托福阅读tp2esertFrmatin沙漠的形成原题解析.docVIP

阅读原文： The deserts, which already occupy approximately a fourth of the Earth’s land surface, have in recent decades been increasing at an alarming pace. The expansion of desertlike conditions into areas where they did not previously exist is called desertification. It has been estimated that an additional one-fourth of the Earth’s land surface is threatened by this process. 沙漠己经占据了地球陆地面积约四分之一，而且最近几十年正以惊人的速度扩张。沙漠 化是指类似沙漠的环境漫延到原本并非沙漠的区域。裾估计，地球表而另外四分之一的地方 正面临沙漠化威胁。 Desertification is accomplished primarily through the loss of stabilizing natural vegetation and the subsequent accelerated erosion of the soil by wind and water. In some cases the loose soil is blown completely away, leaving a stony surface. In other cases, the finer particles may be removed, while the sand-sized particles are accumulated to form mobile hills or ridges of sand. 沙漠化主要通过以下过程实现：首先自然植被不断减少，随后风力和雨水加速了土壤的 腐蚀。有的时候松散的土壤全部被风刮走，留下石质化的表层；其它情况下细小的沙粒可能 会被吹走，而正常沙粒大小的砂子不断堆积，从而形成移动的沙丘或者沙脊。 Even in the areas that retain a soil cover, the reduction of vegetation typical ly results in the loss of the soil’s ability to absorb substantial quantities of water. The impact of raindrops on the loose soil tends to transfer fine clay particles into the tiniest soil spaces, sealing them and producing a surface that allows very little water penetration. Water absorption is greatly reduced; consequently runoff is increased, resulting in accelerated erosion rates. The gradual drying of the soil caused by its diminished ability to absorb water results in the further loss of vegetation, so that a cycle of progressive surface deterioration is established. 即便是在保留了土壤表层的IX域，植被减少也已成为土壤大量吸取地下水的能力下降的 典型因素。雨水对松散土壤的冲击会把细小的粘土颗粒冲到土壤空隙屮，封闭了土壤并降低 土地表层水的渗透率。地表对水的吸收急剧减少，大量水资源流失，因此土壤的腐蚀率也随 即增加。地表吸收水分的能力进一步弱化使得土壤越发干燥，导致植被的进一步流失，于是 便形成了土壤沙漠化的恶性循环。 In some regions, the increase in desert areas is occurring largely as the result of a trend toward drier climatic conditions. Continued gradual global warmi ng has produced an increase in aridity f