常春藤解析英語 56 Bizarre Dino　遠古巨獸

Bizarre Dino　遠古巨獸

by Kevin Lustig

Around the world, scientists are constantly in search of dinosaurs. Real ones disappeared about 65 million years ago, but dinosaurs left behind a lot for humans to study, like eggs, bones, and entire bodies. This month on the National Geographic Channel, you can find out about two of the most important dinosaur discoveries in history in Bizarre Dino.

The dinosaur remains that paleontologists, scientists who study ancient life, find are usually nothing more than a single skeleton or a few parts of one. In the Junggar Basin of western China, though, researchers have uncovered a lot more than that. A team of dinosaur hunters has found dozens of remains from almost forty different species of dinosaur in a small area, many of which have never been seen before. Scientists are calling it the "Pit of Death." Watch as scientists uncover remains, analyze them in high-tech labs, and learn how this remarkable area came into existence in Dino Death Trap.

Then, you can take a look at Leonardo, a dinosaur that died in Montana 77 million years ago. Unlike other dinosaur remains, Leonardo's body was preserved by natural events after he died and was found with skin, muscle, and organs mostly intact. Even the contents of his last meal were still in his stomach. Previously, scientists had to guess what dinosaurs looked like both inside and out from clues in their bones. Leonardo offers scientists an unprecedented opportunity to see how dinosaurs really appeared and functioned. Now, you get to observe as scientists carefully examine Leonardo and get their first glimpses at many parts of an actual dinosaur body in Dino Autopsy.

For scientists and dinosaur fans, there has never been a more exciting time. Advanced technology and some lucky discoveries are allowing researchers to learn fascinating new things about dinosaurs. Tune in to see the field of dinosaur research take a huge leap forward on the National Geographic Channel's Bizarre Dino.

1. Why is this an exciting time for dinosaur researchers?

(A) All of the dinosaur species have now been found and studied.

(B) Scientists are getting ready to look for more dinosaurs than ever.

(C) Recent dinosaur finds have been very unique and informative.

(D) Scientists have guessed what dinosaurs looked like.

2. Why is the Junggar Basin being called the "Pit of Death"?

(A) Many dinosaur researchers have died there.

(B) Scientists know it is where dinosaurs went to die.

(C) It was the location of Leonardo's death.

(D) A large number of dinosaur remains were discovered there.

3. Leonardo is different from other dinosaurs because _____.

(A) scientists could guess what he ate

(B) he was found as a complete skeleton

(C) much of his body is still in good condition

(D) he was located in the "Pit of Death"

4. How do scientists usually figure out what dinosaurs looked like?

(A) They use evidence in dinosaur skeletons.

(B) They refer to textbooks about dinosaurs.

(C) They are forced to use their imaginations.

(D) They analyze well-preserved dinosaur bodies.

單字小鋪

1.bizarre a. 奇異的;古怪的

2.dino n. 恐龍

= dinosaur n.

3.constantly adv. 不斷地

4.paleontologist n. 古生物學(xué)者

5.skeleton n. 骨骼;骸骨

6.basin n. 盆地;洼地

7.species n. 物種(單復(fù)數(shù)同形)

8.pit n. 坑，穴洞

9.analyze vt. 分析

10.high-tech a. 高科技的

11.remarkable a. 奇特的;顯著的

12.intact a. 完好無缺的

13.clue n. 線索

14.unprecedented a. 前所未有的

15.function vi. 運作

16.autopsy n. 尸體解剖，驗尸

17.informative a. 富知識性的

詞組小鋪

1.leave behind.../leave...behind　　留下……

2.take a look at...　　看一眼……

3.tune in　　鎖定(頻道)

4.get ready to V　　準備好做……

5.figure out...　　理解∕厘清……

難句分析

...from almost forty different species of dinosaur in a small area, many of which have never been seen before.

= ...from almost forty different species of dinosaur in a small area, and many of them have never been seen before.

(……在一小塊地區(qū)內(nèi)……分屬近四十種不同種類的恐龍殘骸，其中有些前所未見。)

精解字詞詞組

1. be in search of...　　尋找……

= search for...

例: Jim is staying with me while he is in search of a new apartment.

(吉姆找新公寓時，暫住在我這里。)

2. remains n. 殘骸;遺跡(恒用復(fù)數(shù))

例: Frank noticed the remains of a dead animal on the side of the road.

(法蘭克注意到路邊有一具動物的殘骸。)

3. be nothing more than + N　　只不過是……

= be nothing but + N

例: Donald believes politicians are nothing but con artists.

(唐納德認為政客只不過是騙子罷了。)

4. uncover vt. 揭露，發(fā)現(xiàn)

例: The police uncovered evidence of a plot to steal a famous painting.

(警方發(fā)現(xiàn)密謀盜取名畫的證據(jù)。)

5. come into existence　　開始存在，問世

= come into being

例: This company came into existence in 1942.

(這家公司創(chuàng)立于 1942 年。)

6. preserve vt. 保存(物品)

conserve vt. 保存，保護(資源等)

例: We will preserve this work of art in a special room in the museum.

(我們會將這件藝術(shù)品保存在博物館的特別房間中。)

例: To conserve energy, always turn off lights before you leave the house.

(出門前要關(guān)燈才能節(jié)約能源。)

7. previously adv. 先前地

例: I go to Oak High School, but previously I went to Elm High School.

(我現(xiàn)在上的是橡樹中學(xué)，但之前上的是榆樹中學(xué)。 )

8. offer sb sth　　提供某人某物

= offer sth to sb

例: The rich man offered one million dollars to Hank for his painting.

(那有錢人出一百萬買漢克的畫。)

9. glimpse n. 一瞥

get/catch a glimpse at/of...　　瞥見……

例: Evan fell in love with Rita after just getting a glimpse of her.

