生命的意义

It could take a visit to the International Space Station.

它可能跑去国际空间站

Perhaps even fly to the moon.

也许甚至飞到月球

All this before returning to the exact same spot an instance before you reenter the room.

结束之后 桌子又回到原本位置 就在你再度进入房间前的瞬间

This,of course is a pretty unlikely scenario.

这个状况当然是不太可能发生的

But one we can't rule out.

但我们却不能完全排除

It is much simpler to assume that the table stays put when we are not there.

还是简单假定为 当我们不在时 桌子就在原地不动

It is our best fit model of reality.

那是我们对现实的最适模型

This is essentially what we do in science.

基本上 科学家也是如此

To create best fit models of how we believe

我们所建构的最适模型

the universe actually works.

来源于我们自己所认定的宇宙运作方式

The ancient Greeks were the first

古希腊人最早

to built such scientific models.

建构此类科学模型

They suggested that the earth was a large sphere,motionless

他们主张地球是一个大型球体 静止不动

And fixed at the center of the universe.

且固定在宇宙中心

But later pioneering scientists like Copernicus and Galileo

但之后 开创性的科学家 如哥白尼与伽利略

found a much simpler and completely revolutionary model to describe this same observations.

找到更简单又更完整的革命性模型 来解释同样的现象

They proposed that the earth itself was spinning and orbiting the sun at the same time...

他们主张地球会自转 并同时绕着太阳运行

Along with all the other planets.

就与所有其它行星一样

重点讲解

1、instance

例如;譬如

There are a number of improvements; for instance, both mouse buttons can now be used.

在许多地方有了改进,例如,鼠标的左右键都可以使用了。

Let your child make some of the small decisions concerning his daily routine. For instance, allow him to choose what clothes he wears at the weekend.

让孩子在日常生活中作一些小决定。比如,让他自己决定周末穿什么衣服。

例子;实例;事例

She cited an instance where their training had been a marvelous help in dealing with problems.

她举了一个所受训练为解决问题帮了大忙的实例。

an investigation into a serious instance of corruption.

对一起严重的腐败事件的调查

首先;第一步

In the first instance your child will be seen by an ear, nose and throat specialist.

你的孩子将首先由耳鼻喉专科医生来诊察。

The post was for one year in the first instance with possible renewal to a further year.

该岗位初始为一年期,有可能会再续聘一年。

2、describe

描述;描写;形容;叙述

We asked her to describe what kind of things she did in her spare time.

我们请她描述一下她业余时间都在做什么。

She broke down describing how she was arrested for refusing a breath test.

她在叙述自己如何因为拒绝接受呼吸测试而被捕时再也控制不住情绪。

把…说成;把…称为;认为

He described it as an extraordinarily tangled and complicated tale.

他说那是一个非常曲折复杂的故事。

Eriksson described him as 'the best player on the pitch'.

埃里克森称他是“场上最好的球员”。

描画，画出(图形);形成…的形状

His pass described a perfect arc through the leaden sky.

他的传球在阴沉的天空中划出了一道完美的弧线。