纪录片《文明》 第31期 创世纪的第二个瞬间（31）

On the other side of the world in Central America,

而在世界另一边的中美洲

another culture would face a set of ecological¹ conditions

另一个文明面对的生态环境

that seemed far more hospitable².

看起来就宜人多了

The Mayans lived amidst tropical forests.

玛雅人生活在热带丛林中

It looks almost absurdly fertile.

这里的土地看似异常肥沃

And these great ruins are proof that when the delicate balance

这些伟大的遗迹证明当生机勃勃的栖息地

between prospering³ habitat and vaulting⁴ ambition is maintained,

和人类巨大的野心之间保持微妙的平衡时

civilisations can bind⁵ rulers and the ruled,

文明能将统治者和被统治者联结到一起

and a culture can burst into riotously⁶ prolific⁷ bloom.

文化也会迸发出最蓬勃的活力

If you take away all this magnificent vegetation

如果把这些自然生长出的

that's sprung up naturally from the space,

高大植物从这里除去

you realise this is an extraordinary plaza⁸,

你就会发现这是一个超大的广场

it's the centre of a city.

是城市的中心

Wherever you look, there are these huge stone staircases,

四目望去都是巨大的石阶

some temples, some tombs,

还有庙宇 坟墓

all the more amazing because there are no draft animals,

如此神奇 因为没有役畜

there are no wheels,

也没有轮状工具

so human labour only is responsible for these great things.

这些宏大的建筑全都由人力建造

1 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.

2 hospitable   

adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的

参考例句：

• The man is very hospitable.He keeps open house for his friends and fellow-workers.那人十分好客，无论是他的朋友还是同事，他都盛情接待。
• The locals are hospitable and welcoming.当地人热情好客。

3 prospering   

成功，兴旺( prosper的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Our country is thriving and prospering day by day. 祖国日益繁荣昌盛。
• His business is prospering. 他生意兴隆。

4 vaulting   

n.（天花板或屋顶的）拱形结构

参考例句：

• The vaulting horse is a difficult piece of apparatus to master. 鞍马是很难掌握的器械。
• Sallie won the pole vaulting. 莎莉撑杆跳获胜。

5 bind   

vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬

参考例句：

• I will let the waiter bind up the parcel for you.我让服务生帮你把包裹包起来。
• He wants a shirt that does not bind him.他要一件不使他觉得过紧的衬衫。

6 riotously   

adv.骚动地，暴乱地

参考例句：

• Humboldt riotously picketed Von Trenk but the play was a hit. 尽管洪堡肆意破坏《冯·特伦克》的上演，然而这个剧还是轰动一时。 来自辞典例句
• Flung roses, roses, riotously with the throng. 随着人群欢舞，狂热地抛撒玫瑰，玫瑰。 来自互联网

7 prolific   

adj.丰富的，大量的；多产的，富有创造力的

参考例句：

• She is a prolific writer of novels and short stories.她是一位多产的作家，写了很多小说和短篇故事。
• The last few pages of the document are prolific of mistakes.这个文件的最后几页错误很多。

8 plaza   

n.广场，市场

参考例句：

• They designated the new shopping centre York Plaza.他们给这个新购物中心定名为约克购物中心。
• The plaza is teeming with undercover policemen.这个广场上布满了便衣警察。