Sun Burn? - Comprehension Questions

What are sunspots?

• the total amount of sunlight that reaches the top of Earth's atmosphere

• instruments that measure the sun's total solar irradiance

• fierce magnetic storms that rage on the sun's surface

• blemishes that dampen the sun's brightness

The text describes a debate that people are having about the cause of the rise in global temperature. Most scientists believe that global warming is largely caused by greenhouse gases released by the burning of coal and oil.

According to the text, what do other people believe causes global warming?

• carbon dioxide

• the sun

• methane

• radiometers

The graphs at the end of the text show the changes in the number of sunspots, brightness, and global average temperature from 1880 to 2000.

Based on this evidence, what conclusions can you draw about the relationship between the number of sunspots and the global average temperature?

• A decrease in sunspot number causes a decrease in the global average temperature.

• A decrease in sunspot number causes an increase in the global average temperature.

• The number of sunspots has little to no effect on the global average temperature.

• The number of sunspots has a direct and powerful effect on the global average temperature.

The sun could have a small degree of influence on global warming, but it is not the main cause of the rapid rise in Earth's temperature.

What evidence from the text supports this conclusion?

• The sun's brightness varies slightly and regularly over time. The main cause of that dimmer-switch effect is sunspot activity.

• Since 1979, the sun's output has decreased while the Earth has warmed more rapidly than in any 30-year period for centuries.

• Clouds have a cooling effect on climate because they reflect the sun's energy. So fewer clouds could indeed lead to warming.

• Ionized molecules have electric charges. Ionized molecules might attract water molecules, causing clouds to form.

What is the main idea of this text?

• In the debate on the cause of the rise in global temperature, evidence suggests that greenhouse gases are the cause of global warming.

• In the debate on the cause of the rise in global temperature, evidence suggests that greenhouse gases are not the cause of global warming.

• In the debate on the cause of the rise in global temperature, evidence suggests that the sun is the cause of global warming.

• In the debate on the cause of the rise in global temperature, evidence suggests that the sun is not the cause of global warming.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-6

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

"From about 1880 to 1950, the number of sunspots observed per solar maximum nearly doubled, says Terry Sloan, an expert on cosmic rays at Lancaster University in England. Could that sunspot surge account for some of our century-long warming trend?"

What does the phrase "account for" mean in this excerpt?

• be the cause of

• create

• confuse

• break down

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

"Since 1979, the sun's output has slightly decreased, while Earth has warmed more rapidly than in any 30-year period for centuries or more. Hence, the sun can’t be blamed for that."

What word or phrase could replace the word "Hence" in the final sentence without changing its meaning?

• As an illustration

• In contrast

• Thus

• Instead