Scientists try to document as many past El Nino events as possible by piecing together bits of historical evidence, such as sea-surface temperature records, daily observations of atmospheric pressure and rainfall, fisheries’ records from South America, and the writings of Spanish colonists dating back to thefifteenth century. ( TPO43, 48)

　　piece v.拼凑，组装

　　大家自己先读，不回读，看一遍是否能理解

　　Scientists try to document as many past El Nino events as possible (by piecing together bits of historical evidence),(such as sea-surface temperature records, daily observations of atmospheric pressure and rainfall, fisheries’ records from South America, and the writings of Spanish colonists) (dating back to the fifteenth century). (TPO43,48)

　　托福阅读长难句分析：

　　这个句子的主干是：

　　Scientists try to document as many past El Nino events as possible

　　修饰一：(by piecing together bits of historical evidence) ，介词短语

　　中文：通过拼凑很多小的历史证据

　　修饰二：(such as sea-surface temperature records, daily observations of atmospheric pressure and rainfall, fisheries’ records from South America, and the writings of Spanish colonists) ，介词短语

　　中文：例如海面温度记录、气压和降水的日常观察，南美洲渔业记录以及西班牙殖民者的作品。

　　修饰三：(dating back to the fifteenth century)，非谓语动词

　　中文：追溯到15世纪

　　托福阅读长难句参考翻译：

　　科学家们通过拼凑很多小的历史证据，来试图尽可能多地记录过去的厄尔尼诺现象，例如海面温度记录、气压和降水的日常观察，南美洲渔业记录，以及追溯到15世纪的西班牙殖民者的作品。

　　这个句子的主要修饰成分就是非谓语动词和介词，大家务必想清楚，每一个修饰成分修饰的是什么，才能看清楚这个句子的结构。