The year 2023 is on track to be the hottest year on record globally, with October experiencing very high temperatures. This is because of carbon emissions and a weather event called El Niño, which has caused the fifth month in a row of record warmth. Scientists think that these extreme temperatures will continue into 2024.
This year has already seen many global heat records being broken, with the number of days surpassing the 1.5C warming threshold hitting a new high. July might have been the hottest month in 120,000 years, and September’s average temperatures were 0.5C higher than the previous record. October also broke the record for the month by a lot.
The extreme warmth we’ve seen this year makes it very likely that 2023 will be warmer than 2016, which was the hottest year on record. This has real consequences, like heatwaves, droughts, and people suffering. The main cause of this heat is the ongoing release of carbon dioxide, made worse by the El Niño event.
The world’s rising temperatures are a big deal at the UN’s COP28 summit, which is stressing the urgent need for strong climate action. October’s temperatures were much higher than usual worldwide, causing extreme conditions in many places, like the UK, Italy, Panama, the Middle East, and East Africa. As high temperatures continue into November, there are worries about more extreme events, like wildfires in Australia. The trend of record-breaking temperatures and how it affects the environment and people shows that we really need to take global action to deal with climate change.
Original news source: Global heat: Extreme autumn sets up 2023 to break records (BBC)
Listen
Slow
Normal
Fast
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Students will be asked to summarize the article in their own words, focusing on the main points: the record-breaking temperatures of 2023, the role of El Niño, the impact on the environment and human health, and the response at the UN’s COP28 summit. They will work individually first and then share their summaries with a partner, refining their summaries through discussion.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to the article’s content, such as “This year’s high temperatures are primarily due to natural weather patterns” or “Immediate global action can reverse climate change effects.” Students will move around the room and poll their classmates on whether they agree or disagree with each statement. After polling, they will discuss the results with the class and compare opinions to the information presented in the article.
– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Select key terms from the article (e.g., El Niño, COP28, carbon emissions, heatwave, drought) and play a game of hangman. This will help students to remember important vocabulary from the article. After guessing the word, ask the students to explain its significance in the context of the article.
– Synonym Challenge
Instructions: Provide students with a list of keywords from the article (e.g., extreme, consequences, ongoing, urgent, record-breaking). In pairs or small groups, students will come up with synonyms for each keyword without looking at the article. Then they can compare their synonyms with the words from the text and discuss any differences in nuance or meaning.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Based on the information in the article, students will speculate about the potential future effects of the current climate trends. They will write down their predictions and share them with the class. This can be followed by a discussion on the importance of climate action and what steps might be necessary to address these predictions.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What is 2023 on track to become in terms of global temperatures?
2. What are the two main causes of the high temperatures experienced in October?
3. How many months in a row have experienced record warmth according to the article?
4. What significant temperature threshold has been surpassed more frequently this year?
5. Which month might have been the hottest in 120,000 years?
6. Why is the year 2023 likely to be warmer than 2016?
7. What are some of the consequences mentioned that result from the extreme heat?
8. Why are the world’s rising temperatures a significant topic at the UN’s COP28 summit?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
The year 2023 is on track to be the hottest year on record globally, with October experiencing very high temperatures. This is because of (1)______ emissions and a (2)______ event (3)______ El Niño, which has caused the fifth month in a row of record warmth. Scientists think that these extreme temperatures will (4)______ into 2024.
This year has already seen many global heat records being broken, with the number of days surpassing the 1.5C warming (5)______ hitting a new high. July might have been the hottest month in 120,000 years, and September’s average temperatures were 0.5C (6)______ than the previous record. (7)______ also broke the record for the month by a lot.
The (8)______ warmth we’ve seen this year makes it very likely that 2023 will be warmer than 2016, which was the hottest year on record. This has real consequences, like heatwaves, droughts, and (9)______ suffering. The main cause of this heat is the ongoing (10)______ of carbon dioxide, made (11)______ by the El Niño event.
