But even in the most favourable circumstances only a small fraction of the creatures that die are preserved in this way before decay sets in or, even more likely, before scavengers eat them.
即使是在最有利的环境中，死去的生物中也只有一小部分能在开始腐烂前，或更可能在被食腐动物吃掉之前，被这样保存下来。
新概念英语第四册
Lesson 26 The past life of the earth
📚 句中词汇解析
从本句中提取的重要词汇
adj. 顺利的，良好的;有利的;赞许的;给人好印象的;
💡 favour赞成+able...的 →赞许的
"She made a favourable impression on his parents."
她给他的父母留下了好印象。
近义：helpful, assenting, opportune, auspicious, pro, profitable
反义：inauspicious, negative, opposed, perverse, averse, bad
n. [数]分数;一小部分，些微;不相连的一块，片段;[化]分馏;
💡 fract打碎+ion名词后缀 → 部分；小片，分数
"It remains a fraction of its former size."
它目前的规模只有以前的一小部分。
近义：partition, subdivide, fractionate, fractionize, fragment, fragmentize
反义：league, merge, pool, rally, unify, unite
vt.& vi. （使）腐烂，腐朽;
vi. 衰败，衰退，衰落;
n. 腐败、衰退的状态;
💡 de向下+cay落下→向下掉→衰退;腐败
"The decay of the meat could have been prevented by proper refrigeration."
如果经过适当的冷藏,这些肉本来不至于腐烂掉.
近义：molder, putrefy, putresce, rot, spoil, taint
adj. 可能的;适合的;有希望的;
adv. 可能;或许;大概;多半;
💡 like可能 + ly...的\/地 → a.可能的 ad.很可能
"Rice flour makes the cake less likely to crumble."
这种糕饼用米粉做不那么容易碎。
近义：inclined, apt, liable, ostensible, plausible, possible
反义：imaginary, implausible, improbable, unbelievable, uncertain, utopical
adj. 小的;难为情的;低级的，卑劣的;细微的，微弱的;
adv. 小小地;卑鄙地;
n. 细小部分，腰部;琐碎东西;身份低的人;矮小的人;
"These small particles agglomerate together to form larger clusters."
这些颗粒聚结形成较大的团。
近义：little, meager, meagre, minute, reduced, scanty
反义：large, major, sizeable, sizable, some, capital