Apparently what happened was that water collected on these tar pits, and the bigger animals like the elephants ventured out on to the apparently firm surface to drink, and were promptly bogged in the tar.
沥青坑里积存了水，大象那样的大动物冒险到似乎坚固的水面上去饮水，立即掉进了沥青坑。
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. 坚固的，坚牢的;坚定的，坚决的;严格的;确定的;
vt.& vi. 使坚固;使坚实;
n. 商号，商行;公司;企业;工作集体;
adv. 坚定地，稳固地;
vt. 使坚定，使牢固;
vi. 变坚实，变稳固;
💡 firm =firm,表示”坚定,坚固”
"The company has now amalgamated with another local firm."
这家公司现在已与当地一家公司合并了。
近义：office, bureau, business, company, concern, corporation
反义：astable, astatic, precarious, unsettled, unsteady, wobbly
n. 表面;外观，外表;地面。水面;
vi. 浮出水面;在表面工作;显露;
vt. 使浮出水面;使成平面;
adj. 表面的，外观的;外表上的，平地上的;肤浅的;
💡 sur超过，在上面+face脸面→表面
"Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria adhere to the surface of the red cells."
细菌一进入血液里，就附着在红细胞表面上。
近义：appear, arise, loom, materialize, outcrop, rise
adv. 敏捷地;迅速地;立即地;毫不迟疑;
💡 em, emp, empt 表示”拿,买,选择,用,花费”等动作#词根助记：pro在前+mpt拿=在最前面拿的=迅速的
"She deals with all the correspondence promptly and efficiently."
她迅速有效地处理全部来往信件。
近义：apace, asap, quickly, rapidly, speedily, expeditiously
反义：leisurely, slow, tardily, unhurriedly, calmly, lazily
adv. 据…所知;看来;显然 ;
"Apparently they are getting divorced soon."
看样子，他们很快就要离婚。
近义：ostensibly, presumedly, seemingly, evidently
反义：honestly, indeed, just, authentically, particularly, properly
n. 水;雨水;海水;海域;
v. 给…浇水;供以水;加水稀释;流泪;
💡 字母W像水的波浪，联想到水。
"A gentle wind disturbed the surface of the water."
微风拂动水面.
近义：irrigate, squirt, douche, weep, blubber, boohoo