Satellite data from 1980 to 2020 show that while global average temperatures have increased, some regions have cooled. Parts of the North Atlantic, for example, have become colder as melting ice sheets have released cold freshwater that disrupts ocean circulation patterns. Climate scientists emphasize that global trends can mask significant regional variations.
Based on the passage, it can be inferred that
global climate change can manifest differently across different geographic regions
all regions of Earth have experienced identical temperature changes
the North Atlantic has not experienced any temperature change
satellite data is incapable of measuring temperature
Correct Answer: A
Choice A is the best answer. Global warming coexists with regional cooling.
- Context clues: "Global average temperatures have increased" but "some regions have cooled."
- Meaning: The same global phenomenon produces different local effects.
- Verify: "Global trends can mask significant regional variations" explicitly states this.
💡 Strategy: When averages differ from individual cases, infer variation within the whole.
Choice B is incorrect because "some regions have cooled" while global average warmed. Choice C is incorrect because the North Atlantic has "become colder." Choice D is incorrect because the analysis uses satellite data for temperature measurements.