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开花植物(被子植物)历史的很多方面仍然是神秘的。

Many aspects of the history of flowering plants (angiosperms) remain mysterious.

最早的被子植物的证据来自于化石的叶子、茎、果实、花粉，以及非常罕见的花朵。

Evidence of the earliest angiosperms comes from fossilized leaves, stems, fruits, pollen, and, very rarely, flowers.

此外，为了确定哪些生物物种可能与被子植物的古代祖先关系最密切，人们对现代植物的形态(结构)和遗传学进行了很多研究。

In addition, there has been much study of modern plant morphology (structure) and genetics in order to determine which living species might be most closely related to the ancient ancestors of angiosperms.

尽管经过了200多年的努力，科学家们仍然没有就哪种植物是被子植物的祖先以及被子植物首次进化的时间和地点达成共识。

Despite intensive efforts for over 200 years, scientists have still not reached consensus on which type of plant was the ancestor to the angiosperms, and when and where the angiosperms first evolved.

事实上，查尔斯·达尔文自己把开花植物的起源称为“令人憎恶的谜团”。

Indeed, Charles Darwin himself called the origin of the flowering plants an "abominable mystery."

被子植物的祖先是什么类型的植物?

What type of plant was the ancestor to the angiosperms?

现在大多数植物学家都认同开花植物在起源上是单系的，这意味着它们是从同一个祖先进化而来。

Most botanists now agree that the flowering plants are monophyletic in origin, meaning that they evolved from a common ancestor.

一些古生物学家认为，它们的共同祖先可能是一种苏铁(掌状的热带植物)。

Some paleontologists have suggested that the common ancestor may have been a type of cycad (palmlike tropical plants).

其他古生物学家坚持认定被子植物可能是由有种子的蕨类植物进化而来的

Other paleontologists maintain that the angiosperms may have evolved from seed-bearing ferns.

最后，对一些原始活植物形态特征的分析表明，其祖先可能与现代松树有关。

Finally, analysis of the morphological traits of some primitive living plants suggests that the ancestor may have been related to the modern pines.

被子植物祖先的问题仍然没有解决。

The question of angiosperm ancestry remains unresolved.

开花植物首次出现的时间和地点一直是一个人们抱有兴趣的话题。

The time and place of the first appearance of flowering plants have long been a topic of great interest.

有充分的化石证据表明，早期被子植物，包括一些与现代木兰相似的植物，出现在早白垩世地质时期(1亿多年前)。

There is good fossil evidence that early angiosperms, including a number resembling modern magnolias, were present in the Early Cretaceous geologic period (more than 100 million years ago).

被子植物在这一时期变得越来越多。

Angiosperms became increasingly abundant during this period.

在1亿到6500万年前，也就是白垩纪晚期，被子植物从不到1%的植物占比增长到超过50%。

Between 100 million and 65 million years ago, a period known as the Late Cretaceous, angiosperms increased from less than 1 percent of flora (plant life) to well over 50 percent.

很多现代植物家族都是在这个时期出现的。

Many of the modern plant families appeared during this time period.

在随后的第三纪早期，被子植物增加到地球总植物占比的90%甚至更多。

In the Early Tertiary period which followed, angiosperms increased to comprise 90 percent or more of Earth's total flora.

这些成功的植物最开始是从哪里起源和传播的呢?

Where did these successful plants first originate and spread from?

通过对白垩纪被子植物化石叶结构和地理分布的分析，许多生物地理学家得出了被子植物在热带地区进化，然后向极地迁移的结论。

Analysis of the fossil leaf structure and geographic distribution of the earliest Cretaceous angiosperms has led many biogeographers to conclude that they evolved in the tropics and then migrated poleward.

众所周知，被子植物直到白垩纪晚期才在高纬度地区占主导地位。

It is known that angiosperms did not become dominant in the high latitudes until the Late Cretaceous.

古生物学家在南美东部和非洲西部的早白垩纪沉积物中发现了被子植物的叶子、茎和花粉的化石。

Paleontologists have recovered fossil angiosperm leaves, stems, and pollen from Early Cretaceous deposits in eastern South America and western Africa.

这两个连接的大陆曾经是冈瓦纳大陆的一部分，而冈瓦纳大陆是当时存在的两个超级大陆之一。

These two continents were joined together as part of Gondwanaland, one of two supercontinents that existed at that time.

在白垩纪早期时，这些被发现的早期被子植物的位置接近赤道，与被子植物从热带向极地扩散的模式相一致。

The locations of these early angiosperm finds would have been close to the equator during the Early Cretaceous and are conformable with a model by which angiosperms spread from the tropics poleward.

并不是所有的植物学家都同意非洲-南美是被子植物进化和传播的中心，他们指出许多最原始的开花植物都是在南太平洋发现的，包括斐济、新喀里多尼亚、新几内亚、澳大利亚东部和马来群岛。

Not all botanists agree with an African-South American center for the evolution and dispersal of the angiosperms, pointing out that many of the most primitive forms of flowering plants are found in the South Pacific, including portions of Fiji, New Caledonia, New Guinea, eastern Australia, and the Malay Archipelago.

最近的基因研究已经确认了稀有的热带灌木Amborella是与所有被子植物的远古祖先有最密切关系的植物。

Recent genetic research has identified the rare tropical shrub Amborella as being the living plant most closely related to the ancient ancestor of all the angiosperms.

这种小灌木有黄白色的小花和红色的果实，只发现于南太平洋的一组岛屿新喀里多尼亚。

This small shrub, which has tiny yellow-white flowers and red fruit, is found only on New Caledonia, a group of islands in the South Pacific.

