VOA慢速英语:Deforestation Decreased Over the Past 10 Years

例句：It is widely acknowledged that extensive deforestation contributed to heavy summer flooding. 
       人们普遍认为过度砍伐造成了夏季特大洪水。

2.decrease vt.vi.(使)缩短; 减小, 减少

例句：The traffic accidents in the city decreased last year.
      该城市去年交通事故减少了。

还有名词的意思：

n.减小, 降低

例句：There has been some decrease in imports.
      进口货物有所减少。

减少(量)

例句：The decrease in sales was almost 20 percent.
      销售量差不多减少了20％。

3.gain vt.vi.获得, 赢得

例句：The man gained a lot in the business, but he lost the respect of his friends.
      那个人做这买卖赚了很多钱, 但他却失去了朋友们对他的尊敬。

      He gained the rank of Colonel.
      他获得上校军衔。

和decrease表达相反的意思，也有名词的意思：

n.获益; 增财

例句：The gain is greater than the loss.
      收益大于损失。

利润; 增加

例句：They see gains of 5 to 10 percent this spring.
      今春他们的利润增长百分之五到百分之十。

4.expand vt.vi.使…变大, 扩大, 扩张, 增强（尺码、数量或重要性）

例句：The ranks of the teachers are constantly expanding.
      教师队伍日益扩大了。

5.strengthen vt.vi.加强, 巩固

例句：The wind strengthened during the night.
      夜里风刮得更大了。