# Climate change and allergies - 科目：雅思听力真题（Part 3） - 考频：高频 - 最近考试：2026.3.7/2019.1.19/2021.12.11 - 题目数：10 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/7877c325-d52c-4327-8e83-2d7459beea1f（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 00:00:00,800 Now turn to section three on page five. 00:00:09,600 Section three. 00:00:11,680 You will hear two health science students called Elliot and Beth discussing research on climate change and allergies. 00:00:22,160 First, you have some time to look at questions twenty-one to twenty-five on page five. 00:01:04,080 Now listen carefully and answer questions twenty-one to twenty-five. 00:01:12,160 Have you had a chance to look at the information for our project yet, Beth? 00:01:16,580 I've had a look at most of the stuff on the relationship between climate change and allergies and the role played by pollen from flowering plants and trees. 00:01:26,700 Yeah, me too. The main message is that seasonal allergies seem to be getting worse. In just the last twenty years, the amount of pollen that's produced by the flowers on birch trees has tripled, and one in four people suffers from either hay fever or asthma, which is triggered by pollen. 00:01:48,600 I read something about allergy sufferers being more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency because we no longer take cod liver oil as a vitamin supplement, like many people used to do in the nineteen fifties in Britain. And since then, allergies have quadrupled in most European countries. But it was only in Britain that cod liver oil was so popular, so that argument doesn't really make sense. 00:02:15,020 No, it doesn't seem that relevant. 00:02:17,900 What seems to be happening now is that an increasing number of people are getting their first attack in their forties and fifties. 00:02:25,440 Mm, that must be because of the link with climate change causing rising temperatures. But CO2 levels are seriously affecting pollen counts too. 00:02:35,620 As much as milder winters. 00:02:37,580 Definitely. CO2 helps stimulate plant growth, and several recent studies have shown that when plants are exposed to more CO2, they produce more pollen. 00:02:49,400 Really? So people might experience more severe allergic symptoms in future? 00:02:54,860 That's right. 00:02:55,840 Hmm. And another factor is that the pollen season is changing. 00:02:59,780 Yes. Scientists are predicting spring will come five weeks earlier by twenty one thirty. 00:03:06,920 That's in the long term, but that doesn't mean that spring will come earlier every year. Look at last winter, that was really cold until March, and the pollen season was delayed. Whereas this year, spring came earlier and lasted longer. 00:03:23,560 Right. And another thing we should mention is ragweed. 00:03:27,860 As an example of a plant species moving into new areas as a result of climate change. 00:03:34,280 Yes. In the US, it's already the major allergen, affecting millions of people in August and September. But we're starting to see it grow in Europe for the first time, which is really worrying because it's so allergenic. 00:03:49,860 The problem with tree pollen is also worse in cities because there are so many hard surfaces around, and the pollen doesn't get absorbed so much, just stays in the air. 00:04:00,920 Yeah. Wasn't the pollen shown to be three times higher in one city? 00:04:05,600 I think so. So because of this, many cities have started to ban the planting of certain types of trees. 00:04:16,200 Before you hear... 00:04:18,280 Now listen and answer questions twenty-six to thirty. 00:04:25,680 So shall we look at the different data tables for seasonal changes for pollen in Europe? 00:04:31,860 Okay, but I think we should just focus on the trees and plants which we have the most data for. So that's oak trees and birch trees and grass. 00:04:43,180 Yes, that makes it more manageable. Shall we go through the data for each country in detail and pick out anything interesting? 00:04:51,660 All right. So, uh, starting with Austria. 00:04:57,120 Well, here we've only got data for birch pollen. I wonder why there's no data for oak or grass. 00:05:03,380 Hmm. It would be interesting to compare with neighboring countries. 00:05:08,020 True. 00:05:09,240 The picture in France is unusual. 00:05:11,480 Yes. The pollen season starts earlier for both oak and birch, but it doesn't start any earlier for grass. I wonder why that is. In the Netherlands, we've got complete data for all three plants. 00:05:26,620 So what does it show? Hmm. Grass and birch pollen are only starting a few days earlier, but oak pollen is starting much earlier, eighteen days in fact. Hmm, that's unusual. There's not such a big difference in other countries. 00:05:44,500 No. Switzerland's an interesting case. The pollen season starts here earlier than in the past for oak, birch, and grass. 00:05:53,600 Yeah, from twenty-one days to fourteen days earlier. 00:05:58,000 Yeah. The UK shows a different picture again. 00:06:01,320 Yeah. Here, the problem is that wet summers have extended the grass pollen season from five weeks to eight weeks, which is bad news for allergy sufferers. 00:06:12,520 Right. Well, I think we should have another look- 00:06:18,920 That is the end of section three. ## 题目与答案 ### 21. 21 Why is Beth unconvinced that allergies are linked to vitamin D deficiency? 21 Why is Beth unconvinced that allergies are linked to vitamin D deficiency? - because people's diets have improved since the 1950s - because most people get enough vitamin D - because the evidence only applies in Britain **答案**：because the evidence only applies in Britain 原文定位：I read something about allergy sufferers being more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency because we no longer take cod liver oil as a vitamin supplement, like many people used to do in the nineteen fifties in Britain. And since then, allergies have quadrupled in most European countries. But it was only in Britain that cod liver oil was so popular, so that argument doesn't really make sense;No, it doesn't seem that relevant 同义替换：「unconvinced」↔「that argument doesn't really make sense」；「allergies are linked to」↔「allergy sufferers being more likely to」；「the evidence only applies in Britain」↔「it was only in Britain that cod liver oil was so popular」 ### 22. 