WEATHER FORECASTING

You are going to read a text about weather forecasting. Read questions 1-6 carefully and choose the
option (a, b or c) that best completes each statement. Mark (X) the correct option in the space
provided. Only one option is correct. Answers must be based exclusively on the information in the
text.
Cyclones in India, hurricanes in the Caribbean severe weather events make news
headlines almost weekly. Yet even in Britain, which has comparatively fewer climate
extremes, the country is still governed by the weather. If it is pouring with rain, the
British might stay indoors or go to the cinema; if its fine theyll have a picnic.
Most people nervously study the weather forecast the evening before if theyve got an
important appointment the following day. Even if they have nothing planned, the
weather often affects their mood.
For individuals, the worst that can usually happen if the weather catches them on the
hop is that they get wet. For business, the effects are far more serious. Airlines and
shipping companies need to avoid severe weather and stormforce conditions. Power
companies need to make sure they can supply the demand for electricity in cold
weather; farmers plan their harvest around the forecast and food manufactures increase
their production of salads and other summer foods when fine weather is promised.
So who or what do meteorologists -weather forecasters as they are more commonly
known - rely on when it comes to producing a forecast? Ninety per cent of the
information comes from weather satellites, the first of which was launched into space
nearly forty years ago and was a minor revolution in the science of forecasting. Upon
until then, forecasters had relied on human observers to provide details of developing
weather systems. As a result, many parts of the world where there were few humans
around, especially the oceans, were information-free weather areas. Today, however,
satellites can watch weather patterns developing everywhere.
In the UK meteorologists have also relied on releasing four weather ballons a day from
eight fixed sites. These ballons measure wind, temperature and humidity as they rise
upwards to a height of 26,000 metres.
Some commercial aircraft can also be fitted with a range of forecasting instruments
although this system has certain disadvantages. For example, it can provide a great deal
of information about the weather on popular routes, such as London to New York, but
little about the weather on more out-of-the-way routes.
Instruments aboard ships can also supply basic weather information as well as
important data on wave height. Generally, the range of these instruments is fairly
limited but they can indicate which direction rain is coming from, how low the cloud is
and give an idea of when the weather system will reach land.
One forecaster who has made a name for himself is a man called Piers Corbyn, who
bases his forecasts on watching the Sun. Most forecasters will offer forecasts for only
ten days ahead, but Corbyns forecasts are for 11 months. Although most meteorologists
believe that there is no scientific basis for his work, Corbyns forecasts are used by
insurance companies who want to plan months in advance.
1.

The weather affects peoples lives in Britain despite being

a)

fairly moderate.

b)

so changeable.

c)

very seasonal.

Examiners
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2.

By catches them on the hop we understand that people are

a)

far from home.

b)

too busy to notice.

c)

unprepared.

3.

The writer lists so many different businesses to show...

a)

examples of ordinary peoples lives.

b)

the extent of the weathers influence.

c)

how people manage in bad weather.

4.

The first weather satellite is a minor revolution because it

a)

forecast the weather in space.

b)

provided extra forecasts.

c)

replaced human observers.

5.

Using airplanes to help forecast the weather is

a)

not ideal.

b)

not very expensive.

c)

quite new.

6.

Corbyns forecasts using the Sun are considered

a)

helpful but short-term.

b)

unhelpful in the long-term.

c)

useful by some people.

KEY:
1A

2A

3B

4A

5A

6C

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GLOBAL WARMING
Read the article about global warming. Read statements 1-7, decide whether they are TRUE or
FALSE and mark the correct option (X) in the space provided. Answers must be based exclusively
on the information in the text.

Until recently evidence that the worlds weather is becoming more extreme and harder
to predict was largely anecdotal, without the support of any factual proof, and often
angrily argued over. The majority of scientists pointed out that drawing conclusions
based on a couple of scorching hot summers or a particularly damp spring was
misleading. There have always been occasional weather extremes, and, although its
tempting to believe the contrary, single events do not indicate a general change to the
climate.
However, a study by the World Weather Organization suggests that there may well be
factual evidence to support the idea that the worlds weather patterns are changing. By
recording weather events over the past two decades, the organization has been able to
ascertain that the number, although not necessarily the strength of, such extreme
weather events as floods, droughts, and tornadoes has risen. Moreover, it predicts that
weather events we now consider unusual will have become the norm by the end of the
next decade.
The worlds climate has been setting new records over the last year. Just over 500
tornadoes hit the United States in May, causing untold damage, and breaking the
previous monthly record by more than 100. A heat wave in India killed hundreds, with
temperatures rising to an astonishing 49 degrees Celsius, and also breaking all sorts of
records. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall in Sri Lanka resulted in terrible floods and many
casualties. And parts of Europe recorded average summer temperatures five degrees
above what would normally be expected. Looked at separately, none of these events is
particularly remarkable, but when put together they represent a clear and worrying
change to the worlds climate.
As a general rule, the World Weather Organization only compiles and reports its
statistics. However, the figures for the last year were so alarming that the organization
felt compelled to issue a warning of sorts. It pointed out that the increase in the worlds
temperature was greater between 1900 and 2000 than it had been for any other 100year period during the past 1,000 years. Not only that, but temperatures from 1976 to
2000 rose at a faster rate than the previous 75 years when surface temperatures warmed
up in an uneven way.
So, what or who is to blame? The World Weather Organization avoids this question,
defining its own role as a gatherer rather than an interpreter of information. The study
recognizes that global warming is taking place, and points out that the figures are
irrefutable in this respect, but it has no opinion about whether global warming is a
natural phenomenon or one that humans are directly responsible for.

STATEMENTS

1.

Before the World Weather Organizations study, most scientists agreed that
the worlds weather was, in general terms, becoming more extreme.

2.

Scientists argue that one or two periods of unusual weather does not mean
the climate is changing.

3.

The World Weather Organization carried out a study of weather events from
the last twenty years.

4.

The World Weather Organizations study proved that droughts are much
more common than in the past.

5.

As with previous studies, the World Weather Organization used this study
to argue that global warming was happening.

6.

The World Weather Organization warned that the figures showed that
global temperatures increased at the same speed for the whole of the 20th
century.

7.

According to the study, people are responsible for global warming.

KEY
1F

2T

3T

4T

5F

6F

7F