Global warming, however, presents an unusually stern test, since it means taking on not only Detroit but also the utilities, big producers of carbon dioxide.

He seated himself behind his desk, the letter from Pat Harvey centered on the blotter, his face unusually stern.

On Wednesday, President Bush issued an unusually stern reprimand to Israel, saying its recent operations were "not helpful" in creating conditions for peace.

His mouth certainly looked a good deal compressed, and the lower part of his face unusually stern and square, as the laughing girl gave him this information.

"It should look like a real dragon, Your Highness," said Alfred, an unusually stern note in his voice.

She knew about the pistol, for example, and had given him an unusually stern lecture about the difference between boyish fun and downright idiocy.

The physicist's smile faded, to be replaced by an unusually stern expression.

Judge Fescoe appeared unusually stern.

The new troops did not speak the language of western Congo and were seen as unusually stern and trigger-happy.

Elizabeth Woodville's voice was unusually stern - her defences were down and attack was the better part of defence.