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Wild Europe - Genesis 肇始之初- 10
It's the fossilized resin1 of ancient pine trees. And trapped within it, are perfectly2 preserved souvenirs, each fragment helping3 to build a picture of an ancient world. This resin has also trapped something that marks a great turning point in evolution--hair. Its presence indicates the rise of a new dynasty in Europe--the mammals. These subtropical forests were home to a huge variety of these creatures. From kangaroo-like carnivores and tapirs to anteaters and even miniature horses. 15 million years ago, the mammals were evolving at an astonishing rate. From just one site of Messo in Germany, dozens of different species of fossil mammal have been unearthed4. Today, their more recognizable descendants occupy virtually every niche5 right across Europe.
As Europe's new fauna6 took centre stage, the continent itself was undergoing another decisive step towards completion. Signs of this can be found here on the western fringe of the continent, along the remote cliffs of islands on Northwest Scotland. These spectacular coasts are built of compacted volcanic7 ash and lava8. There are visible remains9 of ancient eruptions10 that cover thousands of square kilometers
words and expressions
resin: (n.) Any of numerous clear to translucent11 yellow or brown, solid or semisolid, viscous12 substances of plant origin, such as copal, rosin, and amber13, used principally in lacquers, varnishes14, inks, adhesives15, synthetic16 plastics, and pharmaceuticals17. 树脂
tapir: (n.) Any of several large, chiefly nocturnal, odd-toed ungulates of the genus Tapirus of tropical America, the Malay Peninsula, and Sumatra, related to the horse and the rhinoceros18, and having a heavy body, short legs, and a long, fleshy, flexible upper lip. 【动】貘任
anteater: (n.) Any of several tropical American mammals of the family Myrmecophagidae, which lack teeth and feed on ants and termites19, especially Myrmecophaga tridactyla, having an elongated20, narrow snout, a long, sticky tongue, and an extended, shaggy-haired tail. 食蚁兽
niche: (n.) The particular area within a habitat occupied by an organism. 【生态学】生物居所的特定区间
fauna: (n.) Animals, especially the animals of a particular region or period, considered as a group. 动物群
1 resin | |
n.树脂,松香,树脂制品;vt.涂树脂 | |
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2 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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3 helping | |
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的 | |
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4 unearthed | |
出土的(考古) | |
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5 niche | |
n.壁龛;合适的职务(环境、位置等) | |
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6 fauna | |
n.(一个地区或时代的)所有动物,动物区系 | |
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7 volcanic | |
adj.火山的;象火山的;由火山引起的 | |
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8 lava | |
n.熔岩,火山岩 | |
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9 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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10 eruptions | |
n.喷发,爆发( eruption的名词复数 ) | |
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11 translucent | |
adj.半透明的;透明的 | |
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12 viscous | |
adj.粘滞的,粘性的 | |
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13 amber | |
n.琥珀;琥珀色;adj.琥珀制的 | |
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14 varnishes | |
清漆的面(尤指木器或金属制品上的)( varnish的名词复数 ); 光泽面; 罩光漆 | |
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15 adhesives | |
黏合剂( adhesive的名词复数 ) | |
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16 synthetic | |
adj.合成的,人工的;综合的;n.人工制品 | |
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17 pharmaceuticals | |
n.医药品;药物( pharmaceutical的名词复数 ) | |
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18 rhinoceros | |
n.犀牛 | |
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19 termites | |
n.白蚁( termite的名词复数 ) | |
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20 elongated | |
v.延长,加长( elongate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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