Wild Europe - Genesis 肇始之初- 14

Despite this enormous flood, the Mediterranean¹ took more than a century to refill. But what is more amazing is that this process of drying and flooding has happened not just once, but possibly ten times. With this flooding 5. 5 million years ago, Europe's southern borders had now taken shape--the final act in the genesis of the continent. A chain of incredible events has shaped Europe during its long and dynamic history.

It's a history that's written across the face of this unique continent; a story that began billions of years ago south of the equator and which charts an incredible journey across the face of the globe. The diversity of Europe's landscapes today reflects the changing conditions encountered along the way. Each has left a unique fingerprint² on the small but incredibly complex continent. For aeons, the birth of Europe had been driven by geological events, but now a new and different force was destined³ to shape the land.

Two million years ago, Europe's climate spiraled out of control. Temperatures plummeted. Consumed by glaciers⁵, the continent would now be plunged⁶ into one of the most extreme eras in its history. The great Ice Ages were on their way.

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words and expressions

aeon:An indefinitely long period of time; an age.
极长的时期；永世
ａｌｓｏ：ｅｏｎ

spiral: To take a spiral form or course.
用螺旋形形式或路径

plummet: To decline suddenly and steeply:
骤降，爆跌：突然和大幅度地降低：

1 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

2 fingerprint   

n.指纹；vt.取...的指纹

参考例句：

• The fingerprint expert was asked to testify at the trial.指纹专家应邀出庭作证。
• The court heard evidence from a fingerprint expert.法院听取了指纹专家的证词。

3 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

4 plummeted   

v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Share prices plummeted to an all-time low. 股票价格暴跌到历史最低点。
• A plane plummeted to earth. 一架飞机一头栽向地面。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 glaciers   

冰河，冰川( glacier的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Glaciers gouged out valleys from the hills. 冰川把丘陵地带冲出一条条山谷。
• It has ice and snow glaciers, rainforests and beautiful mountains. 既有冰川，又有雨林和秀丽的山峰。 来自英语晨读30分（高一）

6 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。