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 Desert formation  沙漠的形成(2) 

  In some regions, the increase in desert areas is occurring largely as the result of a trend toward drier climatic conditions. Continued gradual global warming has produced an increase in aridity for some areas over the past few thousand years. The process may be accelerated in subsequent decades if global warming resulting from air pollution seriously increases.

  There is little doubt, however, that desertification in most areas results primarily from human activities rather than natural processes. The semiarid lands bordering the deserts exists in a delicate ecological balance and are limited in their potential to adjust to increased environmental pressures. Expanding populations are subjection the land to increasing pressures to provide them with food and fuel. In wet periods, the land may be able to respond to these stresses. During the dry periods that are common phenomena along the desert margins, though, the pressure on the land is often far in excess of its diminished capacity, and desertification results.

(* Highlight 的單字是有解說的單字，非問題。)

單字解說：

1) trend  (N.) 趨向；傾向； 時尚

2) toward  朝；對著 ；對於；關於；靠近；將近 ；為了

3) gradual  (Adj.) 逐漸的；平緩的

4) aridity  (N.) 乾(燥)度

5) accelerate   (V.)   加速 ； （使）加快，（使）增速；促進；提前，（促使）早日發生

6) subsequent (Adj.)   接著的

7) decade  (N.) 十年；年代

8) semiarid   (Adj.)   半乾旱的

9) border  (N. / V.)  環繞；沿…的邊緣； 國境；邊界

10) delicate (Adj.)  脆弱的；嬌嫩的 ； 需要小心處理的 ；精密的； 柔和的；輕柔的；清淡的

11) ecological (Adj.)   生態的；生態學的；環保的

12) potential (N. / Adj.)  潛在的； 潛力

13) fuel (N.)  刺激因素； 燃料；燃燒劑

14) phenomena  (N.)  （尤指不尋常的或有趣的）現象 ； 非凡的人（或事物）

15) margin  (N.)  邊緣； 差額

16) diminish   (V.)   減少，減小，降低

17) capacity (N.) 容量；生產能力；（尤指某人或某組織的）辦事能力 ； 職位；工作；角色