Cover of the textbook Performer B1 Phases, Vol. 1

The key answer of exercise 9

The key to exercise solutions in chapter 11 - Competences for life for the textbook Performer B1 Phases, Vol. 1 with authors M. Spiazzi, M. Tavella, M. Layton, E. Fiordiliso from Zanichelli

Question

Read the title of the text. What do you know about the Amazon rainforest? Read and listen to the text and highlight any interesting information.

Answer

  1. The Amazon rainforest not only regulates regional climate but also influences global climate and rainfall patterns in distant countries.
  2. Deforestation rates are alarming, with a projected 27% of the Amazon without trees by 2030.
  3. Deforestation began in the 1960s due to colonization efforts and agricultural expansion, with an area equivalent to the size of Spain cleared for cattle and soybean production.
  4. Over the last 40 years, approximately 17% of the Amazon's area has been deforested.
  5. The combination of deforestation, forest fires, and rising global temperatures has pushed the Amazon to a critical point, with potentially irreversible consequences.
  6. If global temperatures rise by 4°C, parts of the Amazon could transform into infertile savannah.
  7. Major fires have been a significant issue, with over 1,000 major fires burning in the Brazilian Amazon in 2022 alone.
  8. Environmental organizations are actively working on solutions to combat deforestation and fires, including research, legislation, education, and conservation projects that aim to benefit local communities.
  9. The Amazon rainforest receives a high amount of rainfall per year, contributing to its status as a vital ecosystem.