许多植物学家认为，对于南太平洋地区有大量原始被子植物的最好解释是，这里是开花植物最早进化的地方，而这些现代物种是这种早期进化的遗迹。

Many botanists conclude that the best explanation for the large numbers of primitive living angiosperms in the South Pacific region is that this is where the flowering plants first evolved and these modern species are relics of this early evolution.

将Amborella的DNA与数百种开花植物的DNA进行比较后发现，第一个被子植物的出现和不同物种的进化大约发生在1.35亿年前。

Comparisons of the DNA of Amborella and many hundreds of species of flowering plants suggest that the first angiosperm arose and the development of separate species occurred about 135 million years ago.

不久前发现的化石使我们对被子植物起源的理解更加复杂。

Recently discovered fossils complicate our understanding of the origin of the angiosperms even further.

来自中国的古生物学家在中国的侏罗纪时期的沉积物中发现了保存完好的被子植物化石，包含花和种子。

Paleontologists from China have found beautifully preserved fossils of an angiosperm plant, including flowers and seeds, in Jurassic period deposits from China.

这个位于现代北京附近遗址大概有一亿三千万年的历史。

The site, which is about 130 million years old, is near modern Beijing.

在这里发现的新化石植物是目前已知的最古老的被子植物。

The new fossil plant found at the site is one of the oldest known angiosperms.

化石的年代和花的原始特征使发现者认为，最早的开花植物可能是在亚洲北部进化的。

The age of the fossils and the very primitive features of the flowers have led the discoverers to suggest that the earliest flowering plants may have evolved in northern Asia.

The phrase “not reached consensus on “in the passage is closest in meaning to

According to paragraph 1, all of the following types of evidence have been important for studying the history of angiosperms EXCEPT

The word “maintain'' in the passage is closest in meaning to

According to paragraph 2, most botanists now believe which of the following about angiosperms?

Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 3 about angiosperms during the Early Cretaceous?

Why does the author include the information that “fossil angiosperm leaves, stems, and pollen" have been found in places that were once joined together as part of Gondwanaland?

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information

According to paragraph 6, which of the following is true of angiosperm fossils discovered in China?

Look at the four squares  that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage But their origin and evolution have been under considerable dispute.  Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a square  to add the sentence to the passage.

Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage This question is worth 2 points.

Evolution of the Flowering Plants Many aspects of the history of flowering plants (angiosperms) remain mysterious. Evidence of the earliest angiosperms comes from fossilized leaves, stems, fruits, pollen, and, very rarely, flowers. In addition, there has been much study of modern plant morphology (structure) and genetics in order to determine which living species might be most closely related to the ancient ancestors of angiosperms. Despite intensive efforts for over 200 years, scientists have still not reached consensus on which type of plant was the ancestor to the angiosperms, and when and where the angiosperms first evolved. Indeed, Charles Darwin himself called the origin of the flowering plants an “abominable mystery.” What type of plant was the ancestor to the angiosperms? Most botanists now agree that the flowering plants are monophyletic in origin, meaning that they evolved from a common ancestor. Some paleontologists have suggested that the common ancestor may have been a type of cycad (palmlike tropical plants). Other paleontologists maintain that the angiosperms may have evolved from seed-bearing ferns. Finally, analysis of the morphological traits of some primitive living plants suggests that the ancestor may have been related to the modern pines. The question of angiosperm ancestry remains unresolved. The time and place of the first appearance of flowering plants have long been a topic of great interest. There is good fossil evidence that early angiosperms, including a number resembling modern magnolias, were present in the Early Cretaceous geologic period (more than 100 million years ago). Angiosperms became increasingly abundant during this period. Between 100 million and 65 million years ago, a period known as the Late Cretaceous, angiosperms increased from less than 1 percent of flora (plant life) to well over 50 percent. Many of the modern plant families appeared during this time period. In the Early Tertiary period which followed, angiosperms increased to comprise 90 percent or more of Earth’s total flora. Where did these successful plants first originate and spread from? Analysis of the fossil leaf structure and geographic distribution of the earliest Cretaceous angiosperms has led many biogeographers to conclude that they evolved in the tropics and then migrated poleward. It is known that angiosperms did not become dominant in the high latitudes until the Late Cretaceous. Paleontologists have recovered fossil angiosperm leaves, stems, and pollen from Early Cretaceous deposits in eastern South America and western Africa. These two continents were joined together as part of Gondwanaland, one of two supercontinents that existed at that time. The locations of these early angiosperm finds would have been close to the equator during the Early Cretaceous and are conformable with a model by which angiosperms spread from the tropics poleward. Not all botanists agree with an African-South American center for the evolution and dispersal of the angiosperms, pointing out that many of the most primitive forms of flowering plants are found in the South Pacific, including portions of Fiji, New Caledonia, New Guinea, eastern Australia, and the Malay Archipelago. Recent genetic research has identified the rare tropical shrub Amborella as being the living plant most closely related to the ancient ancestor of all the angiosperms. This small shrub, which has tiny yellow-white flowers and red fruit, is found only on New Caledonia, a group of islands in the South Pacific. Many botanists conclude that the best explanation for the large numbers of primitive living angiosperms in the South Pacific region is that this is where the flowering plants first evolved and these modern species are relics of this early evolution. Comparisons of the DNA of Amborella and many hundreds of species of flowering plants suggest that the first angiosperm arose and the development of separate species occurred about 135 million years ago. Recently discovered fossils complicate our understanding of the origin of the angiosperms even further. Paleontologists from China have found beautifully preserved fossils of an angiosperm plant, including flowers and seeds, in Jurassic period deposits from China. The site, which is about 130 million years old, is near modern Beijing. The new fossil plant found at the site is one of the oldest known angiosperms. The age of the fossils and the very primitive features of the flowers have led the discoverers to suggest that the earliest flowering plants may have evolved in northern Asia.