Reading Exercise: Impact of Climate Change in New Zealand 

New Zealand is projected to warm by approximately 3°C in the coming century. Meanwhile, the northern polar regions could experience over 6°C of warming, and the largest continents – also home to major population centers – may warm by 4°C or more. In contrast, the Southern Ocean surrounding New Zealand might warm by only 2°C. The ocean will act as a natural air conditioner, offering New Zealand a relatively fortunate climate perspective. 

B

Predictions are complicated by New Zealand's climate variability. Annual temperatures can fluctuate up to 1°C above or below the long-term average. For example, the early summer of 2006-7 was notably cool due in part to an iceberg drifting up the east coast. A few months later, warm water from the Tasman Sea contributed to an unusually hot May 2007. These variables will continue unchanged, so although temperatures are expected to rise overall, the warming trend may not be consistent. 

C

The Southern Ocean adjacent to New Zealand will have a significant impact. As global temperatures rise, the strong westerly winds circling Antarctica are expected to intensify. This phenomenon has already been observed and is likely to profoundly affect New Zealand, bringing more frequent, sometimes extreme rainfall to the west coast and creating drier conditions in already drought-prone eastern regions. Concurrently, the general warming trend will extend southward.

D

Moreover, in the drier regions, the average moisture deficit – that is, the disparity between the amount of water in soils accessible to plants and the amount plants require for optimal growth – will increase. Soils may enter moisture deficit earlier in the growing season and these deficits may persist longer into autumn than they currently do. What we consider today as a moderate-severity drought could become nearly an annual occurrence by the end of the century.

One direct consequence of warmer – and shorter – winters will be a decrease in snow cover. The permanent snow line in the mountains will rise, while snow cover below this line will be shorter-lived. However, the amount of snowfall may actually increase, even in certain northern regions, due to intensified precipitation. Eventually, ski-field base stations may need to be relocated higher up to remain within reach of the new snow line, but ample snow is still anticipated.

E

New Zealand’s glaciers will also be significantly impacted. Over the past century, glaciers have shrunk by 35%, although increased snowfall since 1978 has mitigated the effects of warming. Nevertheless, recent studies by the National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) suggest that by the end of the century, warming in the Southern Alps could be notably more pronounced than elsewhere in the country.

F

Sea levels around New Zealand have risen by 25cm since the middle of the 19th century and by 7 cm since 1990. Predictions for the coming years vary widely, partly due to uncertain increases resulting from melting ice in the Arctic, Greenland, and Antarctica. Additionally, sea levels at any given time are influenced by numerous factors, including storm surges. When a storm surge coincides with a high tide along low-lying coastal areas, this bulge can elevate the tide above normal levels, creating a surge akin to a slow-motion tsunami.

Rising sea levels not only increase the potential for this type of damage but also have longer-term impacts. One potentially serious consequence is the contamination of groundwater systems with saltwater, rendering them unsuitable for irrigating farmland, which could ultimately reduce crop yields. Similarly, over time, estuaries may expand due to erosion as tidal influences reach further upstream, altering the contours of entire shorelines and initiating additional unforeseen consequences.

G

Predicting the impacts of these changes on New Zealand is challenging. Human systems can adapt better to change than natural ecosystems because humans can anticipate issues and plan responses. Farmers and horticulturists have made significant strides by cultivating crops better suited to new conditions. However, plant breeders will need to innovate extensively to address projected acute water shortages.

H

For natural ecosystems, the rate of change is critical. If it is slow, plants, animals, and fish can potentially adapt; if it is rapid, only the most adaptable species – those capable of surviving across a broad range of ecological niches – are likely to endure. Species adapted to narrow conditions or specific food sources will struggle to adapt. Take the tuatara, for example. Their sex is determined by incubation temperature, with warmer conditions (currently above 22°C) producing mostly males – a situation where males already outnumber females nearly two to one in some island refuges.

In mountainous regions, as the permanent snow line shifts upward, the habitat ranges of some alpine plants and animals may simply vanish. It's important to note that global warming is a worldwide phenomenon. New Zealand's own greenhouse gas emissions are minuscule – approximately 0.5% of the global total. Even if New Zealand were to achieve the government's goal of carbon neutrality, it would have negligible impact on global climate change.

