Tuesday, November 18, 2008

GLACIERS and GOLBAL WARMING

GLOBAL WARMING

Is there really cause for serious concern?
Yes. Global warming is a complex phenomenon, and its full-scale impacts are hard to predict in advance. But each year scientists learn more about how global warming is affecting the planet, and many agree that certain consequences are likely to occur if current trends continue. Among these:
·Melting glaciers, early snowmelt and severe droughts will cause more dramatic water shortages.
· Rising sea levels will lead to coastal flooding.
· Warmer sea surface temperatures will fuel more intense hurricanes
·Forests, farms and cities will face troublesome new pests and more mosquito-borne diseases.
· Disruption of habitats such as coral reefs and alpine meadows could drive many plant and animal species to extinction.
Could global warming trigger a sudden catastrophe?
Recently, researchers have investigated the possibility of abrupt climate change, in which gradual global warming triggers a sudden shift in the earth's climate, causing parts of the world to dramatically heat up or cool down in a few years.
What country is the largest source of global warming pollution?
The United States. Though Americans make up just 4 percent of the world's population, they produce 25 percent of the carbon dioxide pollution from fossil-fuel burning , by far the largest share of any country. In fact, the United States emits more carbon dioxide than China, India and Japan, combined.
How can we cut global warming pollution?
It's simple: By reducing pollution from vehicles and power plants. Right away, we should put existing technologies for building cleaner cars and more modern electricity generators into use. We can increase our renewable energy sources such as wind, sun and geothermal. And we can manufacture more efficient appliances and conserve energy.
(To be continued) Adapted from Green Yahoo

NB2A/C

--Homework: Grammar, units 46 and 47 about questions with prepositions and question words.
--Grammar: Prepositions of place:at,in, on.Units 106 and 107.We saw the rules and the exercises were left for homework because many of them had already been seen in class.
--Reading: St.book ,p.22. One October Evening. The paragraphs were read out and ordered in the right sequence.Then, some questions about the reading you had to answer with your classmate.
--Listening: to check the order, the questions and pronunciation of regular past tenses.
--Grammar: An exercise about linking words. so, because, but, although.Grammar bank on p.128 with the rules of these linking words and some exercises.
--Vocabulary: St.books. p.23. Expressions from the reading:take sb to a concert,run across the road,knock on the door...
--Speaking: you read the story again and this time you had to re-tell it using the vocabulary from the previous exercise ,linking words and correct pronunciation.
--Listening: The end of the story. First six extracts from the conversation with missing words and then you had to predict what was going to happen next.
--Homework: Grammar, units 107 and 108.
NI2E
--Homework:St. b. p.25 Eternal Youth. The vocabulary and multiple choice activity. In the reading I put s special emphasis on the register of scientific articles and publications, which has to be formal with more Latin words, no contractions and less common expressions.
--Speaking: How woud you feel if you stayed younger for ever?.what problems can you imagine?
--Grammar: future continuous and future perfect. Grammar bank on p.132 with the rules and a couple of exercises. Grammar,unit 24. Here we saw some more rules and the activities were left for homework.
--Speaking: practice with these two tenses .In Twenty Years´Time ...Scientists will be cloning people, by next year ... I will have finished my studies.
--Writing: St.b. p.27. Spelling in an e-mail. Writing bank, p.157 about the most common spelling rules, if there are any.
--Homework: grammar, unit 24 ; workbook, p.17 and 19

OUR NEXT CLASS, ON THURSDAY, IS GOING TO BE IN THE LAB, DOWNSTAIRS,GROUND FLOOR.

The reason why I´m posting cooking recipes in English is that a Christmas party is going to be held on Thursday,18th of December. These are easy desserts you can try at home and bring to the party, if you like them. I´ll keep you informed as soon as I have some news.
COOKING: Apple and Hazelnut Crunch
Serves: 4
Ingredients:

450 g apples, stewed and sweetened to taste 150 g hazelnut yogurt, apple slices dipped in lemon
Method:
Mix the stewed apple and yogurt together.Spoon into 4 glasses or individual dishes. Crush fruit and nut bars and divide between dishes. Decorate with apple slices.