PAGEPAGE10Unit4TowardasustainablefutureUnitoverviewCreatingacarbon-neutralworlddependsonbothreducinggreenhousegasemissionsandinnovatingwaystoremovecarbonfromtheatmosphere.Fictionwritersandfuturistshavelongimaginedthedevastatingdisastersthatcouldunfoldifglobalwarmingcontinuesunchecked,portrayingvividscenariosofenvironmentalcollapseandsocietalupheaval.Meanwhile,scientistsandengineersareactivelydevelopingsolutionssuchasadvancedcarboncapturetechnologies,restoringandprotectingnaturalecosystems,andplanningambitiousclimatemegaprojectstostabilizetheearth’schangingclimate.Bycombiningcreativeforesightwithscientificinnovation,wegainaclearerunderstandingofboththepotentialrisksandtheremarkableeffortsaimedatsecuringasustainablefuture.ViewingthroughthelensScriptsTheracetonetzeroNarrator=N;VijayVaitheeswaran=VN:ClimatechangehasanewposterCompanieshavepromisedtomakechangestobringtheirgreenhousegasemissionsclosertonetzero.They’rejoiningaclubofmorethan50*countriesaroundtheworld.Thisracetozeroisavitalsteptowardsmanagingclimatechange.Butwhatdoesnetzeroreallymean?Andisachievingitevenpossible?Netzerohasgoneviral,butlikeallsimpleslogans,therealityofachievingitisfarmorecomplicated.HumansburningfossilfuelshasresultedinmoreCO2intheatmosphere,whichiswarmingtheplanet.stopthewarming,thelevelofgreenhousegasesintheatmospherehastostoprising.Theobviouswaytodothatistostopemittingthem.Buteasiersaidthandone.Forsomeindustries,suchasaviationandmanufacturing,eliminatingemissionsisreallyhard.Whatwas(is)neededwas(is)toactivelyremovegreenhousegasesfromtheatmosphere,too.Peoplebegan(begin)totalkaboutaworldinwhichgreenhousegasemissionsandgreenhousegasremovalsbalanced(balance)eachotherout,sothattheoveralleffectwas(is)netzero.achievenet-zeroemissions,weneedtodotwothings:One,whichismoreobvious,istocutouroutputofgreenhousegasemissionsfromthingslikeburningfossilfuels.ButtheotherisactuallytotakeemissionsoutoftheAndtheharderandsometimesmoreobscureaspectofgettingtonetzero.N:Thisisknownasnegativeemissions.V:There’s(Thereare)differentwaystodothis:Forestsdothisnaturallythroughbiologicalprocessesorsinks.Butwhatwe’rereallylookingatnowtoachieveambitiousclimatetargetsareman-madeapproaches.N:Somemethodsforremovinggreenhousegasesfromtheatmospherearealreadybeingusedatscale,suchastheplantingofnewforests,andimprovingsoilsoitcanstoremorecarbon.Buttherearenewtechnologiesatamuchearlierstageofdevelopment,amongthemwaysofcapturingCO2andstoringitunderground.CO2couldbepulleddirectlyfromtheairbymachines,orbygrowingplants,burningthemtogenerateelectricity,andthencapturingtheCO2astheyburn.aflurryofinnovationinnegativeemissionstechnologies–arangeofambitioustoandnoneofthemareprovenatscale.Andwhatmakesthemsoproblematic.Theworldiscountingoninnovationsthathavenotyetbeendemonstratedatscaletoachievetargetsthatwe’resettingforourselves.Andthat’sabigquestionmark.We’rehopeful,butitisstillariskybet.N:Howmuchgreenhousegasneedstoberemovedfromtheatmospherewilldependonhowmuchemissionscanbecut.Theconundrum,thatis,weneedbothmassivereductionsinemissionsaswellasadramaticscale-upandprovingofthetechnologiesfornegativeemissions.Thereisatensionbetweenthetwo,andeasyforgovernmentsandindustriestokickthecandowntheroad,sayinggoalittlesloweronthecuttingofemissionswhichwillbebetterfortheeconomyorforourprofits,becausewecanalwaysmakemassivenegativeemissionsreductionslaterwheninnovationmakesthosetechnologiescheaperandbetter.”Thedirtylittlesecretinthatargumentisthatitmaycometoolate,anditmaywellgivepermissionforpolluterstogetawaywithpollutingmuchmorethanneedbe,ratherthaninnovatingwaystoreduceemissionsN:Today,governmentalnet-zeropledgescoverovertwo-thirdsoftheglobaleconomy.V:Somepeopleseeambitiousclimatetargetsandsay,“Fantastic!Theproblem’sgettingsolved.”Here’stheproblem:Atargetisnoguaranteethatwe’regonnagettothegoal.N:Mostgovernmentpoliciesfocusoncuttingemissionsratherthanhowtotacklenegativeemissions.Embracing,enacting,andscalinganegativeemissionsplantogettonetzeroisaHerculeantask.Thisissomethingfarbiggerthan,themoonshotorotherinitiativesthatoftencomparedto,becausethisinvolves,reallyeveryeconomyonearth,everygovernment,ultimately,everycitizen.Allofushavetobeinvolvedandchangethewaywelive.Andnotjustatechnologicalrevolution.needarevolutioninourmindsets.*Asofthetimeofpublication,morethan100countrieshadadoptednet-zeropledges.AdditionalresourcesHowAIismakingsupplychainsnet-zero|India&MENAcasestudiesArtificialintelligenceisrevolutionizingsupplychainsacrossIndia,theUAE,andSaudiArabia–notjustforbuttodrivesustainabilityandachievenet-zeroemissions.Throughsmartlogisticssystems,carbontracking,andpredictiveanalytics,thevideoshowcasesreal-worldcasestudiesthathighlightcriticalroleinenablinggreentransformationandempoweringclimateactionacrossdeserteconomiesandbeyond.Video:HowAIismakingsupplychainsnet-zero|India&MENAcasestudiesInsidethehiddencarbonplantpullingCO2fromthinairInIceland,ahugecarboncaptureplantispullingCO?fromtheatmosphereandturningitintorock.Thisvideoexploreshowthetechnologyworksandwhetheritcouldbecomeapowerfultoolintheglobalfightagainstclimatechange.Video:InsidethehiddencarbonplantpullingCO2fromthinairPre-viewingReferenceanswersSample1Forme,thebiggestcontributorstomycarbonfootprintaredefinitelydrivingmycarandeatingalotofmeat.DrivingreleasesasignificantamountofCO2becauseofthefossilfuelsburned,andmeatproductionhasahugeenvironmentalimpactduetomethaneemissionsandlanduse.IalsorealizethatIuseairconditioningquitefrequently,whichconsumesalotofelectricityandaddstomycarbonfootprint.It’sabitofaconundrumbecausewhileIwanttostaycomfortable,IknowthatrelyingonACisn’tgoodfortheenvironment.Theseactivitiescombinedmakeupthemajorityofmypersonalemissions,andnowI’mbecomingmoreawareofhoweverydaychoicesaffecttheplanet.Sample2Honestly,Ithinkmybiggestcarbonfootprintcomesfromonlinestreamingandusingmylaptopallday.Itmightsoundobscure,butdatacentersthatpowerstreamingservicesandcloudstorageconsumehugeamountsofelectricity,oftengeneratedfromfossilfuels.Besidesthat,Itendtoorderfooddeliveryquitefrequently,whichaddstomyfootprintthroughpackagingwasteandtheemissionsfromtransportation.Theimpactoftheseactivitiesmightseemlessobviouscomparedtotraditionalpollutionsourceslikedrivingcarsorindustrialfactories,butwhencombined,theydefinitelyaddup.Ihadn’treallythoughtabouthowdigitalhabitsandconvenience-orientedlifestylechoicescontributetoenvironmentalproblemsuntilrecently.ReferenceanswersSample1Toreducemycarbonfootprint,IthinkIcanstartbybikingorusingpublictransportationmoreofteninsteadofdrivingmycar.ThiswouldsignificantlycutdownonCO2emissions.Additionally,Iwanttocutdownonmeatconsumptionandtrymoreplant-basedmeals,whicharemuchlesscarbon-intensive.IknowchangingthesehabitsisaHerculeantaskbecausethey’redeeplyingrainedinmydailylife,butsmallstepslikeusingairconditioninglessoftencanalsohelp.Idon’twanttokeepkickingthecandowntheroadandignoringtheseproblemsanymore–Iwanttotakeresponsibilityandmakerealchanges.Sample2Toreducemycarbonfootprint,Icouldstartbylimitingmyonlinestreamingtoonlywhenit’sreallynecessaryandtrydownloadingshowsormusicforofflineuseinstead.Thiswouldreducetheconstantdatademandonenergy-intensiveservers.Also,cookingathomemoreofteninsteadofrelyingonfooddeliverywouldhelpcutdownonpackagingwasteandtransportationemissions.Balancingconveniencewithsustainabilitycreatessometensionbecauseit’seasytodefaulttohabitsthatsavetimeandeffort.However,Iwanttobemoreresponsibleandmakeconsciouschoices.It’stimetofacetheseissueshead-onratherthankickingthecandowntheroadandignoringtheirimpact.ViewingandsynthesizingAnswers1)climatechange 2)greenhousegasremovals3)burningfossilfuels 4)biologicalprocesses5)soil 6)storingitunderground7)dramaticscale-up 8)ourmindsetsViewinganddiscussingReferenceanswersMultiplecutting-edgetechnologiesarebeingdevelopedtoachievenet-zeroemissions,includinggreenhydrogenproduction,advancedhydrogentransportsystems,smartgrids,andcarboncapturetechnologies.Theseinnovationsprovidetailoredsolutionsforemissionreductionacrossmultipleindustrialsectors.Amongthesetechnologies,threedemonstratevaryinglevelsoffeasibility.Greenhydrogenenableslow-carbonsteelproductionbyreplacingfossilfuelcombustion,thoughhighstart-upcostslimitwidespreadadoption.Carboncapture,use,andstoragetechnologiescancapturemorethan90%ofcarbondioxide(CO2)emissionsfrompowerplantsandindustrialfacilities,demonstratingcommercialviabilitywithmanyofsuchprojectsalreadyinoperationworldwide.Smartgridsoptimizerenewableenergydistributionandconsumption,offeringthemostviablesolution–withprovensuccessinreal-worldapplications.Overall,whilethesetechnologiesshowgreattechnicalpromise,globalimplementationrequiressubstantialpolicysupport,regulatoryframeworks,andcoordinatedinternationalinvestmenttoaddressfinancialandinfrastructurechallenges.ReferenceanswersNationsandindustriescanachieveeconomicgrowthwhileadvancingnet-zeroemissionsthroughgreeneconomyframeworksthatprioritizelow-carbondevelopment,resourceandsocialinclusivity.Keypolicyinstrumentsincludecarbonpricingmechanisms,sustainableprocurementpractices,andgreenentrepreneurshipinitiativesthatstimulatecleantechnologyinnovationandpromotesustainableurbanplanning.Thisintegratedapproach,supportedbyinternationalcooperationthroughtechnologytransferandcapacity-buildingprograms,enablesallnationstoovercomefinancialandtechnologicalbarriers.Suchstrategiesdemonstratethatenvironmentalsustainabilityandeconomicgrowtharecomplementarypathwaystowardachievingnet-zeroobjectiveswhilemaintaininglong-termeconomicprosperity.Whilechallengesmayariseinimplementinggreenpolicies,successfulexamples,suchasGermany’sEnergiewende,Costarenewableenergyinitiatives,andelectricvehicleadoption,showthepracticalityandeffectivenessofthesestrategies.Thesecasesprovidevaluablelessonsforothernations,highlightingtheimportanceofaligningnationaleffortswithinternationalsustainabilitygoals.ExploringthefrontierReading1BackgroundinformationAheatwaveisaperiodofabnormallyhotweathergenerallylastingmorethantwodays.HeatwavescanoccurwithorwithouthighAstheclimatewarms,hotter-than-usualdaysandnightsarebecomingmorecommon,andheatwavesareexpectedtolastlongerandbecomemorefrequentandintense.High-intensityheatwaveeventsbringhighacutemortality.Between2000and2016,thenumberofpeopleexposedtoheatwavesincreasedbyaround