赖世雄英语新闻听力通 第17期:自认是鸟的恐龙

 (BBC News) American scientists have discovered a fossil of a duck-sized，flightless dinosaur，which was apparently¹ covered in feathers.

（英国国家广播公司报道）美国科学家发现了一个鸭子大小的化石，那是一只无法飞行的恐龙，身上很明显布满了羽毛。

The team believes that this prowes that feathers were developed for insulation，not flight.

研究小组相信，这证明动物长出羽毛的进化目的是保温，而不是飞行。

The scientists believe it means that modern-day birds are actually living dinosaurs².

科学家相信，这表示当今的鸟类其实是活恐龙。

The fossil is believed to be of a dromaeosaur.

据信这件化石是一只奔龙。

It could mean experts have to rewrite natural history books.

这可能意味着专家必须改写自然历史书了。

1 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

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》