Word Meanings
Climate
UN
Activists
Figurative Language
100
What is another word for "target" as it is used in paragraph 5?
goal, objective
100
What is global warming?
The heating up of the earth's climate.
100
What is the UN? (United Nations)
A group of leaders from around the world.
100
Who is the head of the European Climate Foundation?
Laurence Tubiana
100
She criticized leaders for their "empty words."
words that don't mean anything
200
What does "withdraw" mean in this example?
"President Barack Obama committed the United States to the agreement. However, in 2017 President Donald Trump announced plans to withdraw."
end it or leave the agreement
200
How does the air get warmer?
Global warming is connected to burning fossil fuels, like oil, wood or gas. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are then released into the air.
200
The U.N.'s World Meteorological Organization released a new report saying that which time period would be the hottest ever?
2015-2019
200
Describe the complaint that Greta and other young activists filed.
The complaint said that the nations' failure to tackle climate change is a violation of their rights as children.
200
"Their response is 'we are listening,' but I think they are tone deaf."
It means they hear something, but apparently are not hearing the right thing!
300
The gathering clearly fell short of the outpouring of action U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had sought.
there was less action than he thought there would be
300
The U.S. is the world's largest economy. It is responsible for spewing the most planet-warming emissions over time.
How does the italicized word help convey the meaning of this sentence?
spewing conveys disgust, and an overflowing amount
300
What evidence from the text seems to disprove this statement?
Trump made a brief, unexpected appearance at the summit. Asked later why he had stopped by, he said, "I believe in clean air and clean water. Very simple."
The fact that he said he was going to withdraw from the agreement (and later actually did).
300
According to the text, who is Christiana Figueres?
She is the former executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
300
Guterres had asked leaders "not to come with fancy speeches, but with concrete commitments."
commitments they will actually follow through on and do, not just say
400
What does "mass extinction" mean? (see para. 4)
A widespread loss of life on earth.
400
What's the difference between weather and climate? (No, not about a tree! Haha)
Weather changes daily, climate is over a long period of time
400
Why was this an impactful action for UN Secretary General Guterres to take at the summit?
"He had offered speaking time only to countries taking strong actions."
Because people who just came with the fancy words wouldn't be able to actually make speeches.
400
What does this picture show you about Secretary General Antonio Guterres?
He is very concerned about climate change, especially for island nations.
400
the nations' failure to tackle climate change
attack, take on, go after
500
After her remarks Thunberg, with 15 other young people, filed a formal U.N. complaint against five of the world's most powerful countries.
statements, speeches, words
500
How might a change in climate affect an ecosystem?
If a change in climate affects one animal in the food web, then it will begin to affect all. If there is no drinking water, all life in the ecosystem will suffer.
500
Why do you think the author put this sentence in a paragraph by itself? (para. 6)
None of the major economies most responsible for global warming delivered new plans on Monday.
To emphasize this fact - that the countries responsible have not done anything about it.
500
Which President first agreed to participate in the 2015 Paris Agreement?
President Barack Obama
500
"Young people, rightly fearful for their futures, have called this moment a line in the sand, the moment for leaders to unite behind the science,"
A place that cannot or should not be crossed or else there will be major negative consequences.