Narrator: Listen to part of a lecture in an environmental science class. Professor: Today we're going to talk about an unexpected consequence of climate change: the greening of the Arctic. As temperatures rise, shrubs and grasses are spreading into areas that were once covered by tundra. This might sound like a positive change, but it's actually a feedback loop. You see, darker vegetation absorbs more sunlight than snow, which increases warming. This warming then allows even more plants to grow, creating a cycle. However, recent satellite data shows that not all regions are greening equally. In some parts, like northern Alaska, we're seeing a decline in plant growth, what we call 'browning.' This is often due to increased drought stress or wildfires. So, the Arctic is not uniformly responding. The key takeaway is that local conditions matter. A study published last year found that while some areas gain biomass, others lose it, making predictions difficult. Therefore, we cannot assume a simple uniform trend.
❓ 質問 What is the main point the professor makes about the Arctic's response to climate change?
A. The Arctic is experiencing uniform greening due to warmer temperatures.
B. The greening of the Arctic leads to a cooling effect because plants absorb carbon dioxide.
C. The Arctic's response is varied, with some areas greening and others browning.
D. Satellite data shows that the Arctic has stopped changing due to climate change.
✅ 正解
The Arctic's response is varied, with some areas greening and others browning.
TOEFL Listening Tips
Skim the questions first to predict the content
Watch for signal words in lectures and conversations (however, actually, in fact)
For main idea questions, focus on the beginning; for detail questions, focus on examples and data
For attitude questions, pay attention to the speaker's tone and word choice
Take notes on keywords; don't try to write down every word
