Cockroaches are the oldest extant winged insects, having been traced back over 350 million years. They have endured the vicissitudes of weather, natural disaster, war, and planned liquidation. They reside comfortably in caves in South America, in transcontinental airplanes, on mountain tops, in Park Avenue edifices, and in television sets. The climate may be sultry or frigid but roaches persevere. In the words of one writer, “The miraculous survival of the roach is explained by its inherent adaptability.” In fact, a trenchant analysis made the point that any forthcoming nuclear war will be won by roaches, not Russians, Chinese, or Americans.
- extant- masih hidup
- vicissitude- a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant
- edifice- gedung, bangunan besar
- sultry- panas dan pengap/lembab
- frigid – dingin
- persevere- continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success
- trenchant – tajam