I

The changes wrought by global warming in New Zealand throughout the 21st century will be profound. However, the country's greatest vulnerability may lie in climate change impacts elsewhere. While New Zealand's warming may be slower than in many other places, severe changes in its major export markets could have significant economic repercussions.

Questions 1-6

Select the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

Write your answers in boxes 1-6  on your answer sheet.

1.   What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

• A. The air condition in New Zealand will maintain a high quality because of the ocean
• B. The Southern Ocean will remain at a constant strength
• C. The continents will warm more than the point
• D. New Zealand will not warm as much as other countries in the next century because it is surrounded by sea.

2. What does the writer say about New Zealand’s variable weather?

• A. Temperature changes of 1°C will not be seem important in future
• B. Variable weather will continue, unchanged by global warming
• C. There was an unusually small amount of variation in 2006-2007
• D. Summer temperatures will vary but winter ones will be consistent

3. What is the predicted impact of conditions in the ocean to the south of New Zealand?

• A. New Zealand will be more affected by floods and droughts
• B. Antarctica will not be adversely affected by warming.
• C. The band of west winds will move further to the south.
• D. The usual west wind will no longer be reliable

4. The writer mentions ‘moisture deficit’ to show?

• A. The droughts will be shorter but more severe
• B. How the growing season will become longer.
• C. How growing conditions will deteriorate
• D. That farmers should alter the make-up of soils

5. What are the implications of global warming for New Zealand’s

• A. Skiing may move to lower the altitude in future.
• B. The ski season will be later in the year than at present.
• C. The northern ski field will have to move to the south
• D. Warming may provide more snow for some ski locations

6. The writer refers to NIWA’s latest studies in the 3rd paragraph to show

• A. How a particular place could be affected by warming
• B. That the warming trend has been intensifying since 1978
• C. That freezing levels will rise throughout the century
• D. How the growth of glaciers is likely to cause damage

Questions 7-9

Fill in the summary below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 7-9 on your answer sheet.

Rising sea levels

The extent of future sea level rise around New Zealand is uncertain and may be determined by the 

7  …. Another variable is sudden rises in sea level caused by bad weather. Higher sea levels can lead to reduced 8 …. and result in changes to the shape of 9  …..

• A. Agriculture production
• B. Tropical waters
• C. Tidal waves
• D. Polar regions
• E. Global warming
• F. Coastal land
• G. High tides

Questions 10-14

Do the following statements align with the information provided in Reading Passage?

In boxes 10-14 on your answer sheet, write.

YES If the statement is true.

NO If the statement is false.

NOT GIVEN If the information is not given in the passage.

10. The natural world is less responsive to challenges than humans.

11. The agricultural sector is being too conservative and resistant to innovation.

12. The global warming is slow; it will affect different regions in different ways.

13. The tuatara is vulnerable to changes in climate conditions.

14. New Zealand must reduce carbon emission if global warming is to be slowed.

• 1. D (Đoạn A, “New Zealand’s location is comparatively fortunate.”)
• 2. B  (Đoạn B, “These variables will continue unaffected so that, although the general pattern will be for rising temperatures, the warming trend may not be uniform.”)
• 3. A (Đoạn C, “…sometimes catastrophic rainfall to the west coast of the country and create drier conditions in some eastern regions that are already drought-prone.”)
• 4. C (Đoạn D, “the average moisture deficit – that is, the difference between the amount of water in soils available to plants and the amount plants need for optimum growth – will increase”)
• 5. D (Đoạn D, “The amount of snow that falls may actually increase, however, even in some northern centres…”)
• 6. A 
• 7. D
• 8. A (Đoạn F, “…spoiling them for the irrigation of farmland, which in turn could diminish crop harvests”)
• 9. F (Đoạn F, “Similarly, over time, estuaries may be enlarged by erosion…”)
• 10. YES (Đoạn G, “Human systems are better able to adapt to change than natural ecosystems because humans can see a problem coming and plan a response.”)
• 11. NOT GIVEN (không có thông tin)
• 12. NOT GIVEN (không có thông tin)
• 13. YES (Đoạn H, “Species adapted to only a narrow range of conditions or food sources will find adaptation much more difficult. Take tuatara, for instance.”)
• 14. NO (Đoạn H, “Even if New Zealanders were to achieve the government’s target of carbon neutrality, this would have no discernable impact on global climate change.”)