科學(xué)家們通過(guò)結(jié)合有關(guān)化石的一系列新發(fā)現(xiàn)及最新技術(shù)，建造出了最先進(jìn)的原始鳥類頭骨模型。這一成果為鳥喙的進(jìn)化史提供了新解釋。

文字稿

It’s well known that birds evolved from dinosaurs - gradually growing feathers and taking to the air. But their tiny delicate skulls have been difficult to study as they’re rarely preserved as fossils.

眾所周知，鳥類是由恐龍進(jìn)化而來(lái)的。它們逐漸地長(zhǎng)出羽毛并飛向天空。但由于鳥類的頭骨微小而纖細(xì)，因此很少有保存完好的化石，這使相關(guān)研究的展開變得困難。

Now researchers have combined extraordinary new fossil discoveries with the latest CT scanning techniques to make the most advanced 3D model of the skull of a primitive bird. They say creatures existed for much of the age of the dinosaurs that looked half-bird, half-dinosaur.

現(xiàn)在，研究人員們把令人驚嘆的化石新發(fā)現(xiàn)和最新電子計(jì)算機(jī)斷層掃描技術(shù)結(jié)合起來(lái)，制作出了最為先進(jìn)的原始鳥類頭骨3D模型。他們說(shuō)，這類看起來(lái)半鳥半恐龍的生物存在于恐龍時(shí)代的大部分時(shí)期內(nèi)。

Ichthyornis, which was the size of a seagull, had a beak and a brain much like modern birds but the sharp teeth and powerful jaws of dinosaurs like Velociraptor. Its bones were first found in the 1870s drawing the attention of Charles Darwin. Modern-day scientists say this amazing bird, which gives a picture of what the first beaks were like, has been under their noses the whole time.

魚鳥的體型如海鷗，它的喙和腦部構(gòu)造與現(xiàn)代鳥類非常相近，但它卻擁有伶盜龍一般尖利的牙齒和強(qiáng)健的下顎。這類動(dòng)物的骨頭于 1870 年代首次被人發(fā)現(xiàn)，當(dāng)時(shí)引起了查爾斯·達(dá)爾文的關(guān)注。當(dāng)代科學(xué)家們說(shuō)，這種使我們了解到鳥喙最初外觀的神奇鳥兒，原來(lái)一直都近在眼前。

1. 詞匯表

evolved 進(jìn)化
delicate 纖細(xì)而脆弱的
preserved 被保存
fossils 化石
primitive 原始的，遠(yuǎn)古的
under their noses 在眼皮底下，近在眼前

2. 閱讀理解：請(qǐng)?jiān)谧x完上文后，回答下列問(wèn)題 。

1. Why have bird skulls been difficult to study as fossils?

2. What have researchers made using new fossil discoveries and the latest CT scanning techniques?

3. What kind of creature was Ichthyornis?

4. When were the bones of Ichthyornis first found?

3. 答案

1. Why have bird skulls been difficult to study as fossils?
Bird skulls are tiny and delicate and are rarely preserved as fossils.

2. What have researchers made using new fossil discoveries and the latest CT scanning techniques?
Researchers have made the most advanced 3D model of the skull of a primitive bird.

3. What kind of creature was Ichthyornis?
It was the size of a seagull and had a beak and brain like modern birds, but the sharp teeth and powerful jaws of a Velociraptor.

4. When were the bones of Ichthyornis first found?
Its bones were first found in the 1870s.