6/17 Desertification

Talk about desertification

Desertification is when land degrades to the point where it becomes so dry that it can't sustain life. 

* desertification: 사막화
* degrade: 저하되다, 악화되다
* to the point: ~의 단계까지, 상황까지
ex> The child is crying to the point that my ears are numb.

Desertification is driven by many causes.
* be driven by: ~에 의해 일어나다, 하게 되다
ex> She is driven by her love for her family.

* drought: 가뭄
* overgrazing: 과도한 방목
* deforestation: 산림 벌채

The current environmental crisis has compounded the problem.
* compound: 악화시키다, 혼합하다
ex> She's compounded the problem by spreading rumors.

Land roughly the size of Korea is rendered barren annually.
* roughly: 대략, 어림잡아
* render: ~되게 하다, ~을 만들다
* barren: 척박한, 황폐한

Korea is a leader in efforts to combat global desertification.
* efforts to: ~하기 위한 노력
ex> Our country is leading the efforts to erase gender discrimination.

It is sharing its rehabilitation technology to successfully restore soil to fertile levels.
* rehabilitation [rì:həbìlətéiʃən]: 복구, 복원, 재활 = rehab [^|ri:hӕb]
* restore: 회복시키다, 복원하다
ex> We need to restore the patient back to health.
* fertile [^|f3:rtl]: 비옥한, 기름진


@ What a shame.  정말 안타깝다.

1. There have been great efforts to raise the prestige of the university.
2. His outbursts are driving me to the point of insanity!
3. I'm driven by romance and excitement!
4. How are we going to restore power to the building?