研究表明，2014 年發現的一塊巨型隕石曾在地球上引發瞭一場人類已知規模最大的海嘯，並且讓海洋都沸騰瞭。這塊太空巖石的大小是導致恐龍滅絕的隕石的 200 倍，在距今 30 億年前撞向瞭形成初期的地球。
Early Earth was beset by meteorites hitting over and over, churning up what was a world made mostly of water. And S2 was a colossal space rock. About 30 miles wide, it was the size of Greater London and would have left an enormous crater when it hit Earth where South Africa is now.
早期地球曾飽受隕石撞擊的襲擾，這些隕石不斷攪動著這顆當時大多被水覆蓋的星球。在這些隕石之中，S2 是一顆尤為碩大的太空巖石。這顆 30 英裡寬的隕石和大倫敦地區的大小相當，其撞擊瞭地球上目前南非所在的位置，並且在當時留下瞭一個巨大的隕石坑。
The impact would have created a tsunami likely bigger than any seen in human history, and the excess energy would have boiled the oceans. The skies would have turned black, blocking photosynthesis.
這顆隕石對地球的撞擊引發的海嘯很可能比人類歷史上已知的任何一場海嘯都要龐大，其釋放出的過剩能量應當會讓當時的海洋都沸騰起來。天空也會因此變得黑暗，妨礙瞭光合作用的進行。
To better understand these impacts, a team of scientists trekked into remote mountains carrying sledgehammers to collect the evidence. They were surprised to find signs that the collision created spikes in phosphorus and iron, which are both essential ingredients for life. Despite the devastation from the meteorite, simple life bounced back and thrived.
為瞭更好地研究這些影響，一個科學傢團隊帶著大錘長途跋涉到瞭偏遠山區收集證據。他們驚訝地發現，這次撞擊使地球上磷和鐵的含量激增，它們是組成生物的重要成分。雖然隕石造成瞭毀滅性的破壞，但簡單的生物迅速恢復並開始繁榮生長。
詞匯表
beset 被…困擾
churning up 攪動，攪拌
colossal 龐大的，碩大的
crater 坑
tsunami 海嘯
excess 過量的，過剩的
photosynthesis 光合作用
trekked 長途跋涉
sledgehammers 大錘
spikes 激增
bounced back 迅速恢復
thrived 繁榮生長
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. Where on Earth did the meteorite S2 hit?
2. Why was photosynthesis affected by the meteorite’s impact?
3. What surprised scientists?
4. How did simple life react after the meteorite hit?
答案
1. Where on Earth did the meteorite S2 hit?
Meteorite S2 hit Earth where South Africa is now.
2. Why was photosynthesis affected by the meteorite’s impact?
Photosynthesis was affected by the meteorite’s impact because the skies would have turned black.
3. What surprised scientists?
The scientists were surprised to find signs that the collision created spikes in phosphorus and iron, which are both essential ingredients to life.
4. How did simple life react after the meteorite hit?
Despite the devastation from the meteorite, simple life bounced back and thrived.
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