Do you want to see the effects of global warming? Then head north. Will Steger is going to take all of us there.
Steger, 64, the first person to make a dogsled trip to the North Pole, is a very famous and admired polar explorer. He’s at home in frozen parts of the world where few humans ever step on. Steger is also a devoted environmentalist who was early to ring the alarm bell on global warming. He saw its effects firsthand in frequent polar expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica.
Now Steger is about to lead a team of six young adventurers on a 1,400-mile, 60-day-long dogsled trip across Ellesmere Island, in the Canadian Arctic. The sea ice in that region should still be frozen. “We want to take our audience to the front lines of global warming,” says Steger. The team will be uploading videos, stories and photos to the website globalwarming101.com as they march along, allowing armchair adventurers and kids in classrooms to follow their progress day to day. “We can actually bring the audience up there,” Steger says.
Steger’s team will include some already-famous young explorers. Sam Branson, the 22-year-old son of British airline tycoon (大亨) Richard Branson, is an experienced Arctic traveler. Also on the journey will be 27-year-old Norwegian Sigrid Ekran. Last year, Ekran became only the second woman in history to win Rookie (新秀) of the Year for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.
What they will see may be very surprising. Even Steger doesn’t know exactly what to expect. Climate change has already reshaped the geography of the Arctic. “Within a decade or less, it’s going to be impossible to reach the North Pole by dog team without flotation (漂浮),” says Steger.
Climate change is happening, but people can change too. Their willingness to change will determine the shape of the Earth’s future.Why is Steger about to organize the adventure to the Arctic?
A.To collect evidence for his scientific research. |
B.To develop the young people’s adventurous spirit. |
C.To let more people enjoy its natural beauty. |
D.To let people realize the bad effects of global warming. |
How can people learn about the progress of Steger’s journey?
A.Through radio programs. |
B.By watching TV. |
C.On the Internet. |
D.By reading his journals. |
According to Steger, people can save the earth by _____.
A.changing their harmful way of life |
B.learning more about the environment |
C.willingly giving up their comfortable life |
D.getting used to the present changes of the earth |
What would be the best title for the passage?
A.The Arctic is in danger |
B.Sledding through the Arctic |
C.Discoveries of the Arctic |
D.Consequences of global warming |