Fossils

fossils

化石

What are fossils? Fossils are the remains of animals and plants that lived millions of years ago. You may find the fossilized shell or bones of an animal that's been preserved, or the shape of an animal or plant that rotted away. You can also see marks, like footprints, left by animals. These are called trace fossils. Sometimes you may find insects trapped in amber, a liquid from trees that has gone hard over time.

化石是什么？ 化石是数百万年前生存的动植物的遗骸。 你可能会找到被妥善保存的动物石化外壳或骨骼， 或是已经腐烂的动植物留下的轮廓印记。 你也能看到动物留下的痕迹，比如脚印。 这些都叫做遗迹化石。 有时候你还能发现困在琥珀里的昆虫， 琥珀是树木分泌的树脂经过漫长时间硬化形成的。

People who study fossils are called paleontologists. When they discover a fossil, they try to find out all about it. They write down where it was found and what rock it was in. Once they know what kind of fossil it is, it's stored in a museum.

研究化石的人被称为古生物学家。 他们发现化石后，会努力弄清和它相关的所有信息。 他们会记录化石的发现地点，以及它所在的岩石类型。 确定化石的种类后，它就会被存放在博物馆里。

How are fossils made? An animal such as a dinosaur dies. Its soft insides get eaten by other animals. Its bones are quickly covered with thick layers of mud.

化石是怎么形成的？ 像恐龙这样的动物死亡后， 它柔软的内脏会被其他动物吃掉。 它的骨骼很快就会被厚厚的泥浆层覆盖。

Over a long time, the mud gets squashed and it hardens into rock. The bones are preserved in the rock. Millions of years later, someone finds the fossil dinosaur bones in the rock.

漫长的岁月里，泥浆被挤压，慢慢硬化成岩石。 骨骼就被封存在岩石里保存了下来。 数百万年后，人们就会在岩石里发现恐龙骨骼化石。

Where can you find fossils? Fossils are found all over the world. If you'd like to go fossil hunting, the seaside is a good place to look. Waves crash against the cliffs and wash bits of rock away, showing the fossils hidden inside.

你在哪里可以找到化石？ 世界各地都能找到化石。 如果你想去挖化石，海边是个非常好的去处。 海浪不断拍打悬崖，冲落小块的岩石， 藏在岩石里的化石就会露出来啦。