VOA常速英语:Climate Change Blamed for Dying African Trees

短语讲解：

1. A lot of trees are dying in Africa’s Sahel region and new study says climate change caused by humans is to blame.

be to blame对某事应负责任的; 应受责备的
例句：She was in no way to blame.
绝不应该责备她。

2. We conducted our research in the African Sahel, an arid region on the edge of the Sahara where people depend on trees for survival.

depend on依赖, 依靠
例句：My success depends on my friend helping me.
我的成功是依靠我的朋友帮助我。

3. The study blames the climate change in the Sahel on motor vehicle and power plant emissions and other human activity over the years.

blame on把责任推给…
例句：They blamed the failure on John.
他们把失败的责任推给约翰。

4. Gonzalez described conditions near the Sahara as long-term land degradation.

describe as描述为
例句：I should describe the attempt as a failure.
我认为这次尝试失败了。

5. Indigenous people are adapting to climate change, for example, by caring for and pruning small trees until they're mature.

adapt to变得习惯于…, 使适应于, 能应付…
例句：I adapted quickly to the new climate.
我很快地适应了这种新的气候。
care for照料, 服侍
例句：That ancient temple looked well cared for.
那座古庙看来保存得很好。

6. Gonzalez was joined in the research by Compton Tucker, senior earth scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and Hamady Sy, Mauritania’s country representative at the Famine Early Warning Systems Network.

join in参加, 加入、
例句：Do you know how many of them joined in the research project?
你知道他们中间有多少人参加了这项研究项目吗?