英語科普：中國出土最大最完整的翼龍化石.docx

A newly identified species of feathered dinosaur1 is the largest ever discovered to have a well-preserved set of bird-like wings, research suggests. Palaeontologists working in China unearthed2 the fossil remains3 of the winged dinosaur - a close cousin of Velociraptor, which was made famous by the Jurassic Park films. Researchers say its wings - which are very short compared with other dinosaurs4 in the same family - consisted of multiple layers of large feathers. They found that the species feathers were complex structures made up of fine branches stemming from a central shaft5. Although larger feathered dinosaurs have been identified before, none have possessed6 such complex wings made up of quill7 pen-like feathers, the team says. Scientists have known for some time that many species of dinosaur had feathers, but most of these were covered with simple filaments8 that looked more like hair than modern bird feathers. This latest discovery suggests that winged dinosaurs with larger and more complex feathers were more diverse than previously9 thought. The species belonged to a family of feathered carnivores that was widespread during the Cretaceous Period, and lived around 125 million years ago, the team says. The near-complete skeleton of the animal - which is remarkably10 well preserved - was studied by scientists from the University of Edinburgh and the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences. The fossil reveals dense11 feathers covered the dinosaurs wings and tail. The newly discovered species - named Zhenyuanlong suni - grew to more than five feet in length. Despite having bird-like wings, it probably could not fly, at least not using the same type of powerful muscle-driven flight as modern birds, researchers say.詞匯解析：1 dinosaur n.恐龍參考例句：Are you trying to tell me that David was attacked by a dinosaur?你是想要告訴我大衛(wèi)被一支恐龍所攻擊？He stared at the faithful miniature of the dinosaur.他凝視著精確的恐龍縮小模型。2 unearthed 出土的（考古）參考例句：Many unearthed cultural relics are set forth in the exhibition hall. 展覽館里陳列著許多出土文物。Some utensils were in a state of decay when they were unearthed. 有些器皿在出土時已經(jīng)殘破。3 remains n.剩余物，殘留物；遺體，遺跡參考例句：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.殘羹剩飯喂狗了。4 dinosaurs n.恐龍( dinosaur的名詞復(fù)數(shù) )；守舊落伍的人，過時落后的東西參考例句：The brontosaurus was one of the largest of all dinosaurs. 雷龍是所有恐龍中最大的一種。 來自簡明英漢詞典Dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years. 恐龍絕種已有幾百萬年了。 來自簡明英漢詞典5 shaft n.(工具的)柄，桿狀物參考例句：He was wounded by a shaft.他被箭擊中受傷。This is the shaft of a steam engine.這是一個蒸汽機主軸。6 possessed adj.瘋狂的；擁有的，占有的參考例句：He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像著了魔似地猛然沖出房門。He behaved like someone possessed.他行為舉止像是魔怔了。7 quill n.羽毛管；v.給（織物或衣服）作皺褶參考例句：He wrote with a quill.他用羽毛筆寫字。She dipped a quill in ink,and then began to write.她將羽毛筆在墨水里蘸了一下，隨后開始書寫。8 filaments n.（電燈泡的）燈絲( filament的名詞復(fù)數(shù) )；絲極；細絲；絲狀物參考例句：Instead, sarcomere shortening occurs when the thin filamentsslide by the thick filaments. 此外，肌節(jié)的縮短發(fā)生于細肌絲沿粗肌絲“滑行”之際。 來自辭典例句Wetting-force data on filaments of any diameter and shape can easily obtained. 各種直徑和形狀的長絲的潤濕力數(shù)據(jù)是易于測量的。 來自辭典例句9 previously adv.以前，先前（地）參考例句：The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行車胎在以前損壞過的地方又爆開了。Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.讓我岔開一會兒，解釋原先發(fā)生了什么。10 remarkably ad.不同尋常地，相當?shù)貐⒖祭洌篒 thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我認為她在那種情況下非常克制。He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康復(fù)得相當快。11 dense a.密集的，稠密的，濃密的；