News by Levels · Level 3 · For teachers
Teacher guide & answers
Climate Overshoot Could Leave Long-Term Ice Damage, Report Finds
How to use these two pages
Give learners the student worksheet. It contains the story and questions, without the answers. Keep this guide for yourself. Use it to lead the activity and explain the answers afterwards.
Student worksheetA simple 15–20-minute lesson
- Before reading · 2 minutes
Show the title. Ask: “What do you think this story is about?”
- Read and answer · 8–10 minutes
Give out the student worksheet. Learners read for the main idea, then reread to answer the 3 questions. They can compare answers with a partner.
- Discuss and write · 5–8 minutes
Check the answers below together. Ask learners to point to the clue in the story, then finish with the open question.
Adjust the support: Let learners use word help or Level 1 if needed. For a challenge, compare the wording in another level. This activity is not a proficiency test.
Answers to the 3 questions
The question numbers match the student worksheet. Each answer includes a reason and the clue learners can find in the story.
What affects the damage from an overshoot, according to the report?
Correct answer: A — How high temperatures rise and how long they stay elevated
Why: The second paragraph identifies both the height and duration of warming.
Clue in the story: The report was produced by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative in coordination with the UN Environment Programme. It examines an “overshoot” scenario: warming passes a threshold before falling again. The effects depend on how high temperatures rise and how long they remain elevated.
Which effects of ice loss does the report describe?
Correct answer: C — Rising seas and pressure on mountain communities’ water supplies
Why: The third paragraph names rising seas and pressure on water supplies.
Clue in the story: According to the authors, some losses from glaciers and ice sheets could be effectively irreversible over human timescales. The consequences include rising seas and pressure on water supplies for communities that depend on mountain ice.
How does the article describe possible ice recovery?
Correct answer: B — Some ice may recover partly over decades or centuries, but not every loss will reverse.
Why: The final paragraph allows partial recovery for some ice while stating that not every loss would be reversed.
Clue in the story: The report also says deep emissions cuts could limit further damage. Lower temperatures could allow some sea ice and glaciers to recover partly over decades or centuries, but not every loss would be reversed.
The open question: accept different answers
Ask learners: Explain why the height and duration of an overshoot matter and describe one possible consequence.
One possible answer: The effects depend on how far and how long temperatures rise above the threshold. Some ice losses could be effectively irreversible on human timescales and contribute to rising seas.
This is an example, not the only correct answer. Look for a relevant idea, a reason and the learner’s own words. Learners can answer aloud or write one or two sentences.