Read the article about the effects of
climate change in the UK. Five sentences have been removed. Which sentence A-F
fits each gap (1-5)? There is one extra sentence you do not need to use.
Unexpected challenges from environmental change
Climate change is a long-term change in weather patterns over
periods of time that range from decades to millions of years. It is one of the
greatest environmental issues of our time.
The effect of changes in our climate has been a hot topic for many
years. (----- 1 -----) As weather
patterns become more serious, railways, roads, and power water supplies also
need to be protected.
Scientists say that higher temperatures and rainstorms could affect
wi-fi communications. In addition, wetter winters and drier summers might lead
to subsidence – the sinking of the ground – damaging underground cables. So,
what does that mean for people who need to use these communications? If climate
change affects the quality of the signal, or there is no signal due to extreme
changes in temperature, people will clearly be disadvantaged. It would be very
serious if communication systems were not working in the height of an emergency.
(----- 2 -----)
The Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman, recently explained the
government’s plans to take action. (----- 3 -----) However, if these facilities
cannot deal with the increase in floods and storms likely to accompany rising
temperatures, the money will have been wasted, she warned. Speaking at
Blackfriars Railway Station in London, which a UK rail company says is being
redeveloped with the long-term effects of climate change in mind, Ms Spelman
said the UK economy would not be able to grow if infrastructure – transport and
communications networks and reliable energy and water supplies – failed.
Ms Spelman explained that our economy is built on this infrastructure.
But it could not grow if there are repeated power failures, or goods cannot be
transported because roads are flooded and railways have been damaged, or if
heavy rainfall or high temperatures negatively affect wi-fi signals. She also
asked for help from British businesses. (----- 4 -----)
A government report published recently outlines how planning and
design of new systems needs to consider the effect of climate change. This is
especially important as many projects will still be there in 50 to 100 years
from now. (----- 5 -----) It also highlights the role of the government in
protecting the UK from the effects of climate change. Rail Minister Theresa
Villiers explained that although the UK government needs to manage money very
carefully, it is committed to spending considerable sums on transport through
vital projects such as the Thameslink upgrade, Crossrail, the proposed High
Speed rail network and more electrification of the rail network.
The
new Blackfriars Railway station in London is being fitted with technology
including sun pipes, rainwater harvesting systems, insulation and solar panels
to make it less reliant on water and electricity networks. Perhaps this station
will lead the way for others all over the country to become more environmentally
friendly.
A The study gives details of what action needs
to be taken by the owners of transport networks, for example.
B And now government ministers in the UK have
warned that the internet could be badly affected due to climate change.
C Over the next five years, it intends to spend
around £200billion on UK transport and power supplies.
D According to Ms Spelman, they could develop
new technologies to help our current systems better deal with climate change.
E She was sure that it was essential for the
work to be done immediately.
F This is why the issue must be dealt with.
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