phenomenon (pi. phenomena)
n. a fact or event in nature (or society) as it appears or is experienced by the senses 現(xiàn)象

dip
n. 1. 下降
2. 浸；蘸

argue
v. give reasons for or against sth., esp. with the aim of persuading sb. to share one's own opinion 論證；認(rèn)定

nevertheless
ad. in spite of that; however 然而，不過

accumulation
n. 積累，積聚

*drought
n. a long period of dry weather, when there is not enough water 長(zhǎng)期干旱，旱災(zāi)

fertile
a. 1. (of land) which produces or can produce good crops 肥沃的，富饒的
2. producing many young, fruits, or seeds 多產(chǎn)的，豐產(chǎn)的

likewise
ad. 1. also; in addition 也，又
2. in the same way; similarly 同樣地

glacier
n. 冰河，冰川

substantially
ad. 1. to a considerable degree; greatly 到相當(dāng)程度；大量地
2. mainly; in the important part 基本上

substantial
a. 1. large in amount or value; considerable 大量的
2. concerning the most important part or meaning 基本的；大體上的

low-lying
a. 低洼的

community
n. 1.（由同住一地區(qū)或一國的人所構(gòu)成的）社會(huì)；社區(qū)
2. 團(tuán)體；界

irreversible
a. that cannot be changed to the original state 不可逆轉(zhuǎn)的

maintain
vt. 1. express firmly or stick to one's point 堅(jiān)稱；斷言
2. keep up; retain 維持；保持

*diminish
v. (cause to) become less （使）縮減；（使）變小；減少

nuclear
a. 核子的；原子能的

threat
n. 威脅

mild
a. 1. not serious or harsh 輕微的，不嚴(yán)重的
2. (of people or their behaviour) gentle and kind 溫和的；溫柔的

comparison
n. 比較，對(duì)照

temporary
a. lasting for a limited time only 暫時(shí)的，臨時(shí)的

*minimize, -ise
vt. 1. reduce the true value or importance of (sth.) 把…作最低估計(jì)
2. reduce (sth.) to the smallest amount or degree 使減到最少，使縮至最小

harsh
a. severe; stern 嚴(yán)酷的；嚴(yán)厲的

runaway
a. out of control 失控的

account
vi. (for) explain the cause of 說明…的原因，解釋
n. a written or spoken report; description 報(bào)道；敘述

shroud
vt. 遮蔽；籠罩

cloud-shrouded
a. 被云籠罩的

tackle
vt. try to deal with 著手處理，對(duì)付

revise
vt. change (sth.) in order to correct or improve it 修改，修正

dyke, dike
n. 堤，壩

reservoir
n. 水庫，蓄水池

thermometer
n. 溫度計(jì)，寒暑表

definite
a. clear, sure and fixed 確切的，確定的

era
n. 1. 時(shí)代；年代
2. 紀(jì)元

Phrases and Expressions

warn of /about
give warning or advice concerning (sth. such as a danger) 就…提出警告

result from
be the result of; happen because of 緣于，發(fā)自

dry up
(cause to) become completely dry （使）干涸

warn against
advise (sb.) to avoid 警告（…）不要，提醒（…）提防

on the rise
在增長(zhǎng)；在上漲

in the form of
以…的形式

heat up
become warm or hot 變暖，變熱

pass through 穿越；經(jīng)過

hold in
把…控制住

shut in
keep or hold by closing 圍住；籠罩

due to
caused by 由于

ups and downs
起伏

worst of all
最糟糕的是

by comparison
when compared 比較起來

even so
though that is true 盡管如此

explain away
account for; give an excuse for 解釋；為…辯解

keep an eye open for
watch for; be careful to notice 嚴(yán)密注視；留心看著

Proper Names

Kevin McKean
凱文·麥基恩（人名）

Venus
金星