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.
即使是在最有利的環境中，死去的生物中也只有一小部分能在開始腐爛前，或更可能在被食腐動物吃掉之前，被這樣保存下來。
新概念英語第四冊
Lesson 26 The past life of the earth
?? 句中詞匯解析
從本句中提取的重要詞匯
adj. 順利的，良好的;有利的;贊許的;給人好印象的;
?? favour贊成+able...的 →贊許的
"She made a favourable impression on his parents."
她給他的父母留下了好印象。
近義：helpful, assenting, opportune, auspicious, pro, profitable
反義：inauspicious, negative, opposed, perverse, averse, bad
n. [數]分數;一小部分，些微;不相連的一塊，片段;[化]分餾;
?? fract打碎+ion名詞后綴 → 部分；小片，分數
"It remains a fraction of its former size."
它目前的規模只有以前的一小部分。
近義：partition, subdivide, fractionate, fractionize, fragment, fragmentize
反義：league, merge, pool, rally, unify, unite
vt.& vi. （使）腐爛，腐朽;
vi. 衰敗，衰退，衰落;
n. 腐敗、衰退的狀態;
?? de向下+cay落下→向下掉→衰退;腐敗
"The decay of the meat could have been prevented by proper refrigeration."
如果經過適當的冷藏,這些肉本來不至于腐爛掉.
近義：molder, putrefy, putresce, rot, spoil, taint
adj. 可能的;適合的;有希望的;
adv. 可能;或許;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."
這種糕餅用米粉做不那么容易碎。
近義：inclined, apt, liable, ostensible, plausible, possible
反義：imaginary, implausible, improbable, unbelievable, uncertain, utopical
adj. 小的;難為情的;低級的，卑劣的;細微的，微弱的;
adv. 小小地;卑鄙地;
n. 細小部分，腰部;瑣碎東西;身份低的人;矮小的人;
"These small particles agglomerate together to form larger clusters."
這些顆粒聚結形成較大的團。
近義：little, meager, meagre, minute, reduced, scanty
反義：large, major, sizeable, sizable, some, capital