How Does Climate Change Impact the Frequency of Extreme Weather Events?

The IELTS Reading test is a comprehensive assessment designed to gauge your ability to understand and interpret written English effectively. Topics related to climate change and its impact on extreme weather events are not only timely but have appeared frequently in past IELTS examinations. Understanding this topic can provide significant advantage, as it merges environmental awareness with reading comprehension skills that are essential for higher IELTS band scores.

Reading Passage: How Does Climate Change Impact the Frequency of Extreme Weather Events?

Text Format: Medium Text

Climate change refers to long-term alterations in temperature and typical weather patterns in a place. This phenomenon can result from natural factors, such as volcanic eruptions, or human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, which releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Over the past century, the global temperature has risen significantly, leading to changes in weather patterns and an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

Scientists have observed that the increasing global temperatures have a profound effect on the climate system. Warmer temperatures lead to more evaporation, which can cause more intense precipitation events. Furthermore, the warming of the ocean surfaces contributes to the formation of more powerful hurricanes and typhoons. Similarly, higher temperatures can lead to severe heatwaves and droughts, while the melting of polar ice caps and glaciers can cause rising sea levels and more frequent coastal flooding.

Climate Change Impact

One clear example of the impact of climate change on extreme weather events is the increasing number of heatwaves across the globe. Heatwaves are prolonged periods of excessively hot weather, which can have detrimental effects on human health, agriculture, and infrastructure. With the rise in global temperatures, heatwaves have become more frequent and severe, leading to increased heat-related illnesses and fatalities.

Another consequence of climate change is the heightened intensity of storms. As the atmosphere warms, it holds more moisture, which can lead to heavier rainfall and more destructive storms. For instance, the Atlantic hurricane season has seen an increase in the number and intensity of storms, resulting in significant damage and loss of life.

In summary, climate change poses a significant risk to our planet by increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Addressing this issue requires a concerted effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change on our environment and communities.

Questions and Tasks

Questions – Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following factors is primarily responsible for climate change discussed in the passage?
   a) Natural volcanic eruptions
   b) Human activities burning fossil fuels
   c) The axial tilt of Earth
   d) Natural variations in solar radiation

2. According to the passage, what effect does warmer ocean surfaces have on weather patterns?
   a) Decrease in cyclone formation
   b) Increased formation of hurricanes and typhoons
   c) More frequent snowstorms
   d) Reduction in coastal flooding

Questions – True/False/Not Given

3. Scientists believe that global temperatures have decreased over the past century.
4. Heatwaves have become more frequent due to rising global temperatures.
5. The primary cause of melting polar ice caps is natural climate cycles.

Questions – Sentence Completion

6. The increasing global temperature leads to more ____ which can cause more intense precipitation events.
7. Addressing climate change requires reducing ___ emissions.

Answer Keys and Explanations

1. b) Human activities burning fossil fuels – The passage states that climate change is primarily resulting from human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels.
2. b) Increased formation of hurricanes and typhoons – The text explains that warmer ocean surfaces contribute to the formation of more powerful hurricanes and typhoons.
3. False – The passage mentions that over the past century, global temperatures have risen significantly.
4. True – The passage states that with the rise in global temperatures, heatwaves have become more frequent and severe.
5. Not Given – There is no information in the passage specifically attributing melting polar ice caps to natural climate cycles.
6. evaporation – The passage notes that increasing global temperature leads to more evaporation.
7. greenhouse gas – The text concludes that addressing the issue of climate change requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Common Mistakes and Tips

Common Mistakes

• Not identifying keywords in the passage that link directly to the questions.
• Misinterpreting “Not Given” as “False” – ensure to confirm if the passage explicitly states the information.
• Skimming too fast and missing critical details, especially in medium and hard texts.

Vocabulary to Note

• Prolonged (adj) /prəˈlɑːŋd/ – Continuing for a long time.
• Detrimental (adj) /ˌdet.rɪˈmen.təl/ – Tending to cause harm.
• Mitigate (v) /ˈmɪt̬.ə.ɡeɪt/ – To make less severe or serious.

Grammar Point

• Present Perfect Tense: Used to describe actions that have occurred at an unspecified time before now.
  • Example: Scientists have observed that increasing global temperatures have had a profound effect.

Conclusion

To excel in the Reading section of the IELTS, practice understanding complex texts, identifying key information, and responding to various question types. Utilize passages related to pressing issues like climate change to stay informed while honing your reading comprehension skills. Remember, consistency in practice and attention to detail are keys to achieving a high band score in the IELTS Reading test.