The Effects of Global
Warming Although the term “global warming” has become
increasingly familiar to the general public, a recent survey carried out by the
Chinchilla Institute for Environmental Studies clearly demonstrates that the
full implications of the term are (51) understood. As long
as public (52) remains so low, the political measures
required to deal with the (53) disastrous consequences are
unlikely to come about. Over 80 percent of the people
interviewed in the Chinchilla Survey were unable to indicate any of the effects
of a worldwide rise in temperature. (54) more disturbing was
the very small (55) of people interviewed (7.4%)who felt
that their lives would be directly (56) by global warming
during the next 20 years. This indifference is in sharp
(57) to the concerns voiced by the team of professionals who
conducted the Survey. Team leader professor Ernest Wong stated that we should
all expect to (58) significant lifestyle changes as a result
of the effects of global warming. In (59) the likely
effects, Professor Wong emphasized that the climatic changes caused by a rise in
global temperature of only 1℃ would result in (60)
changes. Primary among these changes would be the rise in sea
level as a (61) of the melting of the polar icecaps. The
consequent 30-centimeter rise in sea levels would have disastrous consequences
for lowly coastal areas. The very (62) of countries
such as Bangladesh would be threatened. Indeed, (63) coastal
cities would entirely escape severe flooding and damage. (64)
considerable debate surrounds the accuracy of Professor Wong’s
predictions, those who share his (65) prediction insist that
governments must respond to this challenge by investing in coastal
defense.
