纪录片《南太平洋》 第144期 奇异岛屿（20）

It's difficult to believe that an advanced culture capable of carving¹ and erecting² these monoliths grew up in such a barren landscape.

难以相信一个成长在如此贫瘠景致里的先进文明能够雕刻和竖立这些巨石

The truth is, it didn't.

事实是 它不是

When those first colonisers discovered Easter Island, this was a paradise.

首批开拓者发现复活节岛时 这里是天堂

These empty cliffs were once home to the largest seabird colonies in the South Pacific.

这些空寂的峭壁曾是南太平洋中最大的海鸟群栖息地

Rich volcanic³ soils nourished a forest of giant palms that was home to many unique species,

肥沃的火山灰土滋养着巨大的棕榈林 也是许多珍稀物种的发源地

including Easter Island versions of herons, parrots, rails and owls⁴.

包括复活节岛鹭 鹦鹉 秧鸡 鸮

Today, they are all gone.

如今它们都消失了

The people, ultimately, didn't do much better.

人类最终没有做得更好

The rise and tragic⁵ demise⁶ of the Easter Islanders, the Rapa Nui, is now legendary⁷.

复活节岛的人类经历了兴盛和悲惨的灭亡 拉帕奴伊是现代传奇

This quarry⁸ once occupied the majority of the island's workforce⁹, thousands of people,

这个采石场曾经有半数以上数千的岛民在工作

with each clan¹⁰ trying to carve and raise a bigger, grander figure than those of their neighbours.

由于每个宗族都想把塑像雕得比邻族更大更高

1 carving   

n.雕刻品，雕花

参考例句：

• All the furniture in the room had much carving.房间里所有的家具上都有许多雕刻。
• He acquired the craft of wood carving in his native town.他在老家学会了木雕手艺。

2 erecting   

v.使直立，竖起( erect的现在分词 )；建立

参考例句：

• Nations can restrict their foreign trade by erecting barriers to exports as well as imports. 象设置进口壁垒那样，各国可以通过设置出口壁垒来限制对外贸易。 来自辞典例句
• Could you tell me the specific lift-slab procedure for erecting buildings? 能否告之用升板法安装楼房的具体程序？ 来自互联网

3 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

4 owls   

n.猫头鹰( owl的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• 'Clumsy fellows,'said I; 'they must still be drunk as owls.' “这些笨蛋，”我说，“他们大概还醉得像死猪一样。” 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• The great majority of barn owls are reared in captivity. 大多数仓鸮都是笼养的。 来自辞典例句

5 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

6 demise   

n.死亡；v.让渡，遗赠，转让

参考例句：

• He praised the union's aims but predicted its early demise.他赞扬协会的目标，但预期这一协会很快会消亡。
• The war brought about the industry's sudden demise.战争道致这个行业就这么突然垮了。

7 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

8 quarry   

n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找

参考例句：

• Michelangelo obtained his marble from a quarry.米开朗基罗从采石场获得他的大理石。
• This mountain was the site for a quarry.这座山曾经有一个采石场。

9 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

10 clan   

n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派

参考例句：

• She ranks as my junior in the clan.她的辈分比我小。
• The Chinese Christians,therefore,practically excommunicate themselves from their own clan.所以，中国的基督徒简直是被逐出了自己的家族了。