Now, listen to part of a lecture in an environmental studies class.
Professor: What happens biologically speaking, when a major climate change occurs? Well, scientists generally agree that the extinction of various animal or plant species is one very likely effect. This has happened in the past. An example is the disappearance thirty-five thousand years ago of the giant Australian bird called the thunder bird. Now, these birds were so big they couldn’t fly. But as I was saying, many scientists are convinced that it was changing climate that caused this species to become extinct.
Here’s the evidence. Here’s why scientists think it was a climate change. Researchers have discovered an enormous number of 3,500-year-old thunderbird bones all together in one spot. The bones were found near an ancient dried up lake. Now, it’s really rare to find so many bones from the same species in one place, but there it is. You have all these thirty-five thousand year old thunderbird bones altogether near this dried up lake.
So what’s the explanation? Well, many scientists believe that a change in the Australian climate may be behind this. Their hypothesis is, they think that during a very long dry period, when there was no rainfall, the birds may have flocked together at this lake. You see, during a drought, animals tend to gravitate towards the last few remaining water sources. But then, if it still doesn’t rain, if the drought lasts too long, the water source may dry up, too. And if that happens, the animals that have gathered there will, will… they die. Scientists think this ancient lake where they found the bones was one of the last remaining sources of freshwater during the drought so that’s where all these birds gathered. They survived there for a time but eventually the lake dried up. And well, that was it. By the time the drought ended the species was extinct.
TOFEL TPO 口语第42套Question 6
Question：
Using the example of the thunder bird, explain a possible effect of a major climate change.
1、题目关键词：using the example, thunder bird, explain a possible effect, a major climate change
2、答题要点：
(1)Using the example of the thunder bird
(2)Explaining a possible effect of a major climate change
3、听力材料要点：
在线真题练习，专门解决练习量不够、机考不适应
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(1)Scientists generally agree that a major climate change will lead to the extinction of various animal or plant species. And this has happened in the past, the old thunder bird is an example.
(2)There is evidence why scientists think so. Researchers have discovered an enormous number of 3,500-year-old thunderbird bones all together in one spot near a dried up lake.
(3)The explanation is that the bird flocked together at the lake when there was no rainfall, and they depended on the remaining water of the lake during the drought until the drought lasted too long and the last water resources dried up.
4、模板
(1)In the listening material, the professor says a major climate change will lead to the extinction of various animal or plant species
(2)There is evidence why scientists think so
(3)The explanation is...
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