The world’s rising temperatures are a big deal at the UN’s COP28 summit, which is stressing the urgent need for strong (12)______ action. October’s temperatures were much higher than usual worldwide, causing extreme (13)______ in many places, like the UK, Italy, Panama, the (14)______ East, and East Africa. As high temperatures continue into November, there are worries about more extreme (15)______, like wildfires in Australia. The trend of record-breaking temperatures and how it affects the environment and people shows that we really need to take global (16)______ to deal with climate change.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is global warming, and why do you think it’s a concern for us?
2. How would you feel if the place you live in became extremely hot?
3. Do you like hot weather? Why or why not?
4. Do you think climate change is something young people should learn about in school? Why?
5. Have you ever experienced a heatwave? What was it like?
6. What are some ways you can stay cool during a very hot day?
7. Do you think cars and factories are part of the reason for these high temperatures?
8. What is a carbon footprint, and how can we reduce ours?
9. Have you heard of the term “El Niño” before? What do you think it is?
10. Why do you think people are worried about wildfires in hot weather?
11. How do you think animals are affected by extreme heat?
12. Do you think it’s important for countries to work together to stop global warming? Why?
13. What do you think would happen if temperatures keep getting higher every year?
14. Can you think of any good things that come from higher temperatures?
15. Do you believe there are simple actions we can take every day to help the environment? What are they?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. temperatures
2. records
3. consequences
4. emissions
5. threshold
6. trend
7. summit
8. environment
Meanings:
(a) A meeting or conference of leaders or officials
(b) The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives
(c) The level of hotness or coldness in the air
(d) The point at which something changes or begins
(e) Substances released into the air, especially from cars and factories
(f) Results or effects of a specific action
(g) A general direction in which something is developing or changing
(h) Official highest or lowest achievements
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is the main cause of the extreme temperatures in 2023?
(a) Solar flares
(b) Carbon emissions and El Niño
(c) Volcanic eruptions
(d) Deforestation
2. Which month might have been the hottest in 120,000 years?
(a) July
(b) August
(c) September
(d) October
3. What is the UN stressing the urgent need for at the COP28 summit?
(a) More research
(b) Building more coal plants
(c) Cutting down forests
(d) Strong climate action
4. What are some of the consequences of the extreme temperatures in 2023?
(a) Heatwaves, droughts, and people suffering
(b) Snowstorms and flooding
(c) Mild weather and increased crop yield
(d) Reduced energy consumption
5. What event has caused the fifth month in a row of record warmth?
(a) La Niña
(b) El Niño
(c) The polar vortex
(d) The Bermuda High
6. What is the biggest worry as high temperatures continue into November?
(a) Heavy rainfall and flooding
(b) A decrease in global temperatures
(c) More extreme events like wildfires in Australia
(d) A decrease in carbon emissions
7. What is the main cause of the ongoing release of carbon dioxide?
(a) Natural disasters
(b) Animal migration
(c) Human activities
(d) Changes in the Earth’s orbit
8. What is the trend of record-breaking temperatures showing the need for?
(a) More air conditioning
(b) Building more factories
(c) Expanding oil drilling operations
(d) Global action to deal with climate change
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. The stabilizing temperatures are not a big deal at the UN’s COP28 summit, highlighting the relaxed need for climate action.
2. 2023 is on track to be the hottest year on record globally due to carbon emissions and an event called El Niño.
3. As low temperatures continue into November, there are hopes for fewer extreme events, like wildfires in Australia.
4. October’s temperatures were much lower than usual worldwide, causing mild conditions in many places.
5. The main cause of this heat is the ongoing release of carbon dioxide, worsened by the El Niño event.
6. The trend of record-breaking temperatures shows the urgent need for global action to deal with climate change.
7. The extreme cold this year makes it very unlikely that 2023 will be warmer than 2016, the hottest year on record.
8. This year has broken many global heat records, with July possibly being the hottest month in 120,000 years.
Go to answers ⇩
Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. What event is contributing to 2023 possibly becoming the hottest year on record?
