研究表明，2014 年发现的一块巨型陨石曾在地球上引发了一场人类已知规模最大的海啸，并且让海洋都沸腾了。这块太空岩石的大小是导致恐龙灭绝的陨石的 200 倍，在距今 30 亿年前撞向了形成初期的地球。
Early Earth was beset by meteorites hitting over and over, churning up what was a world made mostly of water. And S2 was a colossal space rock. About 30 miles wide, it was the size of Greater London and would have left an enormous crater when it hit Earth where South Africa is now.
早期地球曾饱受陨石撞击的袭扰，这些陨石不断搅动着这颗当时大多被水覆盖的星球。在这些陨石之中，S2 是一颗尤为硕大的太空岩石。这颗 30 英里宽的陨石和大伦敦地区的大小相当，其撞击了地球上目前南非所在的位置，并且在当时留下了一个巨大的陨石坑。
The impact would have created a tsunami likely bigger than any seen in human history, and the excess energy would have boiled the oceans. The skies would have turned black, blocking photosynthesis.
这颗陨石对地球的撞击引发的海啸很可能比人类历史上已知的任何一场海啸都要庞大，其释放出的过剩能量应当会让当时的海洋都沸腾起来。天空也会因此变得黑暗，妨碍了光合作用的进行。
To better understand these impacts, a team of scientists trekked into remote mountains carrying sledgehammers to collect the evidence. They were surprised to find signs that the collision created spikes in phosphorus and iron, which are both essential ingredients for life. Despite the devastation from the meteorite, simple life bounced back and thrived.
为了更好地研究这些影响，一个科学家团队带着大锤长途跋涉到了偏远山区收集证据。他们惊讶地发现，这次撞击使地球上磷和铁的含量激增，它们是组成生物的重要成分。虽然陨石造成了毁灭性的破坏，但简单的生物迅速恢复并开始繁荣生长。
词汇表
beset 被…困扰
churning up 搅动，搅拌
colossal 庞大的，硕大的
crater 坑
tsunami 海啸
excess 过量的，过剩的
photosynthesis 光合作用
trekked 长途跋涉
sledgehammers 大锤
spikes 激增
bounced back 迅速恢复
thrived 繁荣生长
阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。
1. Where on Earth did the meteorite S2 hit?
2. Why was photosynthesis affected by the meteorite's impact?
3. What surprised scientists?
4. How did simple life react after the meteorite hit?
答案
1. Where on Earth did the meteorite S2 hit?
Meteorite S2 hit Earth where South Africa is now.
2. Why was photosynthesis affected by the meteorite's impact?
Photosynthesis was affected by the meteorite's impact because the skies would have turned black.
3. What surprised scientists?
The scientists were surprised to find signs that the collision created spikes in phosphorus and iron, which are both essential ingredients to life.
4. How did simple life react after the meteorite hit?
Despite the devastation from the meteorite, simple life bounced back and thrived.