The old slow and steady idea called uniformitarianism now stood alongside a new idea called catastrophism, where rapid and violent events could sometimes shape Earth's geology in ways that slower processes couldn't explain.

被称为均变论的陈旧缓定的想法现在与称为灾难论的新想法并驾齐驱，其中快速剧烈的事件有会以较的过程，无法解释的方式塑造地球地质。

Sir Charles said not a word; he let the paragraph stand; and Adams never knew whether the great Uniformitarian was strict or lax in his uniformitarian creed; but he doubted.

查尔一言不发。 他让这一段保留下来； 亚当从来不知道这位伟大的均变论者在他的均变论信条中是严格的还是宽松的； 但他怀疑。