Question

use the text below to answer the question.

the polar ice cap that once covered the arctic ocean is shrinking. inhabitants of tiny pacific islands are leaving their homes because the rising ocean is flooding their land. meanwhile, huge hurricanes, some of the most powerful we’ve ever seen, have devastated gulf coast cities like new orleans in recent years. a heat wave in europe sent thermometers over a hundred, setting records across the continent. why? the answer is global warming. the earth periodically warms and cools, but in more than 400,000 years, it has not warmed as it is warming now. global warming means that the average surface temperature worldwide is rising. it’s the result of too many greenhouse gases in the air. the problem is most noticeable near the poles, as a warmer planet may result in enough polar ice melting to raise the level of the oceans by many feet. overflowing oceans would do a lot of damage to our world.

global warming is the result of ______.
choose one option
a the periodic warming and cooling of the planet
b a heatwave in europe
c a surplus of greenhouse gases
d hurricane katrina

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The text says the Earth's periodic warming/cooling is different from current global warming, so A is wrong.
• Option B: A heatwave in Europe is a result of global warming, not the cause, so B is wrong.
• Option C: The text states "Global warming... is the result of too many greenhouse gases in the air", so C matches.
• Option D: Hurricanes like those in New Orleans are effects of global warming, not the cause, so D is wrong.

Answer:

C. a surplus of greenhouse gases