22 Eilot explains that rising CO2 levels 22 Eilot explains that rising CO2 levels - will mean distribution of pollen over a wider area - are having less impact on pollen than milder winters - are responsible for higher quantities of pollen **答案**：are responsible for higher quantities of pollen 原文定位：As much as milder winters;Definitely. CO2 helps stimulate plant growth, and several recent studies have shown that when plants are exposed to more CO2, they produce more pollen 同义替换：「rising CO2 levels」↔「exposed to more CO2」；「are responsible for higher quantities of pollen」↔「produce more pollen」 ### 23. 23 What does Beth say about seasonal changes? 23 What does Beth say about seasonal changes? - There is no clear short-term trend for the arrival of Spring - In general, Spring is likely to continue arriving early - Springs are becoming milder and longer **答案**：There is no clear short-term trend for the arrival of Spring 原文定位：Yes. Scientists are predicting spring will come five weeks earlier by twenty one thirty;hat's in the long term, but that doesn't mean that spring will come earlier every year. Look at last winter, that was really cold until March, and the pollen season was delayed. Whereas this year, spring came earlier and lasted longer 同义替换：「seasonal changes」↔「the arrival of Spring;the pollen season」；「no clear short-term trend for the arrival of Spring」↔「that doesn't mean that Spring will come earlier every year」；「short-term」↔「every year;last winter;this year」 ### 24. 24 What point is made about the plant ragweed? 24 What point is made about the plant ragweed? - It is spreading to more countries - It is the most widespread cause of allergies globally - It cause the most severe type of allergy **答案**：It cause the most severe type of allergy 原文定位：Yes. In the US, it's already the major allergen, affecting millions of people in August and September. But we're starting to see it grow in Europe for the first time, which is really worrying because it's so allergenic 同义替换：「cause the most severe type of allergy」↔「it's so allergenic;it's already the major allergen」 ### 25. 25 Why is tree pollen a more serious problem in cities? 25 Why is tree pollen a more serious problem in cities? - Trees produce more pollen there - There is less to absorb the tree pollen - There is not enough control over tree-planting **答案**：There is less to absorb the tree pollen 原文定位：The problem with tree pollen is also worse in cities because there are so many hard surfaces around, and the pollen doesn't get absorbed so much, just stays in the air 同义替换：「a more serious problem」↔「worse」；「There is less to absorb the tree pollen」↔「the pollen doesn't get absorbed so much」 ### 26. European countries 26 Austria _____ European countries 26 Austria _____ - greatest change recorded for oak pollen - change identified to two pollen types only - a longer season for grass pollen - earlier start dates for all pollen types - significant change in start date of birch pollen - little difference in start dates **答案**：information only available for birch pollen 原文定位：Well, here we've only got data for birch pollen. I wonder why there's no data for oak or grass 同义替换：「information only available for」↔「only got data for」 ### 27. 27 France _____ 27 France _____ - greatest change recorded for oak pollen - change identified to two pollen types only - a longer season for grass pollen - earlier start dates for all pollen types - significant change in start date of birch pollen - little difference in start dates **答案**：change identified to two pollen types only 原文定位：The picture in France is unusual;Yes. The pollen season starts earlier for both oak and birch, but it doesn't start any earlier for grass 同义替换：「change」↔「the pollen season starts earlier」；「identified to two pollen types only」↔「for both oak and birch, but it doesn't start any earlier for grass」 ### 28. 28 The Netherlands _____ 28 The Netherlands _____ - greatest change recorded for oak pollen - change identified to two pollen types only - a longer season for grass pollen - earlier start dates for all pollen types - significant change in start date of birch pollen - little difference in start dates **答案**：greatest change recorded for oak pollen 原文定位：In the Netherlands, we've got complete data for all three plants;So what does it show? Grass and birch pollen are only starting a few days earlier, but oak pollen is starting much earlier, 18 days in fact, that's unusual. There's not such a big difference in other countries 同义替换：「greatest change」↔「starting much earlier;18 days in fact;not such a big difference in other countries」 ### 29. 29 Switzerland _____ 29 Switzerland _____ - greatest change recorded for oak pollen - change identified to two pollen types only - a longer season for grass pollen - earlier start dates for all pollen types - significant change in start date of birch pollen - little difference in start dates **答案**：earlier start dates for all pollen types 原文定位：No. Switzerland's an interesting case. The pollen season starts here earlier than in the past for oak, birch, and grass;Yeah, from twenty-one days to fourteen days earlier 同义替换：「all pollen types」↔「oak, birch, and grass」 ### 30. 30 UK _____ 30 UK _____ - greatest change recorded for oak pollen - change identified to two pollen types only - a longer season for grass pollen - earlier start dates for all pollen types - significant change in start date of birch pollen - little difference in start dates **答案**：a longer season for grass pollen 原文定位：Yeah. The UK shows a different picture again;Yeah. Here, the problem is that wet summers have extended the grass pollen season from five weeks to eight weeks, which is bad news for allergy sufferers 同义替换：「longer」↔「extended」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。