to certificate their abilities.
Pedaling to Health
One of the most famous bike makers in the world is Taiwan's own Giant. When Giant started in 1972 in Taichung, it only produced bikes for bigger companies like Schwinn. In 1986, Giant decided to compete in the high-end bikes business because the market was expanding quickly. Now, Giant has over 10,000 stores around the world and sells more than three million bikes every year.
People in Taiwan are finally living up to the name "Bicycle Kingdom." Lately, more and more cyclists have been seen on the streets. Friends or families often ride together in mountains or along rivers during the weekends.
Riding a bike is great exercise for everyone. The amount of calories that you burn depends on how hard you pedal and how much you weigh. For example, if a woman that weighs 50 kilograms rides for one hour at a relaxing pace, she would burn 500 calories. If she decided to race with her friends the whole time, she could double that number. The same thing applies to men. If an average man that weighs 70 kilograms rides casually for an hour, he would burn 450 calories. But if that same man decided to really push himself, he could lose up to 1,100 calories. To burn the same amount of calories through hiking, he would have to walk for three full hours without stopping.
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1. Giant is one of the most famouse bike. Its market covered the whole world. It become more common to see people riding the bike with family on the roadside. Riding a bike is great exercise for everyone.
2.
a. casually
b. live up to
depend on
apply to
3. Riding the bike is very convenient for me. And I also like rinding to every place. I can find another side of the city. If you are always taking the bus, driving the car or ride the motorcycle, you never see the beautiful flowers on the side of the road. And it doesn't produce the pollution.
But I think the most important reason is that it can burn the calories. I always sit after I eat, and the action let me become more heavier. So I want to control my weight by riding.
People in Taiwan are finally living up to the name "Bicycle Kingdom." Lately, more and more cyclists have been seen on the streets. Friends or families often ride together in mountains or along rivers during the weekends.
Riding a bike is great exercise for everyone. The amount of calories that you burn depends on how hard you pedal and how much you weigh. For example, if a woman that weighs 50 kilograms rides for one hour at a relaxing pace, she would burn 500 calories. If she decided to race with her friends the whole time, she could double that number. The same thing applies to men. If an average man that weighs 70 kilograms rides casually for an hour, he would burn 450 calories. But if that same man decided to really push himself, he could lose up to 1,100 calories. To burn the same amount of calories through hiking, he would have to walk for three full hours without stopping.
==============================================
1. Giant is one of the most famouse bike. Its market covered the whole world. It become more common to see people riding the bike with family on the roadside. Riding a bike is great exercise for everyone.
2.
a. casually
b. live up to
depend on
apply to
3. Riding the bike is very convenient for me. And I also like rinding to every place. I can find another side of the city. If you are always taking the bus, driving the car or ride the motorcycle, you never see the beautiful flowers on the side of the road. And it doesn't produce the pollution.
But I think the most important reason is that it can burn the calories. I always sit after I eat, and the action let me become more heavier. So I want to control my weight by riding.
Inside: The Emperor's Treasure
Taiwan's National Palace Museum has been a place of wonder since it was built. Inside, it houses the treasure of the Chinese emperors. This collection of more than 600,000 objects is said to be the most important in Chinese history. Now, National Geographic Channel's Inside: The Emperor's Treasure takes a deeper look into the collection's past and future. The show will also go into highly restricted vaults to see how the latest technology is keeping it safe.
The history of the emperors' private collection goes back thousands of years. It includes paintings, calligraphy, ceramics, and much more. After the last emperor left the Forbidden City, the collection was put on public display. But when Japan invaded China, all of the art pieces became unsafe. For the following 17 years, special guards protected the collection as it secretly traveled through China. Only a few of these guards are still alive. NGC talks with one of them, Kao Jen-jun, about his important job. For the safety of the collection, the best pieces were eventually shipped to Taiwan. Tune in to NGC's Inside: The Emperor's Treasure to learn more about the National Palace Museum's world-famous collection.
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1. Taiwan's National Palace Museum houses more than 600,000 objects which are the treasure of the Chinese emperors. Because of their importances, we use the latest technology is keeping it safe. The collections incloude paintings, calligraphy, ceramics, and much more. They are sended to travel through Chian from destroyed. Finally, they all are sended to Taiwan.
2.
a. restricted
forbodden
emperor
callography
Forbidden
b. house
invade
eventually
3. When visiting Taiwan, you must go to The Emperor's Treadure. Because I think it houses a lot of antiquaries, you can see the displays. And the number of the collection is accepted. They increase the objects abidingly. We can see kinds of displays there. They not only just show they store but also display the antiques from different countries.
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