New research confirms ancient human footprints in New Mexico dating back 21,000–23,000 years

admin 2023年11月10日

Beginner

science & technology, science & technology - beginner

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。

Have you ever heard about ancient human footprints before?
Do you think ancient human footprints are interesting to study?

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。

scientist /SAHY-uhn-tist /

[noun] – an expert who studies or works in one of the sciences
The scientist conducted experiments in the laboratory to learn more about the properties of the new substance.

human /HYOO-muhn/

[adjective] – being, relating to, or belonging to a person or to people as opposed to animals
Human beings have the capacity for empathy and complex emotions, which sets them apart from most animals.

result /ri-ZUHLT/

[noun] – something that happens or exists because of something else
The result of the hard work was a successful and profitable business.

period /PEER-ee-uhd /

[noun] – a length of time
She studied for a long period to prepare for the important exam.

explore /ik-SPLAWR/

[verb] – to search a place and discover things about it
They decided to explore the ancient ruins to learn more about the history of the civilization that once lived there.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。

In an important discovery, scientists have found more proof of old human footprints at White Sands National Park, New Mexico. These footprints were first talked about in 2021. They used special tests to know how old the footprints were, and the results were surprising. The footprints date back to an astonishing period between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago. This information changed what we knew about when people first came to America. We used to think they came later, but now it seems they arrived much earlier, even when ice blocked the way.

Some people were not sure about the tests used to find the footprints’ age. They thought plants in the water could make the tests wrong. But a new study in the journal Science used two different tests, and both said the same thing. So, we can be more sure that people really were in America a long time ago. This discovery is important because it helps us understand when and how people first came to America. We still have many questions, but these old footprints tell us a lot about how the first Americans lived and explored new places.

True or False:

Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.

文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。

Scientists found evidence of ancient human footprints at White Sands National Park.
These footprints were first discovered in 2021.
Special tests were used to determine the age of the footprints.
The footprints are dated to a period between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago.
The article mentions that these discoveries challenge the previous belief that people arrived in America later, due to ice blocking the way.

Fill in the blanks:

Choose the correct word from the table then fill in the blanks.

適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。

scientist

human

result

period

explore

The unexpected ________ of the experiment left the researchers puzzled and eager to investigate further.
Marco Polo was one of the first Europeans to ________ the Silk Road, introducing new cultures and goods to Europe.
A ________ conducts experiments in a laboratory to better understand chemical reactions.
The study of ancient ________ civilizations helps us learn about the development of human societies.
The Jurassic ________ is famous for its dinosaurs and lush, prehistoric landscapes.