常春藤生活英语【123】Waking the Baby Mammoth 娃娃长毛象

Waking the Baby Mammoth 娃娃长毛象

Over 40,000 years ago, a healthy baby mammoth was born into a family group that took care of her. One month later, she died. This sad story does not end there, though. This tiny mammoth's body was found in May of 2007. She is the most perfectly preserved woolly mammoth ever discovered. Scientists hope she holds the answers to some of the biggest mysteries about mammoths and the world they lived in.

This month on National Geographic Channel, watch Waking the Baby Mammoth. You will journey with researchers as they go back to where Lyuba, the baby mammoth, was found. She was discovered by a reindeer herder on a river bank in northwestern Siberia. Two mammoth experts study the place where she was dug up and explain more about the area.

Then, you will see how detailed images of Lyuba's whole body are made with cutting-edge technology. Those images show that she was in perfect health when she died. Also, the dirt and other things that are found in her trunk and throat give researchers clues to how she died.

四万多年前，一头健康的长毛象宝宝诞生在一个悉心照顾牠的家族团体中。一个月后，牠却死了。然而这悲伤的故事并未就此结束。这头长毛象的小小躯体在2007 年五月为人发现。牠是至今发现的长毛象中保存最为完善的一只。科学家盼望牠能替长毛象的一些重大谜团以及牠们的生活环境提供解答。

请观赏本月份国家地理频道的《娃娃长毛象》。您将会跟着研究人员回到发现鲁芭这头长毛象宝宝的所在地。一名驯鹿牧人在西伯利亚西北方的河岸找到了牠。两名长毛象专家研究牠的出土之地，并且对该地区进行更进一步的解读。

接着，您将能一睹鲁芭全身上下的详尽图像是如何用最先进科技绘制而成的。这些图像显示出牠身亡的时候健康良好。此外，在牠的象鼻与喉咙所发现的尘土以及其它东西也提供研究人员其死因的线索。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. preserve　vt. 保存；保护 （本文中以过去分词作形容词用）
This jar can preserve the food's flavor.
这个罐子能够保存食物的风味。
2. mystery　n. 神秘的事物，谜
The city of Atlantis remains a mystery.
亚特兰提斯城仍旧是一个谜团。
3. journey　vi. 旅行
Ian journeyed around the island by bicycle.
伊恩骑脚踏车环岛旅游。
4. detailed　a. 详细的，详尽的
The book was a detailed report of the crime.
这整本书是有关于那个犯罪活动的详尽报导。
5. cutting-edge　a. 最先进的
The car is fitted with cutting-edge devices.
这台车配有最先进的装置。

Phrases for Learning

1. be born into...　　出生在∕出身为……
Rich was born into a fishing family.
李奇是渔家出身的。
2. dig...up/dig up...　　（从地里）挖出∕掘起……
It took us hours to dig up all of the peanuts.
我们花了好几个钟头才把所有花生都挖出来。
3. be in + 形容词 + health　　身体状况为……
Bill was in poor health because he smoked.
由于比尔抽烟，所以他的健康状况很不好。

Extra Words

1. mammoth　n. 猛犸（俗称长毛象）
2. woolly　a. 毛茸茸的
3. reindeer　n. 驯鹿（本文中作形容词用）
4. herder　n. 牧人
5. river bank　n. 河岸
6. trunk　n. 象鼻

Tips In Use

..she holds the answers to some...
（……牠能替……一些……提供解答。）
...clues to how she died.
（……其死因的线索。）
the answer/clue to...　　是……的答案∕线索
注意:
此处的 to 为介词，表『针对』之意；凡表示『针对』某一问题或事件的答案、线索、关键、秘诀、解决方法、或障碍等时，通常与介词 to 并用；此类名词常见的除了 answer 和 clue 之外尚有下列：
a/the key to... ……的关键
a/the solution to... ……的解决方法
an/the obstacle to... ……的障碍∕阻碍
The key to having a happy marriage is trust and respect.
（拥有幸福婚姻的关键在于信任与尊重。）

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