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Located just north of Australia in Papua, Indonesia, lies a rare natural phenomenon: tropical glaciers. For centuries, the mountain peaks of the Sudirman Range have been covered in snow, holding immense significance for the local indigenous communities. To these people, the mountains represent the spiritual heart of their universe, comparable in importance to the Vatican. However, this unique landscape is currently facing an imminent threat and may soon disappear entirely. A century ago, the region was renowned for its ‘eternal snow’ across four major peaks, spanning nearly two thousand hectares. Today, the reality is starkly different. Scientific reports indicate that the ice has dwindled to a mere sixteen hectares. Experts predict that if the current rate of melting persists, the glaciers will vanish completely within the next year or two. This rapid decline is not just a local concern but a significant loss for the global scientific community. These glaciers serve as a crucial archive of the Earth’s climate history. Researchers have extracted ice cores—long cylinders of ice—to study past atmospheric conditions and oceanic changes. Because these glaciers are isolated from other ice systems, they provide unique data that cannot be found elsewhere. Unfortunately, as the ice melts, this historical record is being destroyed before scientists can fully unlock its secrets. The primary driver of this retreat is the warming atmosphere, caused largely by human activities such as the consumption of fossil fuels. As global temperatures climb, the freezing point—the altitude at which snow remains frozen—shifts higher up the mountains. Consequently, precipitation that once fell as snow now arrives as rain, which further accelerates the melting process. This environmental shift is often exacerbated by natural cycles like El Niño. The disappearance of Papua’s glaciers is a powerful indicator of the speed of global climate change. It represents a dual tragedy: the loss of irreplaceable scientific data and the destruction of a sacred site for indigenous people. As we observe the end of the ‘eternal snow,’ it serves as a sobering reminder of the vulnerability of our planet’s diverse ecosystems.

1. What is the primary focus of the article?

• A.The cultural history of the Vatican in Southeast Asia.
• B.The rapid disappearance of tropical glaciers in Indonesia.
• C.undefined
• D.The impact of El Niño on Australian weather patterns.

2. According to the text, what has happened to the ice in the Sudirman Range over the last hundred years?

• A.It has expanded to cover four additional mountain peaks.
• B.It has remained stable despite rising global temperatures.
• C.It has decreased significantly from 2,000 hectares to only 16.
• D.It has moved to a lower altitude because of heavy rainfall.

3. Why is the loss of these specific glaciers particularly tragic for scientists?

• A.They contain unique climate records that are not found in other ice systems.
• B.They are the only source of drinking water for the indigenous people.
• C.They allow researchers to predict exactly when El Niño will occur.
• D.They are the oldest glaciers ever discovered on the planet.

4. What does the author suggest about the relationship between local people and the mountains?

• A.The locals are primarily interested in the scientific data the ice provides.
• B.The mountains hold a deep religious and spiritual importance for them.
• C.The indigenous communities are moving away because of the rain.
• D.The local people are trying to stop scientists from drilling ice cores.

5. What does the word ‘persists’ mean as used in the second paragraph?

• A.Stops or pauses suddenly.
• B.Continues to exist or occur.
• C.Changes into something else.
• D.Improves or gets better.