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TOEFL【Integrated Writing】TPO27

The little ice age was a period of unusually cold temperature in many parts of the world that lasted from about the year 1350 until 1900CE. There were unusually harsh winters, and glaciers grew larger in many areas. Scientist have long wondered what caused the Little Ice Age. Several possible causes have been proposed.

First, the cooling may have been caused......

 

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Writing

The passage attributes the Little Ice Age to ocean currents, volcanic eruptions, and human population. However, the professor argues that these arguments are outdated, thus failing to explain the Little Ice Age. 

 First, ocean currents. The passage says that melted glaciers send cold freshwater into Gulf stream, cooling the temperature to form the Little Ice Age. However, the professor argues that the cooling effects only influenced European and North America. But, he points out that the Little Ice age also occurred in southern hemisphere like New Zealand and South Africa, evidence that the currents were not the cause of Little Ice Age.

Second, volcanic eruption. The passage states that dust erupted by volcanos blocked sunlight, decreasing the global temperature. However, the professor argues that the probability of blocking the sky to cool the weather exists only when the eruptions spread enough dust. He explains that visually noticeable effects accompanied with the eruption, colorful sky and brown snow, would have been recorded usually, had there been volcanic eruptions with a large amount of dust.

Third, human population. The passage claims that due to the declined human population, forest, where trees absorb carbon dioxide, started growing, cooling temperature. However, the professor argues that because the population rebound quickly, it take no enough time to make forest remove carbon dioxide, before trees were cut again. He emphasizes that the forest doesn’t remained long enough to cause the long-term global cooling —the Little Ice Age. 

word：242

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note：

Reading ： cause of Ice Age   

argument 1：current → glacier / cold water into ocean

argument 2：volcano → dust / X sunlight

argument 3：population → human↓ /  forest ↑

 

Listening ： X

argument 1： current → only north AM, EU/ also south, NZ, AFR

argument 2：volcano → other visual effect, noticable / color brown snow

argument 3：popu. → X time, people ↑ , trees cut / X long