Scientists Reveal Monster Secrets

揭开海洋巨兽之谜

By Michael Peschardt in Sydney

One of the mythical[1] creatures of the ocean has been found deep down in the waters off Tasmania[2]. The giant squid[3] have been discovered caught in the nets of trawlers[4]. Sailors of centuries ago told tales of being attacked by beasts whose tentacles[5] could rip a man apart.

1． mythical：神话般的。人人都希望自己有一个mythical love story，不是吗？当然这里科学家发现的海洋巨物可不是神话里的哦。
2． Tasmania：塔斯马尼亚岛，是澳大利亚一个岛屿。这就是那只巨物被发现的第一目击地点。
3． squid：枪乌贼，鱿鱼。这是一种比较正式的叫法，更通俗一点的名字是sleeve-fish，也就是“袖子鱼”。
4． trawlers：打捞船。为捞上这只怪物，这只打捞船可是费了不少力气呵！
5． tentacles：动物的触须、触角。不知道大家看到了照片上庞然巨物头顶长长的tentacles（触须）了没有？

Incredibly, the latest finds mean the ancient tales[6] can no longer be dismissed[7] as the work of superstitious scaremongers[8]. David Pemberton of the Museum of Tasmania says: "I don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility[9]. "

6． tale：故事，传说，叙述。由这个词我们还能学到好几个俗语用法呵。比如，太阳从东边升起，这件事是不言自明的。我们就能用到这句话：The thing tells its own tale.（这件事不言自明）。再比如，有人爱搬弄事非（tell tales），有人爱编虚假故事(tell the tale)。
7． dismiss：不加考虑，不谈论，置之不理。在社交场合，要做一个受欢迎的人，就应该这样：We are supposed to dismiss the unpleasant subjects.
8． scaremonger：散布骇人听闻消息的人。这是个让人感觉不那么好的单词，它还能指那些扰乱社会民心的人，散布谣言的人。
9． I don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility.：这句话非常实用。比如，如果有人问“你相信网络奇缘吗？”你会给出哪种回答呢？I don't think(I think) it's beyond the realm of possibility.

"All the creatures we have brought up are dead, killed by the rapidly changing pressure. "But it does make you wonder how they could have made those drawings so long ago unless they had actually seen them."