by Stephen Chen
SCMP, page A1 and A9, December 8, 2009
1. Extreme weather is the hallmark of transitional periods
- distinctive attribute, indication -
2. a deal to protect the world from calamitous global warming
- catastrophic, disastrous -
3. The conference, the climax of...
- decive moment, highest point -
... two years of contentious negotiations,
- controversial -
... convened in upbeat mode
- to come together, meet formally -
4. Chinese scholars have kept meticulous meteorological records
- detailed, scrupulous -
5. the subsequent ravages wrought by horsemen from the North
- following damages caused -
6. the dynastic potency was first drawn by meteorologist Zhu Kezhen
- strengh, power -
7. Zhu plotted on a graph temperatures ...
- drew -
7. cut through lush rainforest
- dense, teeming with life; verdant -
8. Now temperatures are on the rise again, matched by scorching economic growth
- soaring -
9. focus less on prevention and more on mitigation
- how to it make less severe or harsh -
10. ... which could end up below sea level and needing protection by dykes
- a barrier constructed to keep out the sea -