'Sea dragon' fossil is 'largest on record' “史上最大”鱼龙化石体积

'Sea dragon' fossil is 'largest on record' “史上最大”鱼龙化石体积

科学家们称，在德国一所博物馆里“再次现身”的一块水生爬行动物化石具有很高的研究价值，因为它是有史以来同类生物化石中体积最大的一块。这类被称作“鱼龙”的海洋生物曾生活在距今约两亿年前的恐龙时代。这块化石标本总长达三米多，20多年前曾在英格兰海岸边被人首次发现，但直至今日，还没有人对它进行过研究。请听报道。

Ichthyosaurs or ‘sea dragons’ were marine reptiles that swam the oceans during the time of the dinosaurs. A fossil unearthed at Doniford Bay during the 1990s is giving new insights into the life and death of the mysterious creatures. 

This ichthyosaur was a female that was pregnant at the time of death. It's one of only three to be found with an unborn baby inside. The fossil was sold to a private collector who kept it on his living room wall. It was eventually acquired by a German museum where its scientific value came to light. Scientists at the University of Manchester who examined the specimen say it's the largest of its kind at more than three metres long.

The first skeleton of an ichthyosaur was discovered in the cliffs near Lyme Regis by the Victorian fossil hunter Mary Anning. Her discovery shook up the scientific world and provided evidence for new ideas about the history of the earth. 

Two centuries on, there's still more to learn about the prehistoric sea creatures that dominated the oceans for millions of years.

词汇表 ichthyosaurs “鱼龙”的拉丁语说法，一种形似海豚、已经灭绝的海洋爬行动物

marine reptiles 海栖爬行动物

unearthed 出土，被发掘

giving new insights into 提供新的见解

private collector 私人收藏家

came to light 为人所知

specimen （化石）标本

skeleton （动物）骨架

shook up 使…震惊、大吃一惊

prehistoric 史前的

dominated 主宰了

测验   请听报道并回答下列问题。  

1. When and where was the fossil unearthed?

2. What did Mary Anning’s discovery of the first ichthyosaur skeleton mean to science?

3. True or false? Scientists say the specimen is the largest of all dinosaur fossils.

4. Which word in the text means ‘not yet brought to birth’?

答案   1. Where and when was the fossil unearthed?

The fossil was unearthed at Doniford Bay during the 1990s.

2. What did Mary Anning’s discovery of the first ichthyosaur skeleton mean to science?

Her discovery shook up the scientific world and provided evidence for new ideas about the history of the earth.

3. True or false? Scientists say the specimen is the largest of all dinosaur fossils.

False. Scientists say the specimen is the largest of its kind.

4. Which word in the text means ‘not yet brought to birth’?

Unborn.