World News for Students of English

09-06-2025 15:00

The Arctic is warming faster than other parts of the world. This change is not only bad for ice and animals like caribou but also plants.

Scientists are looking at how plants are growing differently. In many places, small plants called shrubs are getting taller and spreading more. This process is called shrubification. It causes problems because caribou cannot find enough lichen to eat. Moreover, they have trouble moving and escaping danger when shrubs are tall. Even if the number of plant types is the same, the types in each place are changing a lot. Moreover, people who live in the north are also affected. They need caribou for food and culture.

In general, climate change in the Arctic is happening now. It is not something far away.

Difficult words: caribou (a large animal which lives in cold places), shrub (a small bushy plant), lichen (a small plant that grows on rocks and trees).

You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.