VOA慢速英语:Scientists Predict Wet Winter for Dry American West

yard – n. an outdoor area that is next to a house and is usually covered by grass

indigenous – adj. native; produced, living, or existing naturally in a particular region or environment (often + to)

conventional – adj. of a kind that has been around for a long time and is considered to be usual or typical

nursery – n. a place where plants are grown and sold

down payment – idiomatic phrase. The first of many payments on a home or pricey object

relief – n. the removal or reducing of something that is painful or unpleasant

Equator – n. an imaginary circle around the middle of the Earth that is the same distance from the North Pole and the South Pole

pattern – n. the regular and repeated way in which something happens or is done

torrential – adj. coming in a large, fast stream

footprint – n. the amount of space that is covered by something

favor – v. to make (something) possible or easy; to help (something) to succeed

break – n. a brief period of time during which an activity stops