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95 Saving the world 08 LANGUAGE SKILLS EXPLORE EXTRAS Research is focusing on what scientists call the ‘dynamic effects’ of the Greenland ice sheet. It is not simply that the ice sheet is melting steadily as global temperatures rise. Rather, the melting triggers dynamic new effects, which in turn accelerate the melt. “It’s quite likely that these dynamic effects are more important in generating a rapid rise in sea level than the traditional melt,” says Hamilton. Some scientists are astounded by the changes. “We can’t as a scientific community keep up with the pace of changes, let alone explain why they are happening,” says the glaciologist. Read the article more carefully and make notes about: 1 the Greenland ice sheet 2 Gordon Hamilton 3 air temperatures 4 ‘dynamic effects’ Talk about your notes using the verbs in the box. Example: The ice is melting far faster than the climate models predicted. We can use the present progressive to describe: a gradual ongoing processes (= it’s happening all the time). b temporary situations and activities (= it’s happening around now). Look at these examples. Which use do they show? Which uses the passive? 1 Climate change is being experienced everywhere in the world. 2 One scientist is proposing to put a huge glass sunshade into space. 3 Richard Branson is offering $25 million. 4 Experts from around the world are landing on the ice sheet. 5 Arctic temperatures are warming more quickly than in other parts of the world. Look at The Sermilik Fjord in Greenland on the previous page again. Which examples of the present progressive can you find? These sentences are from environmental news items. Continue each with a verb from the box, using the present progressive active or passive. More than one answer may be possible. erode  decline  disappear  increase  introduce 1 The government are refusing to allow continued industrial development at Cherry Point, a major fish- spawning ground where the fish … 2 The low-lying farmland near the coast is susceptible to flooding, and the coast itself … 3 In many areas, new drought-resistant crops … 4 The number of sea turtles coming to the island to breed … 5 The population of foxes in the region, which benefit from the presence of humans, … Which of these adverbs could you add to each sentence in 13a? gradually  rapidly  noticeably  experimentally  steadily  alarmingly  dramatically Which adverbs go most naturally before the main verb? Which go after it? Write sentences about three things happening where you live. Include adverbs if appropriate. Examples: Unemployment is rising rapidly … Many people are being laid off … b spEAkINg 11 accelerate  disappear  flow  maintain  march  melt replenish  rise  shed  transmit  trigger  vanish a LANguAgE FOCus 12 Present progressive active and passive b a 13 b c Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigen um des Verlags öbv