58. A) Open the brackets using the proper forms of the verbs.

All those people who say that the weather ______________________ (1 – not/to be) normal recently are right. However, since there is really no such thing as normal weather, they probably mean something else. If they ________________________ (2 – to mean) that average summer temperatures ________________________ (3 – to get) warmer, then they are certainly correct. In fact, it is not just the summer temperature, but the general average temperature of the whole world that _________________________ (4 – steadily/to move up).

The signs are everywhere. There are small signs. For example, butterflies in North America _______________________ (5 – to move) about 60 miles north of where they used to live. There are also very large signs. Huge masses of ice in mountain glaciers and the Arctic ___________________ (6 – to melt). The famous snow cap on Africa’s Mount Kiliminjaro is known ___________________________(7 – almost/to disappear). Actually, ice or snow doesn’t really disappear, it turns into water, flows into the ocean and makes sea levels ______________________ (8 – to rise).

Why __________________________ (9 – this/happen)? One answer is that it could simply be part of a natural process. After all, there __________________________ (10 – to be) long periods of warmth in the planet’s history. So we could just__________________________ (11 – to experience) another warming trend. This kind of answer _____________________ (12 – to have) more supporters a few years ago. What scientists now believe is that human activity is the cause. For more than two hundred years, humans are believed ____________________________ (13 – gradually/to change) the atmosphere, mainly as a result of industrial pollution. We _________________________ (14 – to create) an atmosphere around the earth that, like a giant glass container, lets heat from the sun through and holds it inside.

Will temperatures and sea levels keep __________________ (15 – to rise)? ______________ (16 – modal) we just move to higher ground and throw away our winter coats? The answer depends on where you live. If you ____________________(17 – to live) on the coast of Florida, the answer _________________(18 – to be) a definite yes. However, if you live in northern Europe, your temperatures___________________(19 – modal) soon be on the way down. All that fresh water _____________________(20 – to pour) into the Atlantic _____________________________(21 – to change) the circulation patterns in the ocean. As a consequence, the current of air that flows towards Europe _______________ (22 – to become) much cooler. According to one prediction, winter in London _______________________ (23 – to be likely/to become) much more like winter in Copenhagen.

b) Discuss the text.

UNIT 5

TOPICS:	1. English as a global language. 2. Political correctness.
GRAMMAR:	Forms expressing unreality: Conditionals Unreal wishes

Step I

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