125million.Heat-relatedmortalityforpeopleover65yearsofageincreasedbyapproximately85%between2000-2004and2017-2021.Between2000-2019,approximately489,000heat-relateddeathsoccurredannually.InEuropealone,inthesummerof2022,anestimated61,672heat-relatedexcessdeathsoccurred.Heatwavesnotonlyposeseriousriskstohumanhealthbutalsogreatlyaffectecosystems,disruptagriculturalproductivity,andstraininfrastructuresystems.Actiononclimatechange,alongwithcomprehensivepreparednessandriskmanagement,isessentialtocombatheatwaves.KnowledgefocusBelowaresomekeytakeawaysfromReading1.Pleaseguidestudentstoaccessthedigitaltextbookforadditionallearningmaterialsandinteractiveresources.heatwavewindowboxairconditionerwet-bulbtemperaturetwo-strokeenginepruneyfingersAdditionalresourcesAustralianresearchersconductworld-firstheatstudyAustralianresearchersareconductinggroundbreakingheatstudiestounderstandhumansurvivallimitsasglobaltemperaturesrise.Thestudywillexposeparticipantstopotentiallydeadlycombinationsoftemperatureandhumidityincontrolledlaboratoryconditions,aimingtobetterdeterminewhatenvironmentalconditionsremainsurvivableforhumansonawarmingplanet.Video:Australianresearchersconductworld-firstheatstudyMeetthescientistsbringingbackthewoollymammothtofightclimatechangeScientistsareexploringwhetherresurrectingthewoollymammothcouldhelprestoreecosystemsandslowclimatechange.Thisvideodivesintothescience,ethics,andfeasibilityofde-extinction.Couldthisboldideabeabreakthrough–orasteptoofar?MeetthescientistsbringingbackthewoollymammothtofightclimatechangeLanguagepointsEverydaywasafightforsurvivalagainstanunforgiving,furnace-likeclimate.(Para.1)[Meaning]:Peoplehadtostruggleeverydayjusttostayalivebecausetheweatherwasextremelyhotandharsh,asifoneweretrappedinsideaburningfurnace.Umberstuccowallsandtiles,thecolorofthelocal(Para.2)[Meaning]:Thewallsandtilesweremadeofstuccoandhadanumbercolor–adarkbrownishearthtone–thatmatchedthecolorofthenaturalclayfoundinthelocalarea.[Structure&Grammar]:Thissentenceisareduceddescriptivestructure,madeupoftwoparts:Anounphrase:Umberstuccowallsandtiles–thisisthemainsubjectofthesentencewiththeverbomitted.Anappositivephrase:thecolorofthelocalclay–thisfunctionsasanappositive,providingadditionalinformationaboutthenounphrase,specificallyclarifyingtheInitscompleteform,thesentencecouldbewrittenas“Therewereumberstuccowallsandtiles,whichwerethecolorofthelocalclay.”Thiskindofreduceddescriptivestructurerecursthroughoutthepassage,contributingtoitspoeticrhythmandunifiedtone.e.g.Skythecolorofthebuildings,mixedwithwhitewherethesunwouldsoonrise.(Para.2)Allovertownthestressedhumofwindowboxairconditionerfansbuzzedlikegiantmosquitoes.(Para.3)[Meaning]:Throughoutthetown,thestrainedandcontinuoushummingofwindow-mountedairconditionerfansechoed,soundingmuchlikethebuzzingofhugemosquitoes.[Note]Thesentenceemploystwoonomatopoeicwords,“hum”and“buzzed,”alongwithasimilethatcomparesthesoundofairconditionerfansto“giantmosquitoesbuzzing.”Itnotonlyvividlydescribesthenoiseoftheairconditionerfansbutalsoconveystheirritatingandoppressivenatureofthesound.ofdismaycutthroughtheairfromtherooftopacrossthestreet.(Para.5)[Meaning]:Loudcriesoffearandsadnesssuddenlybrokethesilence,comingfromtherooftopofabuildingontheothersideofthestreet.&Phrases]:Inthissentence,“cutthrough”isusedfigurativelytodescribethewails,whichweresoloudandsharpthattheyseemedtopiercetheItemphasizestheintensityandemotionalweightofthesound.