TOEFLリスニング

🎧 リスニング原文

Narrator: Listen to part of a lecture in an environmental science class. Professor: Today we're going to talk about urban heat islands. Now, cities are often warmer than the surrounding rural areas, sometimes by as much as 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. This is due to a combination of factors. First, concrete and asphalt absorb and retain heat during the day and release it slowly at night. Second, buildings block wind, reducing natural cooling. Third, human activities—like driving cars and running air conditioners—generate waste heat. But there are solutions. One is to increase green spaces, like parks and green roofs. Plants cool the air through evapotranspiration, and they also provide shade. Another solution is to use lighter-colored materials for roofs and pavements, which reflect more sunlight instead of absorbing it. Some cities have also planted trees along streets to create shade corridors. These strategies not only lower temperatures but also reduce energy consumption for cooling, which in turn cuts greenhouse gas emissions. However, implementing them requires careful urban planning and public support. So, while the problem is serious, it's not without hope.