Understanding Climate Change
Welcome to today’s lecture on climate change. During this session, we will discuss what climate change is, including its causes and effects on our planet. First, climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. While climate change is a natural phenomenon, scientific evidence shows that human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, have accelerated its pace. These activities increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which traps heat and leads to global warming.
Next, we will look at some of the major effects of climate change. One significant impact is the rise in sea levels caused by melting ice caps and glaciers, leading to increased flooding in coastal areas. Additionally, we are witnessing more frequent and severe weather events, such as hurricanes, droughts, and heatwaves. These changes threaten ecosystems, wildlife, and human populations. By the end of this lecture, we hope to raise awareness of these issues and discuss possible solutions to mitigate climate change.
Note: This question has been adapted from its original format to accommodate a reading-based version. In the official TOEFL exam, speaking and listening sections require verbal responses and audio prompts, which are not represented here. Please note that this adaptation may not fully reflect the nature or difficulty of the official exam. The audio feature for these sections will be available soon.
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