“Cutthrough”alsohasothermeanings:(alsocutacrosssth.goacrosssthinordertomakeyourrouteshorter抄近路穿過；走近路e.g.Icarefullycutthroughthenoisybuildingsitetoreachthequietpathbytheriver.quicklyandeasilydealwithsth.thatisconfusingordifficult（復雜或困難的事情）e.g.Weaimtocutthroughredtapeandgetprojectsdonefaster.Thealreadybad,wouldsoonbeablanketofexhaust.(Para.6)[Meaning]:Theairwasalreadystiflingandunbearableduetotheextremeheatandhumidity.Soonitwouldbecomeevenworsebecauseitwouldbecompletelyfilledwithexhaustfumesfromgenerators.[Words&Phrases]:Theword“exhaust”isusedhereasanuncountablenoun,meaning“thegasorsteamthatisproducedwhentheengineofavehicleisrunning(廢氣).”“Exhaust”canalsobeusedasaverb,withothermeanings:vt.makesb.feelverytired使筋疲力盡；使疲憊不堪e.g.Theexperiencehadexhaustedherphysicallyandemotionally.vt.useallofsthsothatthereisnoneleft用完；花光;耗盡e.g.Withinthreedaystheyhadexhaustedtheirsupplyoffood.[Note]:Thephrase“ablanketofexhaust”isametaphor.Itcomparesthethicklayerofexhaustfumesintheairtoablanket,emphasizinghowitwouldenvelopthetowncompletely,blockoutfreshintensifythealreadystiflingandunbearableatmosphere,andaddtothesenseofheavinessandsuffocation.“Comeon,”theysaid,“wehavetogo.needtogogethelp.Thewholedistricthaslostpower.”(Para.7)[Structure&Grammar]:Thestructure“go+dosth.”iscommonlyusedtoindicatethepurposeofgoingsomewhere.Itsuggestsleavingyourcurrentplacetoperformaspecificaction.Inthiscase,“gogethelp”means“leavetofindhelp.”Metalsurfacesinthesunburnedtothetouch,hecouldseewavesofheatbouncingoverthemlikeairoverabarbecue.(Para.12)[Meaning]:Exposedtothesun,themetalsurfacesbecameextremelyhotandcausedaburningsensationwhentouched.Franksawwavesofheatrisingandmovingabovethemliketheairaboveabarbecue.Onlyanarrowstretchofwaterwasstillinthemorningshadeofbuildingsandtrees,andthatstretchwouldbegonesoon.(Para.13)[Meaning]:Therewasonlyasmallareaofthelakethatwasstillcoveredbytheshadefromnearbybuildingsandtreesinthemorning,butthatshadedareawoulddisappearsoon.[Words&Phrases]:Theword“stretch”isanouninthissentence,meaning“anareaoflandorwater,esp.alongone(一片；一泓；一段).”“Stretch”canalsobeusedasaverb,withothermeanings:makesth.longerwiderorlooser拉長；拽寬；撐大；抻松e.g.Thenewshoesfelttight,sohestretchedthemusingashoestretcher.vt.pullsth.sothatitissmoothandtighte.g.Shegentlystretchedthecleanwhitetableclothoverthelongdiningtable,makingsureitlayperfectly.putyourarmsorlegsoutstraightandcontractyourmuscles伸展；舒展e.g.Theexercisesaredesignedtostretchandtoneyourlegmuscles.Somemurmuredwhatshouldhavebeenscreamsofgrief.(Para.15)[Meaning]:Somepeopleonlywhisperedormurmured,eventhoughinthatsituationtheyshouldhavebeenscreamingingrief.Thissuggeststhattheyweretooweakoroverwhelmedbytheoppressiveheattofullyexpresstheiremotions.[Structure&Grammar]:Thephrase“whatshouldhavebeenscreamsofgrief”usesthestructure“shouldhave+pastparticiple”toexpressanunrealpast–somethingthatdidnothappen,butwasexpectedorappropriateintheparticularsituation.Thisstructureisaformofthesubjunctivemood,oftenusedtohighlightacontrastbetweenrealityandexpectation.Inthissentence,peopledidn’tactuallyscream;theyonlymurmured.Theuseofthisformemphasizestheemotionaldisconnectbyimplyingthatloud,expressivegriefwouldhavebeenthenormalorexpectedresponseatsuchamoment.e.g.Weshouldhavecheckedtheschedulebeforeleaving.Hewatchedsunlightstrikethetopsofthetreesontheothersideofthelake;itlookedliketheywereburstingintoflame.