常春藤解析英语【56】Bizarre Dino　远古巨兽（在线收听）

Bizarre Dino　远古巨兽

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.

单字小铺

1.bizarre a. 奇异的；古怪的
2.dino n. 恐龙
= dinosaur n.
3.constantly adv. 不断地
4.paleontologist n. 古生物学者
5.skeleton n. 骨骼；骸骨
6.basin n. 盆地；洼地
7.species n. 物种（单复数同形）
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；显著的
12.intact a. 完好无缺的
13.clue n. 线索
14.unprecedented a. 前所未有的
15.function vi. 运作
16.autopsy n. 尸体解剖，验尸
17.informative a. 富知识性的

词组小铺

1.leave behind.../leave...behind　　留下……
2.take a look at...　　看一眼……
3.tune in　　锁定（频道）
4.get ready to V　　准备好做……
5.figure out...　　理解∕厘清……

难句分析

...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.

（……在一小块地区内……分属近四十种不同种类的恐龙残骸，其中有些前所未见。）

精解字词词组

1. be in search of...　　寻找……
= search for...
例: Jim is staying with me while he is in search of a new apartment.
（吉姆找新公寓时，暂住在我这里。）

2. remains n. 残骸；遗迹（恒用复数）
例: Frank noticed the remains of a dead animal on the side of the road.
（法兰克注意到路边有一具动物的残骸。）

3. be nothing more than + N　　只不过是……
= be nothing but + N
例: Donald believes politicians are nothing but con artists.
（唐纳德认为政客只不过是骗子罢了。）

4. uncover vt. 揭露，发现
例: The police uncovered evidence of a plot to steal a famous painting.
（警方发现密谋盗取名画的证据。）

5. come into existence　　开始存在，问世
= come into being
例: This company came into existence in 1942.
（这家公司创立于 1942 年。）

6. preserve vt. 保存（物品）
conserve vt. 保存，保护（资源等）
例: We will preserve this work of art in a special room in the museum.
（我们会将这件艺术品保存在博物馆的特别房间中。）
例: To conserve energy, always turn off lights before you leave the house.
（出门前要关灯才能节约能源。）

7. previously adv. 先前地
例: I go to Oak High School, but previously I went to Elm High School.
（我现在上的是橡树中学，但之前上的是榆树中学。 ）

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.
（那有钱人出一百万买汉克的画。）

9. glimpse n. 一瞥
get/catch a glimpse at/of...　　瞥见……
例: Evan fell in love with Rita after just getting a glimpse of her.
（伊凡只看过瑞塔一眼就爱上她了。）

10. take a leap forward　　有很大的进步
例: Cell phone technology has taken a big leap forward lately.
（手机科技近来进步神速。）

11. be different from...　　与……不同
= differ from...
例: Living in this city is very different from what I expected.
（住在这个城市跟我预期的差很多。）

12. be in good/poor condition　　处于良好∕不好的状态
例: My dad's car is in poor condition and needs to be fixed constantly.
（我爸爸的车子状况很差，需要不停送修。）

13. refer to...　　参考∕查阅……
= 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.
（今天作业的写法可参考我给你们的讲义。）
比较:
look up...　　（在字典等）翻查∕查出……
look up a/the dictionary (╳)
→ look up a/the word in the dictionary (○)
在字典里查单字
例: Please look up the number in the telephone book.
（请在电话簿里查这个号码。）

中文翻译＆标准答案

全球的科学家不断地寻找恐龙。真的恐龙在六千五百万年前便已消失，但却为人类留下如恐龙蛋、骨头或整副躯体等许多研究题材。这个月国家地理频道的《远古巨兽》将带您一睹历史上最重要的两大恐龙发现。

研究古生物的学者发现的恐龙遗骸通常只是骨架或一些局部而已。然而，在中国西部的准噶尔盆地，研究者的发现却不只如此。一支恐龙搜查小组在一小块区域内，发现了数十具分属近四十种不同种类的恐龙残骸，其中有些前所未见。科学家将这里称之为『死亡之坑』。在《恐龙大解密》节目中，看看科学家如何发掘这些残骸，如何在高科技实验室中分析，还有这奇特的区域究竟是如何产生的。

然后，你可以看看一只七千七百万年前在蒙大拿死亡的恐龙 Leonardo。不像其它恐龙残骸，Leonardo 的尸体保存在自然状态下，因此其皮肤、肌肉与器官几乎都完好无缺。甚至牠生前的最后一餐都还留在胃里。从前，科学家必须透过恐龙骨骸所提供的线索，来猜测牠们身体里外的样貌。Leonardo 为科学家提供了一个前所未有的机会，来认识恐龙真实的外貌以及牠们如何活动。现在，你有机会随着科学家在《恐龙木乃伊》中，仔细检视 Leonardo，首次目睹一只真正恐龙的诸多身体部位。

对科学家与恐龙迷来说，没有任何时候像现在这么令人兴奋。先进的科技与一些幸运的发现，让研究人员能够得知令人惊奇的恐龙新发现。锁定国家地理频道的《远古巨兽》，看看恐龙研究领域的大跃进。

1. 为什么这是个令恐龙研究人员兴奋的时刻？
(A) 所有恐龙都已被发现而加以研究。
(B) 科学家准备好寻找更多恐龙。
(C) 最近的恐龙发现很特别且具知识性。
(D) 科学家猜到恐龙的长相为何。
题解: 本文介绍恐龙研究史上两大重要发现：在『死亡之坑』这个地方，研究人员发现了数十具分属近四十种不同种类的恐龙残骸，其中有些前所未见。而在蒙大拿发现的 Leonardo，则提供完整无缺的恐龙残骸供科学家研究，这些都是不同以往的新发现，可知应选 (C)。

2. 为什么准噶尔盆地被称作『死亡之坑』？
(A) 许多恐龙研究人员都死在那里。
(B) 科学家知道那是恐龙前往的葬身之处。
(C) 那是 Leonardo 死亡的地方。
(D) 很多恐龙残骸在那里被发现。
题解: 根据第二段，科学家在准噶尔盆地发现数十具分属近四十种不同恐龙的残骸，其中有些前所未见，因此称之为『死亡之坑』，故 (D) 为正选。

3. Leonardo 与其它恐龙不同的原因在于 _____。
(A) 科学家能猜到牠吃了什么
(B) 牠被发现时是一具完整骨骸
(C) 牠身体的大部分都还保持良好状态
(D) 牠在『死亡之坑』中被发现
题解: 根据第三段，Leonardo 的不同处在于牠的尸体保存在自然状态下，其皮肤、肌肉与器官几乎都完好无缺，故选 (C)。

4. 科学家们通常如何得知恐龙的样子？
(A) 他们利用恐龙骨骸提供的证据。
(B) 他们参考关于恐龙的教科书。
(C) 他们被迫使用想象力。
(D) 他们分析保存良好的恐龙躯体。
题解: 根据第三段，在科学家发现 Leonardo 之前，他们必须透过恐龙骨骸所提供的线索，来猜测牠们身体里外的样貌，可知 (A) 为正选。

标准答案: 1. (C)　2. (D)　3. (C)　4. (A)