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The Magic of Science 寰宇探秘──国立自然科学博物馆

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Skeletons of humans and animals from millions of years ago stand in glass cases. Nearby, modern miracles of science and technology are ready for use. This may sound like the lab of a mad scientist, but these displays are only a small sample of what the National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS) has to offer. The NMNS, located in Taichung, was established to provide a hands-on way for people to learn about science.

数百万年前的人类和动物骨骼站立在玻璃箱内。在附近，现代科技的奇迹随时可供人使用。这听起来可能像是疯狂科学家的实验室，但上述物品只是台中国立自然科学博物馆展览内容的一小部份，该馆成立的宗旨是要让人们学科学时能够实际操作。

After entering the NMNS, you will see a lush garden. Here you can walk along the Path of Evolution. The first thing you will come across is a giant windmill, which harnesses one of humankind’s oldest sources of power, the wind. Nearby, a giant DNA strand doubles as a ladder for children to climb on.

进入自然科学博物馆，你会看到一座翠绿的花园。在这里，你可以走在生命演化史的步道上。你会先看到一座巨大的风车，利用的是人类最古老的能源之一：风力。附近有一座巨大的DNA双螺旋模型，可当梯子让儿童攀爬。

This garden, with all of its wonders, is only an introduction to the NMNS. Within the walls of the Science Center, visitors can experience the marvels of electricity. As they flip a switch, a Tesla coil fills the air with 200,000 volts of electricity, powering an unconnected fluorescent light. It shows visitors how ordinary science is truly extraordinary.

这座有许多神奇事物的花园，只是自然科学博物馆的序曲而已。在科学中心内，游客可体验神奇的电力。当他们压下按钮，特斯拉线圈就会使空气充满20万伏特的电力，点亮未连接插座的日光灯。这让访客了解到，寻常的科学其实很不寻常。

Vocabulary

单词发音

miracle [ˋmɪrək!] n. 奇迹

lush [lʌʃ] adj. 苍翠繁茂的

evolution [͵ɛvəˋluʃən] n.（生物的）进化，演化

harness [ˋhɑrnɪs] v. 利用

flip [flɪp] v.（用指）轻弹

More Information

单词发音

skeleton [ˋskɛlətn] n. 骨骼

hands-on [ˋhændzˋɑn] adj. 实际操作的; 亲身实践的 involving practical experience of equipment

come across 偶然碰见 to meet or find by chance

windmill [ˋwɪnd͵mɪl] n. 风车

strand [strænd] n.（绳、线等的）股；缕

ladder [ˋlædɚ] n. 梯子

marvel [ˋmɑrv!] n. 令人惊奇的事物（或人物）

Tesla coil 泰斯拉线圈

volt [volt] n. 伏特

fluorescent [fluəˋrɛsnt] adj.（发）荧光的

课文朗读

课文讲解

The mysteries of life are revealed in the museum’s Life Science Hall. Amusing exhibits explain the theories about the origin of life, evolution, and the circle of human life. A 230-million-year-old fossil of a Keichousaur is on display. It is a beautiful example of the first marine reptile. Further into the hall, there is an actual Egyptian mummy lying in a glass case, next to information on ancient Egyptian embalming techniques. This ancient corpse provides insight into how humans deal with the idea of death.

生命的奥秘在博物馆的生命科学厅被披露。好玩的陈列品所解释的理论，涵盖生命起源、演化，以及人类生命周期。一具两亿三千万年前的胡氏贵州龙化石在这里展出，美丽的牠属于第一批海栖爬虫类动物。再往里面走，如假包换的埃及木乃伊躺在玻璃箱内，一旁有古埃及防腐技术的信息。这具古尸让我们洞悉人类如何看待死亡。

Human culture is also featured at the NMNS. A great deal of exhibit space is devoted to the cultures of Oceania, a region that is rich in tradition. The exhibit features the tools people used on a daily basis and the figures they worshipped. Meanwhile, the superiority of Chinese technology 800 years ago is represented by the abridged armilla on display. This ancient astronomical device could be used for charting almost the entire sky.

该馆的重头戏还有人类文化。一大部分展览空间给了具有丰富传统的大洋洲文化。陈列品着重于人们日常使用的工具，以及所崇拜的偶像。在此同时，中国八百年前的卓越科技以「简仪」为代表，这具古天文仪器可用来绘制几乎整个天空。

Technology, life, history and humanity are all on display at the NMNS. Visitors of any age are certain to have a truly enlightening experience there.

科技、生命、历史和人文在自然科学博物馆都看得到。无论年龄大小，访客一定会觉得不虚此行。

−Adapted by Webster Chang & Alan Campana

Vocabulary

单词发音

marine [məˋrin] adj. 海的；海生的

insight [ˋɪn͵saɪt] n. 深刻的理解.[(+into)]

worship [ˋwɝʃɪp] v. 崇拜；敬仰

superiority [sə͵pɪrɪˋɔrətɪ] n. 优越，优势

enlighten [ɪnˋlaɪtn] v. 启发，启迪

More Information

单词发音

amusing [əˋmjuzɪŋ] adj. 有趣的，好玩的

Keichousaur 贵州龙属

mummy [ˋmʌmɪ] n. 木乃伊；（大自然中的）不腐尸体

next to 在...旁边  adjacent to

embalm [ɪmˋbɑm] v.〔用药物﹑油等对尸体〕进行防腐处理

corpse [kɔrps] n. 尸体

Oceania [͵oʃɪˋænɪə] n. 大洋洲

abridged armilla 简仪

abridged [əˋbrɪdʒd] adj.  删节的; 节略的; 压缩的

armilla（车耳轴的）铁环

astronomical [͵æstrəˋnɑmɪk!] adj. 天文学的; 天文的

chart [tʃɑrt] v. 绘制;  n. ……的图表

humanity [hjuˋmænətɪ] n. 人文学科

Reading Questions

1. According to the article, which of the following statement is true?

A. The giant DNA strand at the NMNS can be used by kids as a ladder to climb on.

B. The National Museum of Natural Science is located north of Taipei.

C. The National Museum of Natural Science used to be a lab used by a mad scientist.

D. Wind power is used for powering an unconnected light bulb at the NMNS.

2. The word “hands-on” in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to _____

A. common

B. handy

C. ideal

D. practical

3. The Egyptian mummy at the NMNS helps us understand ______.

A. how humans avoid death

B. how humans embrace death

C. how humans think of death

D. how humans define death

4. What is the main purpose of this article?

A. To explain the many features found at the MNMS.

B. To show how evolution can be taught at a museum.

C. To convince more people to donate to the NMNS.

D. To discuss the need for educational exhibits at the NMNS.

Abridged or Simplified Armilla; 簡儀

Answer