中英文本

Can you imagine a world without writing? Without any writing at all?
想象一个没有文字的世界,完全没有任何文字的世界?
No forms to fill in of course, no tax returns, but also no literature, no science, no 'history'.
当然就不需要填 表格，不用退税，但是也没有文学，没有先进的科学，没有历史*(V#w2r0eH。
It is almost beyond imagining, because our modern life, and above all our modern government, is based almost entirely on writing.
这样 的生活其实根本无法想象，因为现代生活及现代政府几乎是完全建立在文字上的OO.^J]g@tX^rY+*iGgnW。
Of all mankind's great advances, the development of writing is surely the giant:
在人类的一切进步中，文字的出现无疑是巨人般的一步，
I think you can say that it's had more impact on the evolution of human society than any other invention.
当然，它是否是人类进化史上影响最大的创造也许还有争议9W=Gq2[,SaejM2p1Z。
But when and where did it begin-and how?
但它是从何时何地开始的？又是如何开始的？
This programme's object is a piece of clay, made just over five thousand years ago in a Mesopotamian city.
在一块制作于五千年前的美索不达米亚的黏土板上，有我们已知的最早的文字Tbv@G37J#5SeUy!HVF。
It's one of the earliest examples of writing that we know; it's about beer and the birth of bureaucracy.
给我们留下乌尔旗的民族，也给我们留下了文字的最早范例YAnp@SY;@@(DzKts66w。它的内容跟文学完全无关，而是记载了啤酒和政府机构的诞生8CLq3bV6|n9qWRzfF。
"For me, it's a first sign of writing, but it also tells you about the growth of the early beginnings of a state."
“对我而言,这是关于文字写作的第一个标志,但它也告诉你关于一个国家早期的状态OCry@q_-+ax;2n_aT。”
"It's essential for the creation of what we think of as human civilisation. It has a creative capacity that may not even have been intended."
“这是我们所认为的人类文明必不可少的创造JbGgHn^w]]BxgWIv7。它有一种创造性的能力,甚至超乎意料之外9FQC[Z;3#Mu=。”
A history of the world.
世界历史，
In a hundred objects.
百件藏品，
Clay writing tablet approximately 5,000 years old discovered in southern Iraq
在伊拉克南部发现大约5000岁的早期写字板

重点讲解

1.fill in 填写

It needed debt to fill in the gaps.
它需要举债来填补这些空缺@_JHBXJowQ。

Until the europeans get specific and fill in these holes, volatility will continue in the markets.
欧洲人给出明确的答案，填补这些漏洞之前，市场将延续震荡态势6aSNpG*(%r7gF。

2.base on 以...为根据

Left: lance cpl. baker at shir ghazay patrol base on jan. 30.
左图：贝克尔下士在shir ghazay巡逻基地，1月30日n&lhXuRhN440_lrcW2。

But this is a worryingly flimsy base on which to build a bigger economic and monetary union.
但是在经不起风吹雨打的基础上就想建立一个较为庞大的经济和货币联盟实在是令人忧心如焚GQA_f[|K8GycosWM。

3.essential for 对…是必不可少的

Why is immigration so essential for innovation?
为什么外来移民对创新是如此的重要？

Resolving north korea's nuclear problem is essential for a peaceful northeast asia.
解决朝鲜核问题对构建一个和平的东北亚至关重要ccD5L14Fs^_4nN0@YNB。