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藏在骨头里的真相：古 DNA 改写美第奇家族四百年的"毒杀"传说
The Truth in the Bones: Ancient DNA Rewrites the Medici Family's 400-Year "Poisoning" Legend
An intermediate Chinese listening story: the Medici's power bred a 400-year poisoning legend around Duke Francesco's death, until ancient DNA from the brothers' bones revealed the malaria parasite, rewriting the tale.
This is an HSK 5-6 Chinese listening episode that runs about 2 minutes. The full Mandarin script is shown with tap-for-pinyin and a line-by-line English translation, so you can listen and read at once — comprehensible input in the sense of Stephen Krashen's i+1 theory. It teaches 11 key vocabulary words such as 历史、决定、研究 and walks through 3 grammar patterns, each explained in English with examples. The same news story is retold at 4 difficulty levels — use the level selector above to find the version that is challenging but still understandable for you.
如果要在欧洲历史上找一个"权力与阴谋"的代名词，Medici（美第奇）家族一定榜上有名。
If you had to name a byword for "power and intrigue" in European history, the Medici family would surely be on the list.
几百年前，他们掌控着意大利名城佛罗伦萨，富可敌国，还接连出过好几位教皇。
A few centuries ago they controlled the famous Italian city of Florence, rich beyond measure, and even produced several popes.
而伴随这种权力的，往往是数不清的宫廷传闻，其中最出名的，就是一桩四百多年的"毒杀谜案"。
And with such power came countless court rumors, the most famous of which was a "poisoning mystery" more than four hundred years old.
一五八七年，家族的大公爵弗朗切斯科，在四十六岁那年突然病倒，几天后离世，几乎与妻子比安卡同时去世。
In 1587, the family's Grand Duke Francesco suddenly fell ill at 46 and died days later, almost at the same time as his wife Bianca.
两人死得太过突然，宫廷内外很快传开一种说法：他们是被人用砒霜毒死的。
The two died so suddenly that a rumor quickly spread through the court: they had been poisoned with arsenic.
矛头，直指弗朗切斯科的弟弟费迪南多——一位红衣主教，也是哥哥去世后最大的受益者，因为大位就此落到了他手里。
The finger pointed straight at Francesco's brother Ferdinando, a cardinal and the biggest beneficiary, since the throne passed to him once his brother was gone.
四百多年来，这桩"兄弟相残"的故事，被无数书籍和影视一再演绎。
For over four hundred years, this tale of "brother against brother" was retold again and again in books and films.
然而今年，来自耶鲁和比萨大学的研究者，决定用科学重新审视这桩旧案。
This year, though, researchers from Yale and Pisa decided to re-examine the old case with science.
他们从弗朗切斯科，以及另一位早逝的兄弟乔瓦尼的肋骨中，提取出保存了数百年的古 DNA。
From the rib bones of Francesco and another brother who died young, Giovanni, they extracted ancient DNA preserved for centuries.
结果，在两人的骨头里，都检出了恶性疟原虫，也就是引发最凶险疟疾的那种寄生虫。
In the bones of both men, they detected Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite behind the deadliest form of malaria.
换句话说，真正夺走他们生命的，极可能就是疟疾。
In other words, what most likely took their lives was malaria itself.
当年的高烧、发冷和迅速衰弱，也确实更像是疟疾的症状。
The fever, chills, and rapid decline described back then really do look more like the symptoms of malaria.
一段流传了四个世纪的谋杀传说，就这样，被埋在骨头深处的基因，悄悄改写。
And so a murder legend passed down for four centuries was quietly rewritten by genes buried deep in old bone.
在欧洲历史上 = in European history.
决定用科学重新审视 = decided to re-examine it with science.
来自耶鲁和比萨大学的研究者 = researchers from Yale and Pisa.
最凶险疟疾 = the deadliest malaria.
换句话说 = in other words.
四百多年来 = for over four hundred years.
Medici 家族 = the Medici family.
大公爵弗朗切斯科 = Grand Duke Francesco.
被人用砒霜毒死的 = poisoned with arsenic.
引发最凶险疟疾的寄生虫 = the parasite behind the deadliest malaria.
被埋在骨头深处的基因 = genes buried deep in the bone.
* beyond level超纲词
如果要……，一定……
如果要 X，一定 Y = "if you had to X, then surely Y".
如果要找一个"权力与阴谋"的代名词，Medici 家族一定榜上有名。
换句话说，……
换句话说 = "in other words".
换句话说，真正夺走他们生命的，极可能就是疟疾。
就这样，被……
就这样，被 X = "and just like that, it was (done) by X".
一段谋杀传说，就这样，被埋在骨头深处的基因，悄悄改写。
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