(伊凡只看過瑞塔一眼就愛上她了。)

10. take a leap forward　　有很大的進步

例: Cell phone technology has taken a big leap forward lately.

(手機科技近來進步神速。)

11. be different from...　　與……不同

= differ from...

例: Living in this city is very different from what I expected.

(住在這個城市跟我預(yù)期的差很多。)

12. be in good/poor condition　　處于良好∕不好的狀態(tài)

例: My dad's car is in poor condition and needs to be fixed constantly.

(我爸爸的車子狀況很差，需要不停送修。)

13. refer to...　　參考∕查閱……

= consult vt.

refer to/consult a/the dictionary　　查字典

例: Refer to the handouts I gave you for instructions on today's homework.

(今天作業(yè)的寫法可參考我給你們的講義。)

比較:

look up...　　(在字典等)翻查∕查出……

look up a/the dictionary (╳)

→ look up a/the word in the dictionary (○)

在字典里查單字

例: Please look up the number in the telephone book.

(請在電話簿里查這個號碼。)

中文翻譯&標準答案

全球的科學(xué)家不斷地尋找恐龍。真的恐龍在六千五百萬年前便已消失，但卻為人類留下如恐龍蛋、骨頭或整副軀體等許多研究題材。這個月國家地理頻道的《遠古巨獸》將帶您一睹歷史上最重要的兩大恐龍發(fā)現(xiàn)。

研究古生物的學(xué)者發(fā)現(xiàn)的恐龍遺骸通常只是骨架或一些局部而已。然而，在中國西部的準噶爾盆地，研究者的發(fā)現(xiàn)卻不只如此。一支恐龍搜查小組在一小塊區(qū)域內(nèi)，發(fā)現(xiàn)了數(shù)十具分屬近四十種不同種類的恐龍殘骸，其中有些前所未見?？茖W(xué)家將這里稱之為『死亡之坑』。在《恐龍大解密》節(jié)目中，看看科學(xué)家如何發(fā)掘這些殘骸，如何在高科技實驗室中分析，還有這奇特的區(qū)域究竟是如何產(chǎn)生的。

然后，你可以看看一只七千七百萬年前在蒙大拿死亡的恐龍 Leonardo。不像其它恐龍殘骸，Leonardo 的尸體保存在自然狀態(tài)下，因此其皮膚、肌肉與器官幾乎都完好無缺。甚至牠生前的最后一餐都還留在胃里。從前，科學(xué)家必須透過恐龍骨骸所提供的線索，來猜測牠們身體里外的樣貌。Leonardo 為科學(xué)家提供了一個前所未有的機會，來認識恐龍真實的外貌以及牠們?nèi)绾位顒印，F(xiàn)在，你有機會隨著科學(xué)家在《恐龍木乃伊》中，仔細檢視 Leonardo，首次目睹一只真正恐龍的諸多身體部位。

對科學(xué)家與恐龍迷來說，沒有任何時候像現(xiàn)在這么令人興奮。先進的科技與一些幸運的發(fā)現(xiàn)，讓研究人員能夠得知令人驚奇的恐龍新發(fā)現(xiàn)。鎖定國家地理頻道的《遠古巨獸》，看看恐龍研究領(lǐng)域的大躍進。

1. 為什么這是個令恐龍研究人員興奮的時刻?

(A) 所有恐龍都已被發(fā)現(xiàn)而加以研究。

(B) 科學(xué)家準備好尋找更多恐龍。

(C) 最近的恐龍發(fā)現(xiàn)很特別且具知識性。

(D) 科學(xué)家猜到恐龍的長相為何。

題解: 本文介紹恐龍研究史上兩大重要發(fā)現(xiàn)：在『死亡之坑』這個地方，研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)了數(shù)十具分屬近四十種不同種類的恐龍殘骸，其中有些前所未見。而在蒙大拿發(fā)現(xiàn)的 Leonardo，則提供完整無缺的恐龍殘骸供科學(xué)家研究，這些都是不同以往的新發(fā)現(xiàn)，可知應(yīng)選 (C)。

2. 為什么準噶爾盆地被稱作『死亡之坑』?

(A) 許多恐龍研究人員都死在那里。

(B) 科學(xué)家知道那是恐龍前往的葬身之處。

(C) 那是 Leonardo 死亡的地方。

(D) 很多恐龍殘骸在那里被發(fā)現(xiàn)。

題解: 根據(jù)第二段，科學(xué)家在準噶爾盆地發(fā)現(xiàn)數(shù)十具分屬近四十種不同恐龍的殘骸，其中有些前所未見，因此稱之為『死亡之坑』，故 (D) 為正選。

3. Leonardo 與其它恐龍不同的原因在于 _____。

(A) 科學(xué)家能猜到牠吃了什么

(B) 牠被發(fā)現(xiàn)時是一具完整骨骸

(C) 牠身體的大部分都還保持良好狀態(tài)

(D) 牠在『死亡之坑』中被發(fā)現(xiàn)

題解: 根據(jù)第三段，Leonardo 的不同處在于牠的尸體保存在自然狀態(tài)下，其皮膚、肌肉與器官幾乎都完好無缺，故選 (C)。

4. 科學(xué)家們通常如何得知恐龍的樣子?

(A) 他們利用恐龍骨骸提供的證據(jù)。

(B) 他們參考關(guān)于恐龍的教科書。

(C) 他們被迫使用想象力。

(D) 他們分析保存良好的恐龍軀體。

題解: 根據(jù)第三段，在科學(xué)家發(fā)現(xiàn) Leonardo 之前，他們必須透過恐龍骨骸所提供的線索，來猜測牠們身體里外的樣貌，可知 (A) 為正選。

標準答案: 1. (C)　2. (D)　3. (C)　4. (A)