19 Fossil Hunters

Fossil Hunters by JUDITH BAUER STAMPER

《化石猎人》朱迪思·鲍尔·斯坦普著

Chapter 1 What Are Fossils? Fossils are the remains of animals or plants. These animals or plants lived millions of years ago. Sometimes, plants and animals are saved forever as fossils. Many of these fossils are found in rocks.

第一章什么是化石? 化石是动物或植物的残骸。 这些动物或植物生活在数百万年前。 有时，植物和动物被永远保存为化石。 许多化石是在岩石中发现的。

Chapter 2 How Are Fossils Formed? Many fossils are found in sedimentary rock. This rock forms when sand, mud, and rock are pressed together for a long time. Here is how a fossil is formed. 1. An animal is buried in sediment— mud or sand— after it dies. 2. Most of the animal rots. Hard parts, such as bones and teeth, stay trapped in the mud or sand. 3. Over time, bones and teeth change into rocklike minerals. 4. The teeth and bones are saved as fossils in the sedimentary rock.

第二章化石是如何形成的? 在沉积岩中发现了许多化石。 这种岩石是沙子、泥浆和岩石长时间挤压在一起形成的。 化石是这样形成的。 1. 动物死后被埋在泥沙或沙子里。 2. 大多数动物都腐烂了。 坚硬的部分，如骨头和牙齿，被困在泥土或沙子里。 3.随着时间的推移，骨骼和牙齿变成了岩石状的矿物质。 4. 牙齿和骨骼以化石的形式保存在沉积岩中。

Chapter 3 Fossil Hunters Some scientists study fossils. They are called paleontologists. Some work in labs or museums. Others dig for fossils. Mary Anning was a young "fossil hunter." She was 12 when she found a fossil of an ichthyosaur. This is a sea creature from long ago. Mary also found other fossils. They helped scientists learn about the past.

有些科学家研究化石。 他们被称为古生物学家。 有些人在实验室或博物馆工作。 其他人则挖掘化石。玛丽·安宁是一位年轻的“化石猎人”。 她12岁时发现了一块鱼龙化石。 这是很久以前的海洋生物。 玛丽还发现了其他化石。 它们帮助科学家了解过去。

Chapter 4 Fossil Hiding Places Where can people find fossils? A good fossil hunting place is a cliff by an ocean. There, water wears away sedimentary rock. It uncovers fossils. Another good place to find fossils is where rock has been cut through to make a road.

第四章化石藏身处人们在哪里可以找到化石? 寻找化石的好地方是海边的悬崖。 在那里，水冲刷着沉积岩。 它发现了化石。另一个寻找化石的好地方是岩石被凿开筑路的地方。