In the listening material, the professor challenged the three traditional theories which are mentioned in the reading passage. He gave the following modern viewpoint proposed by the scientists.

First, in the considering about the factor that disruption of ocean currents contributing to the Ice Age, there is something not accurate. Though the cold fresh water melt from the glaciers will cause the breakdown of t he Gulf Stream, it will only relate to the roaring decline of temperature in Europe and North America, but can not make sense of the global change into ice age including southern area such as New Zealand.

Second, while the reading passsage is concerned that the volcano eruption is the invitation to the ice age, the listening material pointed out that the dimension of the eruption of volcanos maybe was not huge enough to account for the form of ice age because with large range of volcano eruption, there would usually be some awkward transformations in weather and landscape condition consequently. However, there are not specific reports about it such as the view of dramatically colourful sunset or the grey clouds caused by the volcano ash before or during those ice ages.

Third, the theory about the absorption of carbon dioxide by the trees causing Earth cooler was challenged. The professor thought that despite the fact that more trees would take in more green house gases, it would not last for a long term because the growing number of oxide which would increase humans population also make the trees cut down and grow back to the previous quantity to reach a balance.

 

第二篇：1月14日模考TPO27综合写作

In terms of the causes of the Little Ice Age, in the reading material, the author claims three possible causes of the Little Ice Age. However, the lecturer in the listening part says the causes mentioned in the reading are out of date. There is new information which can prove that the causes mentioned in the reading are not convincing.

First, the author says the Little Ice Age may cause by disrupting of glaciers which can affect Gulf Stream. But the professor points out the Gulf Stream can only influence few areas like Europe and North America. In fact, the Little Ice Age had effects on south hemisphere such as New Zealand and South Africa, too. So this theory cannot explain the cause of the Little Ice Age.

What's more, the writer claims that volcanoes eruption could be the cause of the Little Ice Age. The speaker admits that the volcano can release enough dust. But he argues that large amount of dust produced by volcano will bring striking visual effect that people can notice. Since there is no report of colorful sunset or grey snow at that time, the volcano is not strong enough to cause the Little Ice Age.

Finally, it is mentioned in the reading that the Little Ice Age could be caused by the increasing forests which can remove carbon dioxide as a result of decrease of population. The lecturer refutes that view by pointing out that there is not enough time for this effect to work. He argues that the human populations grow quickly to the previous level and lots of trees are cut down accordingly. Therefore, there is not enough time for the trees to cause global warming. So the third theory is impossible.