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Over the years the Rapanui created a complex social system.
多年来，拉帕努伊人创造了一个复杂的社会制度。
They became one of Polynesia’s most advanced cultures.
他们成为波利尼西亚最先进的文化之一。
Different chiefs led 11 different Rapanui tribes.
不同的酋长领导着11个不同的拉帕努伊部落。
The tribes lived together peacefully.
这些部落和平共处。
But, over time something started to threaten that peace.
但是，随着时间的推移，一些东西开始威胁到这种和平。
At first the Rapanui population grew slowly.
起初，拉帕努伊人的人口增长缓慢。
And then it began to grow more quickly.
然后，拉帕努伊人的人口开始增长得更快。
The Rapanui population reached its highest around the middle of the second millennium.
拉帕努伊人口在第二个千年中期左右达到最高水平。
There were between 10,000 and 20,000 Rapanui people at this time.
当时有1万到2万名拉帕努伊人。
But, beginning around the year 1600 their culture began to fall apart.
但是，大约从1600年开始，他们的文化开始分崩离析。
And by the middle of the nineteenth century the Rapanui had almost disappeared completely!
到19世纪中叶，拉帕努伊人几乎完全消失了！
Many scientists have studied Easter Island.
许多科学家对复活节岛进行了研究。
They had many questions about the Rapanui people.
他们对拉帕努伊人有很多疑问。
The scientists did not understand how such a complex society could just disappear.
科学家不明白，这样一个复杂的社会怎么可能就这么消失了。
But now, after many years of research, scientists believe they have solved the mystery.
但现在，经过多年的研究，科学家认为他们已经解开了这个谜团。
They have theories about what happened to the Rapanui people.
他们对拉帕努伊人的遭遇有自己的理论。
No one can be completely sure what happened to the people on Easter Island.
没有人能完全确定复活节岛上的人们发生了什么。
But, the scientists’ theories may be important to our world today.
但是，科学家的理论可能会对我们今天的世界很重要。
In effect, the scientists believe that Easter Island may serve as a small model.
实际上，科学家认为复活节岛可以作为一个小模型。
What happened on Easter Island may represent what could happen to our planet.
复活节岛上发生的事情可能代表着地球可能会发生的事情。
The scientists believe that the Rapanui culture rose and fell with the island’s trees.
科学家认为，拉帕努伊文化是随着岛上树木的兴衰变化而变化的。
You see, the Rapanui used the same word for “tree” as for “riches” or “wealth.”
你看，拉帕努伊人用“树”这个词来表示“财富”。
Scientists studied the remains of trees on the island.
科学家研究了岛上的树木残骸。
And they found that the Rapanui used the island’s trees for everything.
他们发现，拉帕努伊人用岛上的树做一切事情。
They ate the fruit the trees produced.
他们吃树上的果实。
They also ate the birds that lived in the trees.
他们还吃住在树上的鸟。
They used the leaves to build the tops of their houses.
他们用树叶盖房子的顶部。
They used the trees’ outer parts to make clothes.
他们用树的外层做衣服。
They burned the wood to cook their food and to keep warm.
他们烧木头做饭取暖。
They used the trees tall centres to make small boats for fishing in deep water.
他们利用树高的中心制造小船，以便在深水捕鱼。
And they used fibre from the wood to create ropes.
他们用木头中的纤维制作绳索。
The Rapanui used every part of the island’s trees.
拉帕努伊人用掉了岛上所有的树木。
