霸王龍是否比我們想象中的更善於交際？一直以來，科學傢們都曾以為霸王龍是離群索居的食肉動物，喜歡獨自捕食和生活。然而，來自美國阿肯色大學的一組古生物學傢可能發現瞭有關這種可怕動物的一個新理論。
The theory that tyrannosaurs were social animals was first suggested 20 years ago. That was when a dozen of the creatures were found at a site in Alberta, Canada. Another such mass death site was later found in Montana. This one in southern Utah again shows that tyrannosaurs died in the same place.
霸王龍是群居動物的理論最早是在20年前提出的。當時，加拿大阿爾伯塔省某處發現瞭十幾隻霸王龍的遺骸。後來，美國蒙大拿州又發現瞭另一個這樣的霸王龍集體死亡遺址。這次，在美國猶他州南部發現的遺址再次表明，霸王龍是在同一地點死亡的。
Analysing the bones and rocks, a team of palaeontologists from the University of Arkansas say it suggests the tyrannosaurs came together to prey on other animals, at least when times got tougher and resources were dwindling.
來自美國阿肯色大學的一組古生物學傢在分析瞭骨骼和化石後說，這表明這些霸王龍曾聚集在一起捕食其它動物，至少在生存艱難、資源日益減少的日子裡是這樣的。
These conclusions add to mounting evidence that they may not so much have been lone predators, but hunted in packs like wolves, which makes them, as hard to imagine as that may seem, even more terrifying.
這些結論再次證實霸王龍可能並非離群索居的食肉動物，而是像狼一樣成群結隊地捕食，簡直想不到霸王龍還可以比我們原本想象得更可怕。
詞匯表
tyrannosaurs 霸王龍
social 善於交際的，合群的
creatures 生物，動物
palaeontologists 古生物學傢
prey on 捕食
dwindling 減少，縮小
predators 食肉動物，掠食者
hunted 捕獵
packs （一同生活、獵食的動物）群
terrifying 可怕的，嚇人的
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. True or false? Tyrannosaurs have been thought to be social animals throughout history.
2. What does the site in southern Utah show?
3. After analysing bones and rocks, what conclusion was made by the team of palaeontologists from the University of Arkansas?
4. According to the speaker, what makes tyrannosaurs even more terrifying?
答案
1. True or false? Tyrannosaurs have been thought to be social animals throughout history.
False. The theory that tyrannosaurs were social animals was first suggested 20 years ago.
2. What does the site in southern Utah show?
The site in southern Utah shows that tyrannosaurs died in the same place.
3. After analysing bones and rocks, what conclusion was made by the team of palaeontologists from the University of Arkansas?
That tyrannosaurs came together to prey on other animals.
4. According to the speaker, what makes tyrannosaurs even more terrifying?
That they may not so much have been lone predators, but hunted in packs like wolves.
免費試聽
填表領取25分鐘真人外師課＋英文程度分析
