英语听力：自然百科 探索世界奥秘之Wild Europe-Genesis (欧洲自然写真) Unit10

（单词翻译）

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