VOA慢速英语2021--研究人员在波兰发现了大量恐龙足迹

Researchers Find Large Amounts of Dinosaur¹ Tracks in Poland

undreds of dinosaur footprints and bones have been found in Poland. The prints are in such good condition that even the scaly² skin can be seen.

The finding gives important information about the complex environment that existed about 200 million years ago, researchers said.

The Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute described the find as a treasure trove³, meaning a collection of valuable things.

The footprints and bones were found in a clay mine in Borkowice, 130 kilometers south of Warsaw.

Scientists Grzegorz Pienkowski from the National Geological Institute in Warsaw and Grzegorz Niedzwiedzki from Uppsala University in Sweden found the remains⁴.

Niedzwiedzki said the find offers much information.

"In the traces left by dinosaurs⁵, you can read their behavior and habits... we have traces left by dinosaurs running, swimming, resting and sitting," he said.

The largest footprints measure 40 centimeters. The researchers said those were left by meat eaters, or carnivores. In many prints, the skin left a very clear image.

"In order for such a state of preservation⁶ to be possible, a very special sequence of events had to take place in a short time," Pienkowski said in a statement.

Several hundred dinosaur tracks, representing at least seven kinds of dinosaurs, have been found and geologists⁷ say they are likely to find more. They have also discovered small pieces of bone from animals and fish.

Words in This Story

scaly – adj. covered with scales or flakes⁸

trace – n. something (such as a mark or an object) which shows that someone or something was in a particular place

habit – n. a usual way of behaving : something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way

preservation – n. the degree to which something is kept safe from harm or ruin

sequence – n. the order in which things happen or should happen

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 scaly   

adj.鱼鳞状的；干燥粗糙的

参考例句：

• Reptiles possess a scaly,dry skin.爬行类具有覆盖着鳞片的干燥皮肤。
• The iron pipe is scaly with rust.铁管子因为生锈一片片剥落了。

3 trove   

n.被发现的东西，收藏的东西

参考例句：

• He assembled a rich trove of Chinese porcelain.他收集了一批中国瓷器。
• The gallery is a treasure trove of medieval art.这个画廊是中世纪艺术的宝库。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 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》

6 preservation   

n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持

参考例句：

• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
• The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。

7 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。

8 flakes   

小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人

参考例句：

• It's snowing in great flakes. 天下着鹅毛大雪。
• It is snowing in great flakes. 正值大雪纷飞。