地球的力量

Catastrophes like the Chicxulub meteorite are disastrous for the life that happens to be around at the time.

希克苏鲁伯陨石这样的灾难 对于当时存在的生物来说是灾难

But in terms of stimulating the evolution of complex life,

但是因为它们激起了进化

they're actually a blessing in disguise.

实际上是一次因祸得福

The extinction of the dinosaurs wasn't the only time that a catastrophe kick-started a major evolutionary change.

恐龙的灭绝 并不是唯一一次导致进化的灾难

In the Italian Dolomites, geological evidence shows

在多洛迈茨山脉我看到了恐龙如何

how the dinosaurs themselves benefited from a previous catastrophe.

从前一次灾难中因祸得福

This layer of black rock marks a time when 70% of all life on land perished.

这一层黑色的岩石标志着 地球上70%的生命灭亡了

Over 90% of marine life died out.

超过90%的海洋生物死亡

And when it was over, it was the dinosaurs that inherited the Earth.

结束以后，恐龙接手了地球

And in Australia, it's possible to see the last survivors of an even earlier catastrophe.

在澳大利亚 我也看到了一次早期的灾难

These mounds are bacterial stromatolites.

这些土堆是细菌叠层石

They might still rule the Earth today were it not for a colossal ice age,

一次巨大的冰山运动结束了叠层石时代

which nearly wiped them out,clearing the way for the first complex life.

这些细菌的死亡 为复杂生命出现第一步扫清了道路

重点讲解

1、evolution

进化

the evolution of plants and animals.

动植物的进化

the theory of evolution by natural selection.

自然选择的进化论

演变;演化;演进;发展

a crucial period in the evolution of modern physics.

现代物理学演化过程中的重要时期

an accurate account of his country's evolution.

对他的国家演进的准确描述

2、wipe out

摧毁;毁灭;使灭绝

The spill could wipe out the Gulf's turtle population.

这次原油泄漏可能会使波斯湾的海龟灭绝。

The man is a fanatic who is determined to wipe out any opposition to the way he conducts himself.

这人是个狂热分子，决意扫除任何反对其行事作风的声音。

3、die out

逐渐消亡;灭绝

How did the dinosaurs die out?

恐龙是如何灭绝的？

I want to teach Irish so that it won't die out.

我想教爱尔兰语，这样它就不会彻底消失。

（火）逐渐熄灭;（风等）逐渐停止

Once the fire has died out, the salvage team will move in.

一旦大火熄灭，救援小组就会马上进入。