1.meteorite /ˈmiːtɪəraɪt/ n.陨石

英译：a piece of rock landing on the Earth from outer space

例句：It is believed by some scientists that the extinction of dinosaurswas caused by a meteorite hit on the Earth. 一些科学家认为恐龙的灭绝源于一次陨石撞击地球。

2.catastrophe /kəˈtæstrəfi/ n.灾难,灾祸

英译：a disaster; a terrible situation involving a lot of damage

例句：Global warming may finally lead to severe environmentalcatastrophes. 全球变暖有可能最终带来严重的环境灾难。

3.vulnerable /ˈvʌlnərəbl/ adj.脆弱的,易受影响的

英译：weak and easily harmed or affected

例句：Plants from tropic areas are usually more vulnerable to dry weather. 来自热带地区的植物通常更易受到干燥天气的影响。

4.overexploitation /ˈəʊvəˌreksplɔɪ'teɪʃn/ n. 过度开采

英译：an overuse of land or other natural resources

例句：The overexploitation of forests has led to severe water loss andsoil erosion. 对森林的过度开采导致了严重的水土流失。

5.heavy grazing /'hevɪ/ /'greɪzɪŋ/ 过度放牧

英译：the act of allowing sheep or cows to eat too much grass in a certainarea

例句：Heavy grazing on grasslands has contributed to the dust storms insome countries. 对草原的过度放牧造成了一些国家的沙尘暴问题。

6.steady /ˈstedi/ adj. 稳定的

英译：increasing or developing gradually and in an even and regular way

例句：The area of forest in this regions has undergone a steady growth inthe past ten years. 在过去十年中,这一地区的森林面积稳步增长。

7.climate swing /ˈklaɪmɪt/ /swɪŋ/ 气候回返

英译：a cycle of repetitive climate changes that is estimated to last fora rather long period of time

例句：So far we have known little about the causes and effects of climateswings. 目前为止,我们对气候回返的成因和影响还知之甚少。

8.run aground /rʌn/ /ə'graʊnd/ 搁浅

英译：(of a ship or an animal living in the sea such as a whale) to getstuck on the shallow part of a sea, river, etc.

例句：It would be difficult for a ship having run aground to be led back to its original route. 要把已经搁浅的船只引回原来的航线是很困难的。

9.counteract /ˌkaʊntərˈækt/ v.抵消,对抗

英译：to reduce or prevent the negative influence of something

例句：Afforestation can help to counteract the adverse effect ofgreenhouse gas. 植树造林能有助于抵消温室气体造成的不利影响。

10.fluctuate /ˈflʌktʃueɪt/ v.波动,起伏

英译：to change frequently in numbers, amounts, etc. with ups and downs,especially from one extreme to another

例句：Temperature can fluctuate wildly in desert throughout day and night. 沙漠中的昼夜温度会产生剧烈的波动。

11.reflect /rɪˈflekt/ v.反射

英译：to send back light or heat, etc. when it reaches the surface ofsomething

例句：Snow can reflect sunshine and cause great damage to our eyes. 雪会反射日光从而对我们的眼睛造成极大的伤害。

12.seasoned /ˈsiːznd/ adj.风干的

英译：made by drying in the open air

例句：Seasoned wood can be stored for a very long period of time. 风干的木材可以储存很长一段时间。

13.Arctic /ˈɑːktɪk/ n.北极;北极圈

英译：the northernmost region of the Earth

例句：Only a small number of people inhabit the Arctic region. 只有很少的人居住在北极圈内。

14.glacier /ˈɡlæsɪə(r)/ n.冰川

huge blocks of ice moving very slowly downa valley

例句：The movement of glacier in the past millions of years has shaped thelandscape of this area. 过去数百万年的冰川运动塑造了这一地区的地貌。

15.nitrogen /ˈnaɪtrədʒən/ n.氮气

英译：a gas that makes up the largest part of air on Earth

例句：Nitrogen is usually used for preserving food or producingfertiliser. 氮气通常被用于保存食物或者制造肥料。

16.low-lying /'ləu'laiiŋ/ adj.地势低洼的

英译：lying below the normal level

例句：Low-lying lands are more easily affected by floods. 低洼地更容易受到洪水的影响。

17.substantially /səbˈstænʃəli/ adv.相当多地,大大地

英译：very much or greatly

例句："The housing prices in the city centre have increasedsubstantially since last year. " 从去年以来,市中心的住房价格大幅上涨。

18.unprecedented /ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd/ adj.空前的,史无前例的

英译：not having happened ever before

例句："The use of mobile phones has led to an unprecedented change toour daily communication. " 手机的使用给我们的日常交际带来了史无前例的改变。