As so often,the past holds the key to the future:we have now identified enough of the long-term patterns shaping the history of the planet,and our species,to make evidence-based forecasts about the situations in which our descendants will find themselves.
【词汇】
1、identify[aɪ'dentɪfaɪ]v.确认
2、forecast['fɔːkɑːst]n.预报;预测
3、descendant[dɪ'send(ə)nt]n.后代;子孙
二、本长难句解析
1.本句为复合句,主句为As so often,the past holds the key to the future,冒号后的句子解释说明主句。
2.冒号后的句子也是复合句,其主干意为"我们现在已经确定了足够多的长期模式",shaping the history of the planet,and our species为现在分词作后置定语,修饰patterns,and our species起附带说明作用。
3.to make evidence-based forecasts...themselves为不定式作目的状语,其中in which引导的定语从句,修饰限定situations。