3.

 A sinkhole is a depression in the ground that has no natural external surface

drainage. Basically, this means that when it rains, all of the water stays
inside the sinkhole and typically drains into the subsurface. Sinkhole are
most common in what geologists call, “ karst terrain”. These are regions
where the types of rock below the land surface can naturally be dissolved
by ground water circulating through them. Soluble rocks include salt beds
and domes, gypsum, limestone and other carbonate rock. Florida, for
instance, is an area largely underlain by limestone and is highly susceptible
to sinkholes.
 An estimated 2.5 million people were forced from their homes in the US by
weather-related disasters in 2023, according to new data from the Census
Bureau. The US experienced 28 disasters last year that each cost at least
one billion dollars. But until recently, the number of Americans displaced by
those disasters has been hard to estimate because of the nation’s
patchwork response system.
 Over the past 12 months, the average temperature worldwide was more
than 1.5 degrese Celsius, or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, higher than it was at
the dawn of the industrial age. That number carries special significance, as
nations agreed under the 2015 Paris Agreement to try to keep the
difference between average temperatures today and in preindustrial times
to 1.5 degrees Celsius, or at least below 2 degrees Celsius.
 Scientists have examined the chemical composition of the skeletons of
centuries-old spongy sea creatures living in the Caribbean Sea to piece
together a new history of the earliest decades of global warming. The
research points to a startling conclusion: Humans have raised global
temperatures by a total of about 1.7 degrees Celsius, or 3.1 Fahrenheit, not
1.2 degrees Celsius, as widely suggested until now.
 The Amazon’s crucial water cycle faces collapse, scientists say. A study
published Wednesday in the journal Nature suggests that 10% to 47% of the
landscape is at risk of transitioning away from rainforest by 2050 if warming
and rates of deforestation aren’t dramatically curbed.

1.
 How can regulations to control the presence of microplastics be
implemented effectively?
If we want people to abide by the law, their awareness must be raised,
which leads to a change in their action. They should know that
microplastics pose threat to both people and the environment.

 What are potential economic and social consequences for countries

experiencing heatwaves?
Prolonged and intense heat can have detrimental effects on the
economics. It hurt future economic growth as employees are less
productive in hot extreme weather, even when they work inside. A 2018
study found that the economies of the US have a tendency to grow at a
slower pace during hot summers. The data shows that annual growth
falls 0.15 to 0.25 percentages points for every 1 degree Fahrenheit.
Agriculture will suffer due to harsh weather conditions which lead to
drought and shortage of water. Heatwave changes travel patterns, to
specify, tourists tend to choose cooler countries instead. Moreover,
there are consequences down the line where people use air conditions.
Greater use of air conditions could increase residential energy
consumption and if that energy originates from fossil fuels, it could end
up amplifying the heatwave and affecting the environment. Last but not
least, extreme weather can damage the infrastructure. Beyond the
threat to economic, heatwave is harmful to the society. Heatwave
increase the risk of droughts, lack of water and wildfires, which both
takes a toll on animals and humans. Also, extended bouts of great heat
can result in more hospital visits as the elderly run the risk of having
heatstroke and heat exhaustion. Regretfully, intense heat is a significant
cause of mortality and excess death will continue to rise if conditions
don’t change.
 What are challenges of transitioning to cleaner energy sources in both
developed and developing countries?
Developing and developed countries face unique challenges when it
comes to transitioning to clean energy. These obstacles include high cost
of capital, technical issues like energy storage and infrastructure
updates, the need for time and space. Poorer countries are locked into
fossil fuel projects and they cannot afford the high upfront cost of clean
energy. They are stuck in a vicious cycle where they pay more for
electricity. The lack of technological know-how is another difficulty.
5.
Some people believe that increasing the cost of gasoline is the best way to
address environmental problems. In this essay, however, I will challenge this
school of thought.

Of course, one might argue that increasing the prices of fuel could help
solve environmental issues. This is predicated on the assumption that such
a measure would for people, especially money-conscious ones to give up
their private vehicle for public transport. According to this theory, this
ultimately results in less fuel being released into the air. However, this line
of reasoning is not sound because the amount of greenhouse gases emitted
by personal vehicles is negligible, compared to that of industrial plants or
even cow’s farts. This very fact renders the effect of increasing the price of
petrol on the environment insignificant.
To add further credence to my assertion, the root cause of most serious
environmental issues is our energy-hungry lifestyles. For example, the
accelerated depletion of natural resources that are used to produce
electricity and machines can be attributed to the insatiable thirst for energy
of mankind. By the very same token, global warming and pollution, the
most severe environmental problems are the dreadful knock-on effects
stemming from energy overconsumption. Thus, the key to solving the
world’s environmental issues is to find alternative sources. This could be
done by exploiting solar, wind and tidal power, all of which are unlimited
and clean sources of energy that are unlimited and clean sources of energy
that are largely underdeveloped.

In conclusion, it is a mistake to assume that increasing the price of fuel is

the best way to alleviate problem, posed to the environment because the
key to solving these issues is to develop renewable energy.

2.
Heat alert

Inflammation (N): viêm =) inflamed (adj)

Omnipresence(N): sự có mặt khắp nơi =)omnipresent(adj)
 Audio 3
1. It has found that 99% of the world population breathe air that
exceeds WHO air quality limits.
2. It made a quality update ahead of the World Health Day April 7
3. 99% of the world population breathe air that exceeds WHO air
quality limits
4. The need to move away from fossil fuels is highlighted due to
current energy concerns and it is unacceptable to still have 7
million preventable deaths due to air pollution after the
pandemic.
5. It recommends the changes in energy systems. Among these were
“the exclusive use of clean for cooking, heating and lighting” and
to “build safe and affordable public transport systems and
pedestrian and cycle-friendly networks”.

News reproduction
The WHO has announced a shocking finding about the air we breathe. It
has found almost everyone on earth breathes unhealthy air. The WHO
made a quality update ahead of the World Health Day April 7. The
update reported that 99% of the world population breathe air that
exceeds WHO air quality limits. It looked at data from over 6000 cities in
117 countries. People living in lower and middle-income countries
breathe the poorest quality air. Millions of people in these countries
died because of pollution-related diseases.The WHO said after surviving
a pandemic, it is unacceptable to still have 7 million preventable deaths
due to air pollution. The WHO said its report highlighted the need to
move way from fossil fuels. It asks government to do more to reduce
severe pollution. It said current energy concerns highlight the
importance of speeding up the transition to cleaner and healthier
energy system. It added that high gas prices and energy security and
the dangers of air pollution and climate change mean the world must
be less dependent on fossil fuels. The WHO report included many
recommendations for changes. Among these were “the exclusive use of
clean for cooking, heating and lighting” and to “build safe and
affordable public transport systems and pedestrian and cycle-friendly
networks”.