乾旱求生推測
In a new paper published in “Science,” a team of botanists from Yale University reveal that they may have unraveled a mystery that has stood for a century—why land plants evolved such complex vascular systems.
在一篇新發表於《科學》期刊的論文中，耶魯大學的植物學家團隊認為他們已經破解了一世紀以來的謎團──為何陸生植物演化出如此複雜的維管系統。
evolve (v.)演化、進化；evolution (n.)演化、進化；revolve (v.)旋轉
When land plants first came into being around 500 million years ago, they had very simple vascular systems that resembled bundles of straws.
當陸生植物在大約5億年前剛出現時，它們擁有像一束吸管般的簡單維管系統。
come into being 誕生、形成、開始存在resemble (v.)像、與……相似
However, this straightforward structure for sucking up water and nutrients started to change about 420 million years ago, when the “straws” gradually split into more elaborate structures, shapes, and sizes.
然而，這個用來吸收水分和養分的簡單構造大約在4.2億年前開始變化，「吸管」漸漸分裂成較複雜的結構、形狀和大小。
straightforward (adj.)簡單的、直率的elaborate (adj.)複雜的
The mystery as to why evolution favored these more complex interiors had left scientists scratching their heads for nearly 100 years.
為何這些較複雜的內部結構有演化優勢的謎團，已讓科學家困惑將近100年。
interior (n.)內部；exterior (n.)外部scratch one’s head 感到疑惑、傷腦筋
Now, the Yale scientists suggest that a lack of water might be what first drove the evolution of plants’ interiors.
現在，耶魯的科學家認為水資源匱乏可能是起初造成植物內部演化的原因。
drive (v.)驅動、推動
During drought, plants can easily dry out, resulting in air bubbles forming inside that block water from flowing up through the roots.
在乾旱時期，植物很容易變乾，在裡面形成阻擋水分從根部流上來的氣泡。
This can potentially kill the entire plant.
這可能導致整株植物死亡。
potentially=possibly (adv.)可能地
When comparing the vascular systems of some modern plants with those of extinct plants preserved in fossils, researchers found that the more elaborate systems of modern plants leave air bubbles having fewer neighbors to spread to, thus cordoning off the air bubbles.
當研究人員比較現代植物和保存在化石中的已滅絕植物的維管系統時，他們發現現代植物較複雜的系統讓氣泡難以從周邊擴散出去，因此將氣泡隔絕起來。
compare A with B 將A與B相比extinct (adj.)滅絕的、絕種的cordon off 封鎖、包圍
The researchers concluded that every plant that deviates from the primitive straw-like system has an increased ability to survive drought.
研究人員推斷演化脫離原始的吸管狀系統的植物較能在乾旱中存活下來。
deviate (v.)偏離、脫離primitive (adj.)原始的；primitive man 原始人