B2 lesson based on a Voronoi / Statista climate infographic. Students practise reading data, climate vocabulary, passive reporting and discussion.
B2ClimateData Reading
Before you read
Heatwaves are periods of unusually hot weather. Around the world, national and regional temperature records have been broken in recent years, raising questions about climate change, health risks and how cities should adapt.
Warm-up
1. What temperatures are considered extremely hot in your country?
2. How can heatwaves affect work, school and daily life?
3. Which groups of people are most vulnerable during extreme heat?
Click the graphic to open the original Voronoi page.
Reading Comprehension
Read the adapted B2 text. Reveal answers in the white boxes; the exact evidence is highlighted in the text.
NASA says there is strong evidence that Earth is warming at an unprecedented rate. One sign of this change is the number of recent heat records around the world.
Data from Copernicus, the European Earth Observation programme, shows that July 22, 2024 was the world’s hottest daily global average temperature since its records began in 1940. The global average reached 17.16°C, or 62.76°F.
National records are also being broken. Between 2022 and 2025, 41 countries broke or tied their all-time national heat records, and some did so more than once. Japan recorded its hottest day in August, when Isesaki reached 41.8°C.
Other recent records came from many regions. Australia matched its national record in 2022, reaching 50.7°C in Onslow, while Uruguay matched 44.0°C in Florida. In the United Kingdom, temperatures passed the 40°C barrier for the first time in July 2022.
Europe also experienced historic heat. In 2021, Italy recorded 48.8°C in Syracuse, which was reported as the highest temperature ever measured in Europe. France, Belgium and Germany also saw major records during recent heatwaves.
Even Antarctica has recorded unusually high temperatures. In 2020, the Esperanza base reached more than 18°C during the austral summer. However, the official world record remains older: the World Meteorological Organization attributes the world record to Furnace Creek in Death Valley, California, where 56.7°C was reached in 1913.
Questions
1. What broad climate trend does NASA point to?
Earth is warming at an unprecedented rate.
2. What was special about July 22, 2024?
It was the world’s hottest daily global average temperature since Copernicus records began in 1940.
3. How many countries broke or tied their all-time national heat records between 2022 and 2025?
41 countries broke or tied their all-time national heat records.
4. Which European temperature record is mentioned?
Italy recorded 48.8°C in Syracuse, reported as the highest temperature ever measured in Europe.
5. Where and when was the official world temperature record reached?
It was reached at Furnace Creek in Death Valley, California, in 1913.
Vocabulary
Exercise 1: Choose the best meaning
Click an answer. It turns green or red immediately.
1. What does unprecedented mean?
happening every year
never seen before
easy to predict
2. What does all-time record mean?
a weekly result
a temporary estimate
the highest or lowest level ever recorded
3. What does global average mean?
a figure calculated from many places around the world
the hottest place on one day
a local weather forecast
4. What does attribute mean in “the WMO attributes the record to Furnace Creek”?
hide
officially connect or assign
reduce
Exercise 2: Complete the climate collocations
1. ______ a temperature record
break
lift
count
2. ______ heatwave conditions
simple
daily
extreme
3. ______ global temperatures
tie
measure
publish
4. ______ a national record
arrive
average
tie
Grammar: Passive reporting for data and records
Examples Italy’s 48.8°C record was reported to be the highest temperature ever measured in Europe. The world record is officially attributed to Furnace Creek. Many records were broken or tied between 2022 and 2025.
We often use passive structures in data writing when the action or official source is more important than the person doing the action.
Exercise 1: Choose the correct passive form
Click an answer. It turns green or red immediately.
1. The global average temperature ______ by Copernicus.
measured
was measured
was measuring
2. The world record ______ to Furnace Creek by the WMO.
is attributed
attributes
is attributing
3. Several national records ______ in recent years.
have broken
are breaking
have been broken
Exercise 2: Rewrite in the passive
1. Copernicus recorded the hottest daily global average temperature.
The hottest daily global average temperature was recorded by Copernicus.
2. Many countries broke national heat records.
National heat records were broken by many countries.
3. The WMO attributes the official world record to Furnace Creek.
The official world record is attributed to Furnace Creek by the WMO.
Exercise 3: Data-writing practice
Write three sentences about the infographic using passive reporting language. Use these verbs: recorded, reported, attributed, broken, tied.
Discussion
Talk about it
1. Are people in your country worried about heatwaves?
2. How should cities protect people during extreme heat?
3. Should schools and workplaces change schedules during heatwaves?
4. Which detail from the infographic surprised you most?
Useful language
Referring to data: According to the infographic...
Expressing concern: What worries me most is...
Making a recommendation: Governments should invest in...
Comparing records: This record is higher/lower than...
Mini task
Create a three-point public safety message for a city during a heatwave.