2. How many months in a row have experienced record warmth, according to the article?
3. What are some of the negative effects mentioned that are caused by the extreme heat this year?
4. Why are the world’s rising temperatures a significant topic at the UN’s COP28 summit?
5. What are some of the places that have been affected by the unusually high temperatures in October?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What is 2023 on track to become in terms of global temperatures?
2023 is on track to become the hottest year on record globally.
2. What are the two main causes of the high temperatures experienced in October?
The high temperatures in October are caused by carbon emissions and a weather event called El Niño.
3. How many months in a row have experienced record warmth according to the article?
There have been five months in a row of record warmth.
4. What significant temperature threshold has been surpassed more frequently this year?
The 1.5C warming threshold has been surpassed more frequently this year.
5. Which month might have been the hottest in 120,000 years?
July might have been the hottest month in 120,000 years.
6. Why is the year 2023 likely to be warmer than 2016?
The year 2023 is likely to be warmer than 2016 because of the ongoing release of carbon dioxide, made worse by the El Niño event.
7. What are some of the consequences mentioned that result from the extreme heat?
The consequences of the extreme heat include heatwaves, droughts, and people suffering.
8. Why are the world’s rising temperatures a significant topic at the UN’s COP28 summit?
The world’s rising temperatures are a significant topic at the UN’s COP28 summit because they stress the urgent need for strong climate action.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) carbon
(2) weather
(3) called
(4) continue
(5) threshold
(6) higher
(7) October
(8) extreme
(9) people
(10) release
(11) worse
(12) climate
(13) conditions
(14) Middle
(15) events
(16) action
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. temperatures
Answer: (c) The level of hotness or coldness in the air
2. records
Answer: (h) Official highest or lowest achievements
3. consequences
Answer: (f) Results or effects of a specific action
4. emissions
Answer: (e) Substances released into the air, especially from cars and factories
5. threshold
Answer: (d) The point at which something changes or begins
6. trend
Answer: (g) A general direction in which something is developing or changing
7. summit
Answer: (a) A meeting or conference of leaders or officials
8. environment
Answer: (b) The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What is the main cause of the extreme temperatures in 2023?
Answer: (b) Carbon emissions and El Niño
2. Which month might have been the hottest in 120,000 years?
Answer: (a) July
3. What is the UN stressing the urgent need for at the COP28 summit?
Answer: (d) Strong climate action
4. What are some of the consequences of the extreme temperatures in 2023?
Answer: (a) Heatwaves, droughts, and people suffering
5. What event has caused the fifth month in a row of record warmth?
Answer: (b) El Niño
6. What is the biggest worry as high temperatures continue into November?
Answer: (c) More extreme events like wildfires in Australia
7. What is the main cause of the ongoing release of carbon dioxide?
Answer: (c) Human activities
8. What is the trend of record-breaking temperatures showing the need for?
Answer: (d) Global action to deal with climate change
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. The stabilizing temperatures are not a big deal at the UN’s COP28 summit, highlighting the relaxed need for climate action. (Answer: False)
2. 2023 is on track to be the hottest year on record globally due to carbon emissions and an event called El Niño. (Answer: True)
3. As low temperatures continue into November, there are hopes for fewer extreme events, like wildfires in Australia. (Answer: False)
4. October’s temperatures were much lower than usual worldwide, causing mild conditions in many places. (Answer: False)
5. The main cause of this heat is the ongoing release of carbon dioxide, worsened by the El Niño event. (Answer: True)
6. The trend of record-breaking temperatures shows the urgent need for global action to deal with climate change. (Answer: True)
7. The extreme cold this year makes it very unlikely that 2023 will be warmer than 2016, the hottest year on record. (Answer: False)
8. This year has broken many global heat records, with July possibly being the hottest month in 120,000 years. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧
