logo
Spark Study Buddy (Challenger): Climate change may increase human-snake contact

Spark Study Buddy (Challenger): Climate change may increase human-snake contact

Content provided by British Council
[1] Last year was the warmest on record so far. According to the European Copernicus climate service, in 2024, the average global temperature was 1.6 degrees Celsius (34.9 degrees Fahrenheit) above the pre-industrial average. The more the world warms, the worse the impacts of climate change will become. Wildlife will be affected by rising temperatures – and this includes snakes.
[2] Snakes are reptiles, meaning their body temperature changes according to the environment. It can change daily and seasonally, said Timothy Bonebrake. He is an associate professor at the School of Biological Sciences and Division of Ecology & Biodiversity at the University of Hong Kong.
[3] Humans, on the other hand, maintain a steady body temperature of around 37 degrees Celsius. 'Snakes rely on temperature to regulate their behaviour and how effective they are in capturing prey and escaping predators themselves,' said Bonebrake. Snakes are mesopredators, meaning they are both predator and prey. They represent an important part of many ecosystems, he added.
[4] Climate change is expected to impact how snakes share space with people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This is because snakes will change their movements as temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more common. 'They will become more or less abundant and change their activity patterns. Humans will change farming practices, and there will be greater pressure to migrate or be displaced,' WHO said.
[5] As a result, human contact with snakes is likely to increase in some areas. This may lead to a higher risk of snakebites, especially among people who are not used to being around them.
[6] Hong Kong has about 53 species of snakes. According to Bonebrake, this is likely due to successful conservation efforts over time. He added that about 40 per cent of Hong Kong's land is designated as country parks, which helps support its biodiversity.
[7] Bonebrake said that as more people move to towns and cities, the environment will become less suitable for snakes. 'We've conducted analyses of human-snake conflict in Hong Kong and found that urbanisation is associated with a reduced number of incidents for all species except the bamboo pit viper and greater green snake,' he said. 'So yes, Hong Kong is home to an impressive diversity of snakes, for which we should be proud. But we need to protect the habitat of these animals.'
Source: South China Morning Post, January 15
Questions
1. What does paragraph 1 state about the relationship between global warming and the impacts of climate change?
2. According to paragraph 2, what factors affect the internal body temperatures of
reptiles?
3. According to paragraph 3, mesopredators …
A. hunt and are hunted by other animals.
B. hunt at dawn and at night.
C. eat mostly fruit and vegetables.
D. only eat other animals of the same species.
4. How many species of snakes can be found in Hong Kong, according to paragraph 6?
5. What does the term 'incidents' in paragraph 7 refer to?
6. Circle the correct answers. (5 marks)
Rising temperatures (i) (affect / effect) snakes' body temperature and behaviour. This has an (ii) (affect / effect) on their behaviour and ability to survive. Climate change also (iii) (affects / effects) how they interact with humans as they change their movement and activity patterns. This will likely lead to an increase in human-snake contact and potential conflict, especially in areas where human and snake populations overlap. Effective conservation measures have had a positive (iv) (affect / effect) on snake diversity in Hong Kong, and continued habitat protection will be crucial to mitigate the negative (v) (affects / effects) of climate change and urbanisation.
As climate change intensifies, snakes will become more prevalent in some areas, highlighting the need for habitat protection and awareness of potential risks. Photo: Shutterstock
Answers
1. The more the world warms, the worse the impacts of climate change will become.
2. their surrounding environment / the temperature of their surrounding environment
3. A
4. 53
5. encounters between humans and snakes (accept all similar answers)
6. (i) affect; (ii) effect; (iii) affects; (iv) effect; (v) effects

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Spark Study Buddy (Challenger): Antifungal resistance emerges as a global health threat
Spark Study Buddy (Challenger): Antifungal resistance emerges as a global health threat

South China Morning Post

time01-06-2025

  • South China Morning Post

Spark Study Buddy (Challenger): Antifungal resistance emerges as a global health threat

Content provided by British Council [1] Antifungal resistance is not talked about as much as antimicrobial resistance. However, it is growing and making people more at risk of serious infections. These fungal infections, or mycoses, are quite different from the brain-controlling fungus that causes the zombie apocalypse in the popular series and video game The Last of Us. Nonetheless, experts have warned that these infections are becoming more dangerous. [2] Mycoses resistance to antifungal drugs is on the rise, according to the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). The centre has linked the growing resistance to the overuse and misuse of antifungal treatments. [3] Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacterial infections are no longer effectively treated by antibiotics. The excessive use of antibiotics has worsened this issue. [4] 'Treatments against pathogenic fungi are used in agriculture as well as in human and animal health,' the CNRS said, pointing out the 'identical resistance mechanisms' shared by antifungals and antibiotics. 'As is the case with overprescribed antibiotics, to which bacteria have become resistant, the massive use of antifungals is leading to a gradual decline in their effectiveness,' the CNRS warned. [5] It noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) did not draw up a list of 19 particularly dangerous fungi until 2022. 'The incidence and geographical range of fungal diseases are expanding worldwide,' the WHO stated. [6] The CNRS warned of infections caused by a common mould found in soil called Aspergillus. The infection can cause a lung disease that is dangerous for people with weak immune systems. 'Antimicrobial resistance is emerging in Aspergillus fumigatus,' said the US government's Centres for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). [7] Other common fungus-caused diseases include blastomycosis, which also affects the lungs, and Candida auris infection, caused by Candida auris. The CDC described it as 'a type of yeast that can cause severe illness and spreads easily among patients in healthcare facilities'. Source: dpa, May 8 Questions 1. In paragraph 1, what does the fungus in The Last of Us do? 2. Antifungal drugs are becoming … on mycoses, according to paragraph 2. A. less resistant B. more resistant C. more effective D. less effective 3. According to paragraph 3, what has been identified as a factor in the spread of antimicrobial resistance? 4. What does the list mentioned in paragraph 5 consist of? 5. Find a word in paragraph 5 that has a similar meaning to 'increasing'. 6. Complete the following summary using the grammatically correct form of the words 'affect' or 'effect'. (4 marks) Here are the (i) ___________ of two diseases and how they (ii) ___________ people's health. Blastomycosis has a negative (iv) ___________ on a person's lungs. A common mould in soil called Aspergillus also (iii) ___________ the lungs, causing a dangerous lung disease, especially for people with weak immune systems. The overuse of antifungals in agriculture and medicine is fuelling the threat of resistance, warned the CNRS and WHO. Photo: Shutterstock Answers 1. They control human brains and turn people into zombies. (accept all similar answers) 2. D 3. overuse of antibiotics, both as medication and as ingredients in animal feed on farms 4. particularly dangerous fungi 5. expanding 6. (i) effects; (ii) affect; (iii) effect; (iv) affects

Herpes virus study finds trigger for cold sore outbreaks that could lead to stopping them
Herpes virus study finds trigger for cold sore outbreaks that could lead to stopping them

South China Morning Post

time14-05-2025

  • South China Morning Post

Herpes virus study finds trigger for cold sore outbreaks that could lead to stopping them

Have you ever had a cold sore? They are common, uncomfortable and can be hard to get rid of. But there is new hope on the horizon. Advertisement Research has discovered that a protein in the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) – a virus that causes both cold sores and a small proportion of genital herpes, and which can lie dormant for extended periods – is required to activate the immune system and reawaken the virus when it is dormant. When the virus reawakens, it hijacks the body's antiviral action, allowing it to storm back with a vengeance. A fresh crop of painful sores subsequently develops. The virus can make this protein while it lies dormant. 'This is an important finding because it gives us new ways to potentially prevent the virus from waking up and activating immune responses in the nervous system that could have negative consequences in the long term,' says Anna Cliffe, lead author of the study published by the University of Virginia School of Medicine, in the US. Anna Cliffe of the University of Virginia School of Medicine was the study's lead author. Photo: University of Virginia Cold sores are quite contagious. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 64 per cent of the global population under 50 are infected with HSV-1, some 3.8 billion people.

Spark Study Buddy (Explorer): China teen loses arm in home chemistry experiment gone wrong
Spark Study Buddy (Explorer): China teen loses arm in home chemistry experiment gone wrong

South China Morning Post

time04-05-2025

  • South China Morning Post

Spark Study Buddy (Explorer): China teen loses arm in home chemistry experiment gone wrong

Content provided by British Council [1] A 15-year-old boy in China had one arm cut off and almost lost sight in one eye. His injuries were the result of a blast from a chemical experiment conducted at home. Residents living in the same building as the boy's family said that they felt the ground shake when the explosion occurred, according to the Southern Metropolis News. [2] The teenager was immediately rushed to the hospital. The boy's father, whose surname is Huang, said his son had serious injuries in both of his eyes. He also said the skin surrounding the eyes was 'completely destroyed'. [3] The boy is expected to undergo skin and cornea transplant surgery, his father said. As a result of the explosion, one arm had to be cut off. He will need an artificial hand in the future, Huang added. The teenager is currently a second-year secondary school student. He has not yet begun studying chemistry as the timetable introduces the subject in the third year. [4] The boy loves science and is very curious, especially about chemistry. He often borrows chemistry books from the library and buys equipment and materials online for experiments. 'He had conducted experiments at home before. We never expected this would lead to an accident,' his father explained. [5] It is not known which experiment he was attempting or which materials were involved. The local residential committee is still trying to find out whether the explosion affected the sturdiness of the building's structure. [6] A donation campaign, organised by the committee, has been launched within the community to support the boy's medical treatment. The story has created a lot of attention on the mainland Chinese internet. Many users expressed sympathy for the boy. Accidents due to chemical experiments often gather attention on social media in China. [7] In 2023, a student in eastern Jiangsu province conducted a home experiment involving alcohol. The experiment resulted in a fire that was quickly put out by his father. In 2022, another explosion occurred when a student in Beijing engaged in a chemical experiment at home, causing severe injuries to both his hands. Source: South China Morning Post, April 17 Questions 1. What caused the explosion, according to paragraph 1? 2. In paragraph 2, the boy had … to his eyes. A. serious injuries B. minor cuts C. slight bruises D. no injuries 3. Find a word in paragraph 3 that means 'fake'. 4. Where did the teenager often get chemistry books, according to paragraph 4? 5. The teenager was very interested … chemistry because he was curious and loved science. A. of B. on C. at D. in 6. Complete the following paragraph with the correct punctuation. (5 marks) In 2022 (i) _____ there was another explosion in Beijing when a student was doing a chemistry experiment at home, and it badly hurt both of his hands (ii) _____ In 2023 (iii) _____ a student in the eastern part of China was experimenting with alcohol at home and it caused a fire (iv) _____ Luckily, his father put it out quickly (v) _____ The Chinese boy is expected to undergo skin and cornea transplant surgery. Photo: Douyin Answers 1. a chemical experiment 2. A 3. artificial 4. from the library 5. D 6. (i), (ii). (iii), (iv). (v).

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store