尼罗河流域定居地（中英双语）
SETTLEMENT OF THE NILE VALLEY
尼罗河流域定居地
Known for being the longest river in the world, the Nile rises just south of the equator and flows northward through northeastern Africa. Its waters drain into the Mediterranean Sea. For more than 10,000 years, hunters and gatherers roamed the Nile valley in northeastern Africa.
尼罗河以世界上最长的河流文明，发源于赤道以南，向北流经非洲东北部。它的水汇入地中海。一万多年来，猎人和采集者在非洲东北部的尼罗河流域漫步。
As the climate became hot and dry, harsh desert conditions developed on either side of the 4,258-mile-long (6,853kilometer) river. The Nile became the only oasis for drinking water, food, and transportation. Eventually it became what the ancient Egyptians believed to be the gateway to the afterlife.
随着气候变得又热又干，这条4258英里（6853千米）的河流两侧都出现了恶劣的沙漠。尼罗河成为唯一提供饮用水、食物和交通的河流。最终，成为古埃及人通向来世的大门。
The formerly nomadic Egyptians established villages and towns along its riverbanks. The time of this settlement is known as the Predynastic Era (5th millennium BCE–C. 3100 BCE).
以前的游牧埃及人沿着河岸建立了村庄和城镇。这些定居地的时间被称为前王朝时代（公元前5000年-公元前3100年）
In order to control the Nile, the ancient Egyptians invented a year-round irrigation system. It sent river water along short canals to nearby fields. With an ongoing watering system, farmers could plant seeds and grains.
为了控制尼罗河，古埃及人发明了全年灌溉系统。它将河水沿着短运河输送到附近的田地。有了持续的灌溉系统，农民可以播种种子和谷物。
They developed a measuring system that allowed them to plant such crops as wheat and barley. These ingredients were used to make such Egyptian staples as bread, soup, and beer.
他们开发了一种季节观测系统，指导他们种植小麦和大麦的时机。这些粮食被用来制作主食，如面包、稀饭和啤酒。
The ancient Egyptians also used the land to domesticate long-horned cattle, sheep, goats, and geese. These animals provided food, and the cattle also supplied labor to plow the fields and carry heavy loads.
古埃及人还利用这块土地驯养长角牛、绵羊、山羊和鹅。这些动物提供食物，牛也提供劳力犁地或搬运重物。
The ancient Egyptians were skilled artisans.They used nearby resources to build homes, make clothing, and craft home goods. They spun and wove flax for white linen clothing. This style of dress helped them keep cool in the scorching climate.
古埃及人是技艺高超的工匠。他们利用附近的资源建造房屋、制作衣服和日用品。他们纺织亚麻做白色亚麻衣服。这种款式的衣服帮助他们在酷热的气候中保持凉爽。
Paperworkers gathered papyrus reeds from the Nile marshes to make pale-yellow writing paper. Weavers used the reeds for baskets, mats, rope, and sandals. Metalworkers used metals and precious stones to fashion jewelry, dishes, tools, and weapons.
造纸工从尼罗河沼泽收集纸莎草，制成淡黄色纸张。织工用芦苇做篮子、席子、绳子和凉鞋。铁匠和金匠用金属和宝石制作首饰、餐具、工具和武器。
In fact, many of ancient Egypt’s artisan goods were preserved over generations and discovered by archaeologists.
事实上，古埃及的许多手工艺品都是经过许多代人保存下来，并被考古学家发现。
词汇短语
drain 排出
Mediterranean 地中海
hunter 猎人
gatherer 采集者
roamed 漫步
harsh 恶劣
desert 荒漠
condition 环境
oasis 绿洲
gateway 门道
formerly 从前
nomadic 游牧的
established 建立
settlement 定居地
Predynastic 前王朝
millennium 千年
irrigation 灌溉
canal 运河
ongoing 持续
crops 庄稼
wheat 小麦
barley 大麦
ingredient 原料
staple 主食
domesticate 驯养
cattle 牛
supplied 提供
labor 劳动
plow 犁
skilled 专业的
artisan 工匠
resources 资源
craft 手工
spun 纺线
wove 织布
flax 亚麻
linen 亚麻布
scorching 酷热的
papyrus 纸莎草
reed 芦苇
marshes 沼泽
weaver 织工
sandal 凉鞋
metal 金属
precious 珍贵的
fashion 塑造
jewelry 首饰
preserved 保存好的
generation 代
archaeologist 考古学家
in order 井然有序
year-round 全年
send along 发送
long-horned 长角
in the world 天下
south of 以南
be known 以…闻名
as in fact 实际上
