Major discoveries don't happen very often. Furthermore, these discoveries rarely cause scientists to re-examine something they once thought was true. This month, National Geographic Channel explores a mystery that will do just that. China's Mystery Mummies takes viewers to the Tarim Basin. This is a Chinese desert where hundreds of European-looking mummies were found. Originally, scientists thought the desert was too harsh to be habitable. So where did the mummies come from?

The mummies were first found in 1978, but people forgot about them until they were found again in a regional museum. This year, NGC follows a team of Chinese scientists as they analyze the mummies and take DNA samples. DNA will help the team find real answers about who the mummies were. Luckily, the mummies are well preserved. That is because the weather conditions in the desert are extremely dry and perfect for mummification.

Besides what the scientific tests show, the clothes and objects which were found with the mummies give clues about where they had come from. Their clothes are plaid, which was first seen in Europe. In addition, many of them have light hair.

重大的发现并不常发生。再者，这些发现鲜少能令科学家重新审视他们一度认为是真的事物。本月份，国家地理频道探索一个将起如此效用的谜团。《中国神秘木乃伊》将带观众一访塔里木盆地。就在这片中国的沙漠里，上百具状似欧洲人的木乃伊为人所发现。起初科学家认为严峻的沙漠不适合人居住。那么这些木乃伊到底从何而来？

这些木乃伊于公元1978年寻获，不过人们竟将其忘记，直到它们再度于一间区域性博物馆中被发现。今年，国家地理频道跟随一队中国科学家前往分析这些木乃伊，并且抽取染色体样本。染色体将帮助这批队伍查出木乃伊身分的真正答案。幸运的是，这些木乃伊都保存得宜。那是因为沙漠里的天气情况极其干燥，最适合木乃伊化。

除了这些科学化验所呈现出的结果，跟木乃伊一同被发现的衣服及物品也提供线索显示它们从何而来。他们的衣服为格子花纹，这种图样首见于欧洲。除此之外，它们多有浅色的头发。

Building Your Vocabulary

1.originally　adv. 最初，原先
We originally planned to go to France, but found out we didn't have enough money.
我们原先计划去法国，不过却发现我们的钱不够。

2. harsh　a. 严峻的；严厉的
Aren't you a little too harsh with your child?
We originally planned to go to France, but found out we didn't have enough money.
你会不会对你的小孩太严厉了一点？

3.habitable 　a. 适宜居住的
This house is too old to be habitable.
这间房子太老旧了，不适合人居住。

4.regional 　a. 地区的，区域的
The effect of the typhoon was only regional.
这个台风只造成区域性的影响。

5. analyze　vt. 分析
Dr. Lee carefully analyzed the new virus.
李医生仔细地分析了这种新病毒。

6.scientific 　a. 科学的
Many superstitions actually have scientific explanations behind them.
许多迷信背后其实都有科学上的解释。

参考字词

1. mummy　n. 木乃伊
2. basin　n. 盆地
3. conditions　n.（恒为复数，天气）情况
4. mummification　n. 木乃伊化
5. plaid　n.（布料或衣服上的）格子图样