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The Threat to Kiribati The people of Kiribati are afraid that one day in the not-too-distant future, their country will disappear from the face of the earth - literally. Several times this year, the Pacific island nation has been flooded by a sudden high tide. These tides, which swept across the island and destroyed houses, came when there was neither wind nor rain. This never happened before, say the older citizens of Kiribati. If the trend continues, scientists say, many countries will suffer. Bangladesh, for example, might lose one-fifth of its land. The coral island nations of the Pacific, like Kiribati and the Marshall Islands, however, would face an even worse fate - they would be swallowed by the sea. The loss of these coral islands would be everyones loss. Coral formations are home to more species than any other place on earth. 16 The people of Kiribati worry that one day their country will be taken away by a sudden high tide. 17 High tides used to attack Kiribati when there was strong wind or heavy rain. 18 The heat released by burning oil and coal is the direct cause of global warming. 19 Scientists are not sure how serious the effects of global warming will be. 20 The coral island nations of the Pacific have a long history of civilization. 21 The people of the coral island nations are unable to do anything substantial about the problem of global warming. | 
