英语听力精选进阶版 13272

Is it a bird, is it a dinosaur¹?

Report

Archaeopteryx has a hallowed place in science, long hailed as not just the first bird but as one of the clearest examples of evolution in action.

But in recent years, doubts have arisen as older fossils with similar bird-like features such as feathers and wishbones were discovered.

Now Chinese researchers believe they have finally knocked Archaeopteryx off its perch². They've discovered another similar species named Xiaotingia which dates back 155 million years to the Jurassic era.

By carefully analysing and comparing the bony bumps and grooves³ of this new chicken sized fossil with Archaeopteryx, scientists now believe that both are in fact feathery dinosaurs⁴ and not birds at all.

Professor Lawrence Witmer from Ohio University, who has written a commentary on the finding, says that the discovery will have huge implications for our understanding of the origins of birds.

Such are the similarities between these transition species of reptiles⁵ and birds that scientists involved with this latest finding say that it certainly won't be the end of the argument.

Further discoveries may change and even restore Archaeopteryx to its former glory.

Matt McGrath, BBC

1 dinosaur   

n.恐龙

参考例句：

• Are you trying to tell me that David was attacked by a dinosaur?你是想要告诉我大卫被一支恐龙所攻击？
• He stared at the faithful miniature of the dinosaur.他凝视著精确的恐龙缩小模型。

2 perch   

n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于

参考例句：

• The bird took its perch.鸟停歇在栖木上。
• Little birds perch themselves on the branches.小鸟儿栖歇在树枝上。

3 grooves   

n.沟( groove的名词复数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏v.沟( groove的第三人称单数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏

参考例句：

• Wheels leave grooves in a dirt road. 车轮在泥路上留下了凹痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Sliding doors move in grooves. 滑动门在槽沟中移动。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 dinosaurs   

n.恐龙( dinosaur的名词复数 )；守旧落伍的人，过时落后的东西

参考例句：

• The brontosaurus was one of the largest of all dinosaurs. 雷龙是所有恐龙中最大的一种。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years. 恐龙绝种已有几百万年了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 reptiles   

n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Snakes and crocodiles are both reptiles. 蛇和鳄鱼都是爬行动物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Birds, reptiles and insects come from eggs. 鸟类、爬虫及昆虫是卵生的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》