Plastics and greenhouse gases
Introduced| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| greenhouse gases/ˈɡriːnhaʊs ˈɡæsɪz/ | Atmospheric gases that absorb and emit infrared radiation and contribute to the greenhouse effect. |
| non-biodegradable/nɒn ˌbaɪəʊdɪˈɡreɪdəbl/ | Not broken down by decomposers, so persisting in the environment, as many plastics do. |
| methane/ˈmiːθeɪn/ | The simplest alkane, with molecular formula CH4. |
| global warming/ˈɡləʊbl ˈwɔːmɪŋ/ | A long-term rise in Earth's average surface temperature. |
| microplastics/ˌmaɪkrəʊˈplæstɪks/ | microplastics |
Pollution that lingers
- Some of the waste humans produce stays in the environment for a very long time.
- Two big problems are plastics and greenhouse gases 温室气体.
Pollution impact route
Trace how human materials create long-term environmental effects.
Most plastics are a problem because they are:
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Non-biodegradable plastics persist and harm wildlife.
Plastic that breaks into tiny pieces that persist in the environment is called ______.
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Microplastics spread through food chains.
Plastic pollution
- Most plastics are non-biodegradable 不可降解 — they don't rot away.
- They build up in oceans, harming wildlife that eats or gets tangled in them.
Greenhouse gases trap heat leaving the Earth, so the Earth gets warmer
Which are greenhouse gases? (Select all that apply.)
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CO₂ and methane trap heat; oxygen and nitrogen do not.
Greenhouse gases cause global warming by:
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They trap heat — the greenhouse effect.
Greenhouse gases
- Carbon dioxide (from burning fuels) and methane 甲烷 trap heat in the atmosphere.
- This greenhouse effect is making the Earth warmer — global warming 全球变暖.
Global warming can cause ice to melt and sea levels to rise.
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Warming threatens habitats and food supplies.
Effects of climate change
- Rising temperatures cause melting ice, rising sea levels, and changing weather.
- This threatens habitats, food supplies and many species.
Non-biodegradable doesn't mean it disappears. Plastic just breaks into smaller and smaller pieces (microplastics 微塑料) that persist for centuries and spread through food chains.
You've got it
- most plastics are non-biodegradable, building up and harming wildlife
- CO₂ and methane are greenhouse gases that trap heat → global warming
- climate change melts ice, raises sea levels and threatens habitats and food