(Para.16)[Meaning]:Hesawthesunlightshineonthetreetopsacrossthelake.Thelightwassostrongthatitmadethetreesappearasiftheywerecatchingfire.[Words&Phrases]:Theword“strike”isaverbinthissentence,meaning“fallonasurface(照在……上；照射).”“Strike”canalsobeusedasaverb,withothermeanings:vt.(fml.hitsb.orsth.hardorwithforce撞；碰；撞擊；碰撞e.g.Thebigshipstruckarockunderthewater,andloudalarmsstartedtogooff.vt.(fml.)hitorkickaball,etc.擊打，踢（球等）e.g.Theplayerskillfullystrucktheballwithhisfoot,sendingitsoaringintothegoalwithprecision.attacksb.orsth.,esp.suddenly突擊；攻擊e.g.Policefearthatthekillermaystrikeagainsoon,puttingtheentireneighborhoodonhighalert.vt.(ofathoughtoranideacomeintomindsuddenly（想法或念頭）突然想到，一下子想起，猛地意識到e.g.Itsuddenlystruckmehowwecouldimprovethesituation.ReadingandsynthesizingGlobalunderstandingAnswers1)sweat 2)Solarradiation3)cough 4)alarmed5)shuthiseyes 6)blackout7)ofdismay 8)distressandfear9)nowhere 10)deadDetailedunderstandingAnswersF[Corrected:Theresidentsmovedtotherooftoppatiosinthenightbecauseitwastoohottosleepinside.]F[Corrected:Inhisentirelifehehadspentlessthanfiveminutesinsaunas.Heneverenjoyedthestifling,sweatysensationofsaunas.]TTTF[Corrected:Frankwasn’tsurprisedtoseepeoplealreadyinthelakewhenhearrived.]TF[Corrected:Whentheskylightened,atfirstitsgraycolorlookedlikeclouds,butthenitbecameobviousthatitwasonlyaclearandemptysky.]CultivatingengineeringthinkingReferenceanswersStep1Heatwaveshavebecomeincreasinglyfrequentandsevereacrosstheglobe,largelyduetoclimatechange.RegionssuchasSouthernEurope,partsoftheUnitedStates,Australia,andSouthAsiaareamongtheworstaffected.Forinstance,Europeexperiencedrecord-breakingtemperaturesinthesummerof2024,withsomecountrieshittingover40°C,whichcausedwidespreadalarmandhealthemergencies.Theseextremeheateventsarenolongerisolatedincidentsbutarebecomingaregularpartoftheclimatepattern,threateningmillionsofpeople.Therisingwet-bulbtemperaturesinsomeareasalsomakeitdifficultforthehumanbodytocooldownnaturally,increasingtheriskofheat-relatedillnesses.Step2Heatwaveshaveseriousconsequencesacrossmultiplesectors.Intermsofhumanhealth,theycancauseheatstrokesanddehydration,andexacerbatechronicconditions,especiallyamongvulnerablepopulationsliketheelderlyandchildren.Infrastructurealsosufferssignificantdamage;roadscanbuckleunderextremeheat,andpowergridsoftenfacebrownoutsorblackoutsduetosoaringelectricitydemandfromairconditioning.Intermsoftheeconomy,agricultureisheavilyimpactedasdroughtconditionsreducecropyields,leadingtofoodshortagesandhigherprices.Additionally,heatstresscanreducelaborproductivity,affectingindustriesreliantonoutdoorwork.Step3mitigatetheimpactofheatwaves,short-termmeasuresincludesettingupcoolingcentersinurbanareasandissuingtimelyheatwarningstoprotectvulnerablegroups.Encouragingpeopletoreduceelectricityuseduringpeakhourscanhelppreventbrownouts.Long-termsolutionsinvolveurbanplanningstrategiessuchasplantingmoretreestoprovideshadeandusingreflectivestuccoorotherheat-resistantmaterialsonbuildingexteriorstoreduceheatabsorption.Governmentsshouldalsoprioritizeinvestinginrenewableenergytodecreaserelianceonfossilfuelslikedieselandkerosene,whichcontributetoclimatechangeandintensifyheatwaveeffects.Publiceducationcampaignsaboutheatrisksandsustainablepracticesareequallyimportant.EnhancingacademicwritingBringingrealismtosciencefictionReferenceanswersStep1SeebelowStep2GroundingthestoryinscientificrationalityThisstorysuccessfullygroundsitselfinscientificrationalitythroughtheincorporationofscientificconcepts,suchaswet-bulbtemperatureandthedepictionofrealclimatephenomena,suchastheblackout,heatwaves,andairpollution.Incorporatingmulti-sensorydescriptionsSightUmberstuccowallsandtiles,thecolorofthelocalSkythecolorofthebuildings,mixedwithwhitewherethesunwouldsoonrise.HisfingertipswereallpruneySoundAllovertownthestressedhumofwindowboxairconditionerfansbuzzedlikegiantmosquitoes.ofdismaycutthroughtheairfromtherooftopacrossthestreet.Thenthesoundoftheairconditionerscutoff.Morecriesofdistress.…SmellLikebreathingfromtheexhaustpipeofanoldbus.…TouchSweatwasdrippingintohiseyesandstinging.Theheatcomingfromitwaspalpable,aslaptotheface.Stingingeyesflowing,hecouldn’tseemuch.Metalsurfacesinthesunburnedtothetouch,hecouldseewavesofheatbouncingoverthemlikeairoverabarbecue.…Presentingdiverseperspectivesperspectiveashetriestosurvive,criesofdistressfromtherooftop,thereactionsofpeopleinthelake,etc.Step3ThedaytheskiesfellThefirstcracksappearedintheupperatmospheremonthsbeforeanyonenoticed.Scientistshadwarnedforyearsthatuncheckedsatellitelaunchesandspacedebriswouldcreateacascade–KesslerSyndrome–butnoonethoughtitwouldhappensofast.Bymid-July,theskywasalivewithstreaksoffallingmetal.Piecesofshatteredsatellitesfellasfierydebrisfromthesky.WholecitieslostGPS,communication,andevenpower.Irememberthesilenceaftertheexplosion,whichtookoutthecommunicationstowernearourtown.Nobuzzingphones,nohummingstreetlights.Justwindanddistantsirens.Iwaswithmygrandmotherwhentheglassroofcavedin.Shebledoutinmyarms,herlastwordstrembling:“It’slikethesky’spunishingus.”Fromtherooftopofahalf-collapsedschool,Isawrefugeespouringoutofthecity–engineers,teachers,deliverydrivers–allthesameunderthered-tingedsky.Survivors.Fornow.ImprovinglanguageskillsTechnicalvocabularyAnswers1.B 2.D 3.C 4.A 5.EExercisesonlineSynonymsExercisesonlineSynonymsReplacetheitalicizedpartsinthesentenceswiththewordsandphrasesfromthepassage.Changetheformifnecessary.Thedestructioncausedbywildfiresisharmingecosystemsandincreasingtheriskofsoilerosion.Aftertheguide’sexplanationaboutcavepreservation,touristswhohadflockedinquicklyretreated,nowadmiringtheformationsfromarespectfuldistance.Thedamagetotheenvironmentishighlyperceptible,affectingbiodiversity,habitats,andtheoverallbalanceofnature.Onbehalfofthelocalcommunity,theyhavemadegreateffortstoorganizetree-plantingcampaigns.Thesuddenpoweroutageduringtheheatwaveleftmanyresidentsnervousandunsurewhattodo.Theactivistwhisperedherconcernsaboutdeforestationtothosenearby,hopingherwordswouldplanttheseedsofawareness.Answersdevastation 2.piledin 3.palpable 4.exertedthemselves5.flustered 6.murmuredBankedclozeCompletethepassagewithsuitablewordsfromthewordbank.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsmorethanonce.blazesexhaustsradiationbrownoutshumidsensationbuzzinghumcombatdrippingjugstiremissionspalpableunbearableGlobalwarminghasbecomeoneofthebiggestchallengesfacingourplanet.Astemperaturescontinuetorise,theeffectsarebecomingincreasinglyvisibleandhardtoignore.Insomeplaces,theheathasreached1) levels,makingdailylifesignificantlymoredifficult.Theairisthickand2) ,anditfeelsasthoughtheheatisconstantlypressingdownonpeople.Sweatyanduncomfortable,manylongforevenamomentofrelief.Duringintenseheatwaves,thesoundofairconditionersandfanscanbeheard3) innearlyeverybuilding,tryingtocoolpeopledown.Yet,despitetheseefforts,a(n)4) ofstiflingheatstilllingers.Insomep