Geography, Climate & Astronomy – B2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
You will hear a university student called David giving a presentation about his studies in meteorology. For questions 9-18, complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
David – future meteorologist
As a child, David was particularly fascinated by observing (9)……………………… rather than space.
David was surprised to find that a strong background in (10)……………………… was more useful than geography.
David explains that meteorologists spend most of their time looking at (11)……………………… rather than satellite images.
David mentions that (12)……………………… are still the most reliable tool for collecting high-altitude data.
According to David, the local (13)……………………… are the main cause of sudden changes in the weather.
David says that checking the (14)……………………… is the best way to determine a storm’s severity.
For his recent university project, David chose to investigate (15)……………………… instead of tornadoes.
David warns that (16)……………………… have the potential to cause problems for communications and power on Earth.
David believes that having excellent (17)……………………… is essential for warning the public effectively.
In the future, David hopes to find employment in the field of (18)……………………… .
ANSWER KEY
9 clouds 10 physics 11 computer models 12 weather balloons
13 mountains 14 air pressure 15 droughts
16 solar flares 17 communication skills 18 aviation
AUDIO SCRIPT
David: Hi everyone. My name is David, and I’m a university student currently in my final year of a meteorology degree. I’ve come here today to talk to you about the fascinating world of weather forecasting, and what it takes to understand our climate.
My fascination with the sky started when I was very young. Most kids my age were obsessed with the planets and the solar system, but I spent hours just watching the clouds from my bedroom window. I would try to guess if it was going to rain just by looking at their shapes.
When I decided to pursue this as a career, I quickly realised that it requires serious academic preparation. The practice of weather forecasting necessitates a robust foundation in science and mathematics in order to analyze intricate weather patterns. I initially thought geography would be the most important subject to grasp, but actually, my knowledge of physics is what I rely on every single day to understand atmospheric movements.
Once you have the basics down, you learn how modern forecasting actually works. We use incredible technology nowadays. You might think we just look at satellite images all day to see where the rain is falling, but in reality, our main focus is on interpreting computer models. These generate massive amounts of data that we have to make sense of.
To gather all this data, we have to launch equipment high into the atmosphere. While drones are becoming increasingly popular for lower-level readings, we still primarily depend on weather balloons for getting accurate data from the upper atmosphere. They are released twice a day from stations all over the globe.
Understanding local geography is also vital. Where my university is located, people naturally assume the nearby ocean dictates our climate and weather shifts. However, it’s actually the mountains that create the most unpredictable weather changes here, blocking winds and trapping moisture.
When we are tracking a severe storm system, there are many variables to consider. Drops in temperature are obvious signs, of course, yet measuring the air pressure gives us the most accurate warning of how severe an approaching storm will actually be.
Last term, I had to do a special research project. I’d originally planned to investigate tornadoes, since they are so dramatic, but I ended up doing a massive study on droughts instead. They might be slow-moving events, but they affect agriculture so heavily that I felt they were much more important to research.
As meteorologists, we also have to look beyond Earth’s atmosphere. It might sound like something out of a science fiction movie, but we actively monitor solar flares. We have to keep a close eye on these events because they can seriously disrupt our communication systems and power grids down here on the ground.
Finally, a huge part of being a successful forecaster is sharing our findings with everyday people. You can do the most complex math in the world to predict a storm, but if you don’t possess good communication skills, the public won’t understand your warnings or know how to stay safe.
As for my own future, many of my classmates are desperate to present the weather on television. However, my dream is to get a job in aviation. Helping pilots navigate safely through hazardous skies sounds like the perfect challenge for me. Thanks for listening!
Listening 2
You will hear a meteorologist called Simon Aris giving a talk about his career and long-term climate forecasting. For questions 9-18, complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
Simon Aris – meteorologist
Simon says that a (9)……………………… was the event that originally made him interested in the weather.
Simon ultimately decided to study (10)……………………… during his time at university.
Simon’s very first professional role was working as a (11)……………………… for an institute.
Simon mentions that his team depends on (12)……………………… to acquire reliable atmospheric data.
Simon is currently investigating how (13)……………………… are changing over time.
Simon was amazed to discover that the (14)……………………… of the sea had changed so much.
Simon highlights that (15)……………………… are the animals most immediately endangered by recent marine changes.
Simon recently conducted environmental research while living in a (16)……………………… .
Simon believes that skills in (17)……………………… are vital for operating modern climate models.
In the near future, Simon is planning to work on a (18)……………………… about his research.
ANSWER KEY
9 flood 10 geography 11 research assistant 12 weather balloons
13 ocean currents 14 salt levels 15 penguins
16 desert 17 computer programming 18 documentary
AUDIO SCRIPT
Simon: Hello everyone, my name is Simon Aris, and I’m a meteorologist. I specialise in long-term environmental phenomena, which means I look at the big picture of our planet’s changing climate. I’m here today to talk about my career and the fascinating world of oceanographic forecasting.
When people ask me what sparked my interest in the weather, they usually guess I was obsessed with snow as a child or that I loved watching documentaries about tornadoes. But actually, it was a sudden flood in my hometown that really sparked my fascination with meteorology. Seeing how dramatically the environment could change overnight left a lasting impression on me.
When it came time to go to university, I knew I wanted to study the natural world. I initially considered a degree in physics, thinking it would give me the technical background I needed. However, I eventually chose to major in geography, as it offered a much broader perspective on environmental systems, which appealed to me more.
After graduating, finding my way into the industry took a bit of time. People often assume my first job was as a TV weather presenter because that’s the most visible meteorological role. But in reality, I started out working as a research assistant at an oceanographic institute, processing data behind the scenes.
Nowadays, my work involves gathering massive amounts of data from over the oceans. To gather this data, you might think we rely exclusively on high-tech satellites orbiting the Earth. Those are useful, but actually, weather balloons are still our primary tool for collecting accurate atmospheric information high above the ocean surface. They are incredibly reliable.
In terms of what we are studying right now, there are many pressing issues. Lately, my team hasn’t been focusing on melting ice caps, despite their obvious importance to global warming. Instead, we’ve been mapping out shifts in ocean currents to better understand long-term climate patterns. The way water circulates around the globe dictates so much of our weather.
Recently, we’ve been analysing data from the North Atlantic, and the results have been quite eye-opening. We fully expected to see significant temperature drops in certain localized regions. What surprised us, though, was the dramatic alteration in the salt levels of the water in those areas. It was completely unexpected and changes our understanding of the ecosystem.
These marine changes naturally have a huge impact on wildlife. While the media rightfully focuses a lot on how polar bears are losing their icy habitats, our recent study showed that penguins are actually facing the most immediate threat from these specific oceanic shifts, as their food supply is migrating.
To study these phenomena, field trips are a must. You’d probably expect my fieldwork to take place in freezing environments like Antarctica or the Arctic Circle. Surprisingly, last year I spent three months working in a desert. We were studying how dry, dusty climates can blow particles over the ocean and affect distant marine systems.
Many young people ask me what it takes to succeed in this profession. If you want to enter this field, being good at advanced mathematics is certainly helpful. But I always tell students that having a solid background in computer programming is absolutely essential to run our climate models and process the vast amounts of data we collect.
Looking ahead, I’ve been approached by a publisher who asked me to write a book about my career and research. I’ve had to turn that down for now, though, because I’m currently helping to produce a documentary to share our findings with the general public. It’s a visual medium, so I think it will really help people understand the science. Thank you for listening, are there any questions?