万物简史 第611期:冰河时代(8)

Croll was the first to suggest that cyclical changes in the shape of Earth's orbit, from elliptical (which is to say slightly oval) to nearly circular to elliptical again, might explain the onset¹ and retreat of ice ages. No one had ever thought before to consider an astronomical² explanation for variations in Earth's weather. Thanks almost entirely³ to Croll's persuasive⁴ theory, people in Britain began to become more responsive to the notion that at some former time parts of the Earth had been in the grip of ice. When his ingenuity⁵ and aptitude⁶ were recognized, Croll was given a job at the Geological Survey of Scotland and widely honored: he was made a fellow of the Royal Society in London and of the New York Academy of Science and given an honorary degree from the University of St. Andrews, among much else.

是克罗尔第一次提出，地球轨道从椭圆形（那就是说，有点呈卵形）到接近圆形，然后再回复到椭圆形的周期性变化，可能是导致冰川时代产生和消退的原因。在他之前，从未有人从天文学的角度对地球的天气变化作过解释。多亏克罗尔富有说服力的理沦，英国人开始接受关于地球上的有些地区在以前某个时期处于冰川控制的观点。克罗尔的杰出才能得到人们的普遍认可，他在苏格兰地质勘察局谋得了一个职位，还获得了许多荣誉：伦敦皇家学会及纽约科学学会吸纳他为会员，圣安德鲁断大学授予他荣誉学位，等等。

Unfortunately, just as Agassiz's theory was at last beginning to find converts in Europe, he was busy taking it into ever more exotic territory in America. He began to find evidence for glaciers⁷ practically everywhere he looked, including near the equator. Eventually he became convinced that ice had once covered the whole Earth, extinguishing all life, which God had then re-created. None of the evidence Agassiz cited supported such a view. Nonetheless, in his adopted country his stature⁸ grew and grew until he was regarded as only slightly below a deity⁹. When he died in 1873 Harvard felt it necessary to appoint three professors to take his place.

遗憾的是，就在阿加西斯的理论终于在欧洲开始为人们所接受的时候，他却马不停蹄地在美洲一些人类从未涉足过的地方作野外考察。在他所到之处，包括赤道附近，他不断发现冰川的痕迹。最后，他确信冰川曾经覆盖过整个地球，毁灭了当时上帝已经创造的所有的生命。阿加西斯所引用的证据没有一个能够支持这种观点。尽管如此，在他所移居的美国，他的地位越来越高，直到成为仅次于神的一位圣者，以至于1873年，当他去世时，哈佛大学认为有必要增补三位教授才能顶替他所留下的空缺。

Yet, as sometimes happens, his theories fell swiftly out of fashion. Less than a decade after his death his successor in the chair of geology at Harvard wrote that the "so-called glacial epoch¹⁰ ... so popular a few years ago among glacial geologists¹¹ may now be rejected without hesitation¹²."

然而，阿加西斯的理论很快不再流行了。这种情况有时候是会发生的。在他去世后不到10年，接替他的哈佛大学地质系系主任这样写道：“所谓的冰河时代……几年前在研究冰川的地质学家中还很吃香，现在会教人们毫不犹豫地抛弃了。”

1 onset   

n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始

参考例句：

• The drug must be taken from the onset of the infection.这种药必须在感染的最初期就开始服用。
• Our troops withstood the onset of the enemy.我们的部队抵挡住了敌人的进攻。

2 astronomical   

adj.天文学的，（数字）极大的

参考例句：

• He was an expert on ancient Chinese astronomical literature.他是研究中国古代天文学文献的专家。
• Houses in the village are selling for astronomical prices.乡村的房价正在飙升。

3 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

4 persuasive   

adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的

参考例句：

• His arguments in favour of a new school are very persuasive.他赞成办一座新学校的理由很有说服力。
• The evidence was not really persuasive enough.证据并不是太有说服力。

5 ingenuity   

n.别出心裁；善于发明创造

参考例句：

• The boy showed ingenuity in making toys.那个小男孩做玩具很有创造力。
• I admire your ingenuity and perseverance.我钦佩你的别出心裁和毅力。

6 aptitude   

n.(学习方面的)才能，资质，天资

参考例句：

• That student has an aptitude for mathematics.那个学生有数学方面的天赋。
• As a child,he showed an aptitude for the piano.在孩提时代，他显露出对于钢琴的天赋。

7 glaciers   

冰河，冰川( glacier的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Glaciers gouged out valleys from the hills. 冰川把丘陵地带冲出一条条山谷。
• It has ice and snow glaciers, rainforests and beautiful mountains. 既有冰川，又有雨林和秀丽的山峰。 来自英语晨读30分（高一）

8 stature   

n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材

参考例句：

• He is five feet five inches in stature.他身高5英尺5英寸。
• The dress models are tall of stature.时装模特儿的身材都较高。

9 deity   

n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物)

参考例句：

• Many animals were seen as the manifestation of a deity.许多动物被看作神的化身。
• The deity was hidden in the deepest recesses of the temple.神藏在庙宇壁龛的最深处。

10 epoch   

n.(新)时代；历元

参考例句：

• The epoch of revolution creates great figures.革命时代造就伟大的人物。
• We're at the end of the historical epoch,and at the dawn of another.我们正处在一个历史时代的末期，另一个历史时代的开端。

11 geologists   

地质学家，地质学者( geologist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Geologists uncovered the hidden riches. 地质学家发现了地下的宝藏。
• Geologists study the structure of the rocks. 地质学家研究岩石结构。

12 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。