纪录片《侏罗纪之谜》 第21期 超大陆的崩解

As the super-continent split up

随着超大陆的崩解

the hot, dry world of the early dinosaurs² changed into a lush, forested one.

早期恐龙生活的炎热干旱的世界逐渐被茂密葱郁的森林覆盖

The world of the early primitive³ dinosaurs had been transformed.

原始恐龙们的世界改变了

Then, as the climate changed, a chain reaction could have started.

接着，随着气候的变化，开始发生一连串连锁反应

Lush forests meant more food for plant-eaters.

茂密的森林为植食动物提供了更多的食物

If you have a environment from the plants are thriving,

如果周围环境是茂密的植物

likewise the dinosaurs are having to adapt at exactly the same sort of rate to keep up with these changes with the plants.

那么恐龙也必须发生适应性的改变，以跟上植物变化的速度。

And it wouldn't just have effected the plant-eaters.

而且它不仅只影响了植食恐龙

As these animals are getting larger and larger that are feeding upon these plants

为了吃到植物，这些动物越长越大

there is a good chance that the predators⁴, if they're going to keep up with the plant-eaters,

如此一来，掠食者也必须跟上植食动物进化的脚步

they have to get big as well.

它们也必须变大

In a sense we would have then had an evolutionary⁵ arms race progressing through the middle Jurassic.

从某种意义上讲，整个中侏罗世都在进行一场进化“军备竞争”

There seemed to be a direct link between climate change and the transformation⁶ of the dinosaurs.

由此看来，气候变化似乎直接关系到恐龙的进化

It really did look like a new climate could have led to an explosion in dinosaur¹ size and diversity.

新的气候或许真的引发了恐龙体型与种类的大爆炸。

1 dinosaur   

n.恐龙

参考例句：

• Are you trying to tell me that David was attacked by a dinosaur?你是想要告诉我大卫被一支恐龙所攻击？
• He stared at the faithful miniature of the dinosaur.他凝视著精确的恐龙缩小模型。

2 dinosaurs   

n.恐龙( dinosaur的名词复数 )；守旧落伍的人，过时落后的东西

参考例句：

• The brontosaurus was one of the largest of all dinosaurs. 雷龙是所有恐龙中最大的一种。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years. 恐龙绝种已有几百万年了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 primitive   

adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物

参考例句：

• It is a primitive instinct to flee a place of danger.逃离危险的地方是一种原始本能。
• His book describes the march of the civilization of a primitive society.他的著作描述了一个原始社会的开化过程。

4 predators   

n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）

参考例句：

• birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
• The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 evolutionary   

adj.进化的；演化的，演变的；[生]进化论的

参考例句：

• Life has its own evolutionary process.生命有其自身的进化过程。
• These are fascinating questions to be resolved by the evolutionary studies of plants.这些十分吸引人的问题将在研究植物进化过程中得以解决。

6 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。