物种进化

The first thing oxygen did was give the planet a vital protective shield,the ozone layer

氧气做的第一件事是给地球加上了一层重要的保护罩 臭氧层

It shielded the planet from lethal ultraviolet radiation coming from the Sun,

它保护地球免受来自太阳的致命性紫外线辐射

allowing complex life to flourish on the surface of our planet.

使复杂生物能在地球表面繁荣生长

The concentration of ozone in the atmosphere

大气层中的臭氧层浓度

is revealed in this colour-coded image.

通过图中色码显露

It shows the massive hole over Antarctica

很明显可知南极洲有大量漏洞

created by our recent pollution.

由于近年来的污染

Fortunately, the hole is shrinking.

幸运的是漏洞在减少

But oxygen didn't only protect the planet.

但是臭氧层不止保护地球

About 600 million years ago,

大约六亿年前

it ended the long reign of the stromatolite

叠层石独占地球的历史终结

and caused a revolution in the development of life.

引起一场物种进化

This is because oxygen is highly reactive

这是因为氧气是高度活性的

and can support far more energetic forms of life than bacteria.

能支持比病菌更有活力的物种

Blessed with an oxygen-rich atmosphere, Earth became home

感谢富含氧气的大气层，地球开始适合多样性

to an extraordinary diversity of complex life.

生物居住

And ultimately, to us.

同时，最根本的，我们人类

重点讲解

1、vital

必要的;至关重要的;必不可少的

The port is vital to supply relief to millions of drought victims.

这个港口对向数百万旱灾灾民提供救援物资是至关重要的。

Nick Wileman is a school caretaker so it is vital that he gets on well with young people.

尼克·威尔曼是学校的管理员，因此与年轻人搞好关系很重要。

充满活力的;生气勃勃的

They are both very vital people and a good match.

他俩都很有活力，十分般配。

They have something important to say and vital and radical ways of saying it.

他们有些重要的事情要说，言辞会比较激烈。

2、flourish

繁荣;兴盛;兴旺

Business flourished and within six months they were earning 18,000 roubles a day...

生意红火起来，不出6 个月他们就可以每天赚 18,000 卢布了。

Racism and crime still flourish in the ghetto.

城市贫民区的种族主义和犯罪仍然十分猖獗。

(植物或动物)长势好，茁壮成长

The plant flourishes particularly well in slightly harsher climes.

这种植物在气候条件稍差一点的地区长势尤其好。

挥动，挥舞(以引起注意)

He flourished the glass to emphasize the point.

他挥动手中的杯子来强调这一点。

3、reveal

显示;表明;透露

She has refused to reveal the whereabouts of her daughter.

她不肯透露她女儿的行踪。

A survey of the British diet has revealed that a growing number of people are overweight.

对英国人饮食进行的一项调查显示有越来越多的人超重。

揭露;展示;使显露

A grey carpet was removed to reveal the original pine floor.

一块灰色的地毯被揭开，露出了原来的松木地板。