VOA慢速英语2016--小恐龙患上颌骨肿瘤

（单词翻译）

Small Dinosaur¹ Suffered from Jaw² Tumor³ 小恐龙患上颌骨肿瘤

For the first time ever, scientists have discovered a tumor in the remains⁴ of a dinosaur.

Researchers at the University of Southampton in England found the deformed⁵ jaw of a dinosaur. The smaller-than-normal dwarf⁶ dinosaur is called a hadrosaur. It is a duck-billed dinosaur.

The hadrosaur lived nearly 67 to 69 million years ago. It was found in what is called the “Valley of the Dinosaurs⁷.” That valley is in the Transylvania area of western Romania.

Dr. Zoltan Csiki-Sava was involved in finding the diseased hadrosaur. To investigate the tumor, her team was invited to Micro-CT scan the jawbone.

“The tumor in this dinosaur had not developed to its full extent at the moment it died,” the doctor said. “[The tumor] could have indirectly⁸ contributed to its early demise⁹.”

Kate Acheson is a PhD student researcher at the University of Southampton. She said the duck-billed dinosaurs were at higher risk for tumors than other dinosaurs.

The tumor is known as an ameloblastoma. That is a benign¹⁰ non-cancerous tumor that is found in the jaws¹¹ of human and other animals.

Researchers say the dinosaur likely did not suffer any pain during the early stages of the tumor. The dinosaur died before being fully¹² grown. Researchers are not sure if the tumor caused the death of the hadrosaur.

Words in This Story

tumor – n. a mass of tissue found in or on the body that is made up of abnormal cells

dinosaur – n. one of many reptiles¹³ that lived on earth millions of years ago

duck-billed – adj. have a projecting jaw, or beak¹⁴, like a duck

deformed – adj. not having the normal or expected shape especially because of a problem in the way something has developed or grown

hadrosaur – n. a planting-eating dinosaur with jaws flattened¹⁵ like the bill of a duck

dwarf – adj. smaller than normal size

demise – n. an end of life

ameloblastoma – n. a rare, benign tumor appearing in the lower jaw

benign – adj. not causing death or serious injury; without cancer