Vocabulary and Expressions in Texts 1, 2a and 2b

Vocabulary and Expressions

Text 1

Read through the following words and defintions and make sure you understand them. They will be included in your class test.

Tipping point

The point at which something tips over. In this context it is the point when a system breaks down and cannot be repaired, the point of no return.

“Walk me through the steps.”

“Explain something clearly and progressively to me.”

In the order of 30-100 years

In the rank, class or vicinity of 30-100 years

An awful lot

'Awful' is an intensive, that is it accentuates the word it goes before. We could replace 'an awful lot' with 'a greal deal' or 'a significant amount'.

To get swamped

To get overloaded or overwhelmed. The expression contains an image of walking through a swamp or a bog and having to stop with the accumulation of mud on your feet, or being unable to go further due to the presence of thick mud. We could also say ‘to get bogged down’.

Levee

A raised area of earth to stop flooding

Odd

Strange

Green lobbies

Ecological pressure groups

To play out

Unfold; the implication is that Lovelock believes civilizations go through a predictable rise and fall

Don’t have tenure

Tenure is the act of holding a position or job permanently. In this context Lovelock says that civilizations do not last indefinitely.

Hard won things

Things that have been struggled for or fought to achieve

Dust in the atmosphere

Tiny airborne particles

Falls out of

To leave following the force of gravity

The penny drops

When we finally understand something after having contemplated it for a long time

To buy time

To prolong the arrival a coming danger

Not to be sneered at

Not to be mocked

Texts 2a and 2b to come

We're damned if we do, and damned if we don't

Photo source

The surface of Mars. Will the Earth eventually look like this?

In this lesson there are three things to do:

1. Firstly, listen to a radio interview with James Lovelock. Here he gives an overview of one of his latest books in which he makes a number of disturbing predictions regarding the future of our current civilization.

2. In the second part I'd like you to read an article that reports on a critical scientific review of Lovelock's claims. This may cheer you up (a little) after the interview. Please note, that there is probably not enough time to complete both activities during one session of an hour and half, so finish this part for homework. Be prepared to talk about the article in class.

3. In the third part you will listen to extracts from the panel's discussion with Lovelock. This you can do for homework to accompany part 2


Part 1 Interview with James Lovelock

Source: CBC Radio Dispatches: ‘State of the Earth’ 13 July 2006

Listen from minute 12:44 to 21:34.

Click on the link below:

http://www.cbc.ca/dispatches/media/060713_nsho.ram


While you listen answer the questions below:

1. What is the title of Lovelock’s new book?

2. Lovelock says the damage to Gaia is permanent because it has reached positive feedback. What is positive feedback?

3. How much time does Lovelock give the earth before it enters into its “hot state”?

4. What will be the first deleterious effect of global warming on humans?

5. What does Lovelock think governments should be doing now?

6. What does Lovelock think about sustainable development?

7. How many civilizations have there been before our present one?

8. How long does Lovelock say we have before our civilization collapses?

9. What aspects of our civilization does Lovelock say we should try to preserve?

10. What is the effect of the control of pollution?

11. How can we “buy time” and prolong the survival of our civilization?

12. Why didn’t Darwin develop a theory that included a Gaia like concept?

13. How was the Gaia hypothesis received in the 1970's?

14. How is it received now?

15. What does the title 'We're damned if we do, and damned if we don't', refer to? Do you think it is true? What can we do as citizens?

Part 2a: Lovelock in Perspective

In 2007 the BBC brought together a panel of climate experts to discuss James Lovelock's latest book The Revenge of Gaia. Click on the following the link and read the article 'Climate Change is Real and Severe' which gives the panel's findings. Once you have done this answer the questions.


Gist question

What are the most important findings of the panel?

Comprenhension Questions

1. In the section Testing Times what is the major criticism levelled against Lovelock's book?

2. Explain the analogy of getting on a plane with 1% - 5% risk of crashing.

3. What areas of climate related science remain uncertain?

4. What is the danger of scientists scaring the public before they are sure of their facts? This is only partially answered in the text, give your own point of view as well.

5. Lovelock was at odds with the panel of nuclear energy.What does it mean to be at odds with something ?

6. Explain the expression 'The die has been cast' in general and relation to the text.

7. What is 'within our grasp'?

8. According to the panel of experts what is the response of governments to global warming?

9. How do you think governments should be responding?

Part 2b Lovelock in Perspective - BBC Panel Discussion

Read the questions before listening. The information is given very quickly so you may have to listen a few times.

BBC Panel Discussion

Part 1 Gaia

1. Why did Lovelock write his book, The Revenge of Gaia ?

2. What makes the earth cool and beautiful?

3. How long has life been present on earth?

4. By how much has the sun increased in size?

5. What is meant by the planet is “self-regulating”?

Part 2 Predictions

6. Lovelock predicts the earth will become an arid wasteland by end of the century with billions faced with starvation. If this is the case where will people probably move to?

7. What did Russian president Vladimir Putin say climate change?

8. By how much will temperatures rise in the tropics and in temperate regions?

9. What is Vicki Pope's opinion of Lovelock's claims?

10. Brian Hoskins says Lovelock's claims about sea level rise are "over the top". Explain this expression.

Part 3 Windpower

11. People in the conservation movement accuse Lovelock of being a NIMBY ( an acronym from the phrase 'Not In My Back Yard') in respect to windpower. Explain this.

Part 4 Conclusions

12. The principal criticism against Lovelock seems to lie in the language he uses. One expert calls it the diference between what "may happen " and what "will happen". Explain this.

Update: In 2009 James Lovelock published a follow up to The Revenge of Gaia called The Vanishing Face of Gaia. In this book he states that the earth is entering into one of its very hot states and this has been triggered prematurely by human activity. This hot period will render many parts of the earth uninhabitable and result in the loss of nearly 90% of the human population. The good news in this story is that Lovelock admits that he could be wrong as scientist can be never be 100% certain of anything - he has been wrong in the past.

To hear another interview with Lovelock follow the link: CBC shows

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