TOEFL Listening

🎧 Listening Transcript

Narrator: Listen to part of a lecture in an environmental science class. Professor: Today we’re going to talk about urban heat islands, a phenomenon where cities are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas. This happens because materials like concrete and asphalt absorb and retain heat from the sun, and they release it slowly at night. Additionally, waste heat from vehicles and air conditioners adds to the effect. One major consequence is increased energy consumption, as people use more air conditioning to cool their homes. But there are solutions. For example, planting trees and creating green roofs can provide shade and release moisture, which cools the air. Another approach is using reflective materials on buildings and roads to bounce sunlight back into the atmosphere. Some cities have even painted rooftops white, which has been shown to reduce local temperatures by several degrees. While these measures require initial investment, they can lead to long-term savings and a healthier environment. So, the key is to design urban areas with climate in mind.