A miniature whale fossil discovery sheds light on ancient seas

admin 2023年12月21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。

Do you think the scientists found something important in the old oceans of Earth?
Have you ever come across a fossil of a miniature whale?

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。

discover /dih-SKUHV-er /

[verb] – to find information, a place, or an object, especially for the first time
The archaeologists were excited to discover a hidden chamber within the ancient pyramid.

Earth /urth /

[noun] – the planet third in order of distance from the sun, between Venus and Mars; the world on which we live
The astronauts looked at the Earth from their space station.

communication /kuh-myoo-ni-KEY-shuhn/

[noun] – the various methods of sending information between people and places, especially phones, computers, radio, etc.
Effective communication is essential in today’s interconnected world, where various methods such as phones, computers, and radio facilitate the exchange of information between people and places.

leader /LEE-der/

[noun] – a person in control of a group, country, or situation
The team was motivated and productive under the guidance of a charismatic and capable leader.

bone /bohn /

[noun] – any of the hard parts inside a human or animal that make up its frame:
The paleontologist carefully examined the fossilized bone to gain insights into the prehistoric creature’s anatomy.

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。

Scientists have discovered a special look into the old oceans of Earth. They found a well-preserved fossil of a small whale that belonged to the basilosaurid family. This discovery might change how we think about the past marine world. This news was shared in the Scientific Communications Network journal and helps us learn more about the old ecosystems.

The fossil was found in Egypt, in layers of rock. This small whale, about 10 feet long, surprised scientists because it was saved so well. Before, people thought all basilosaurids were big, but this fossil shows that some were small. Dr. Jane Roberts, the leader scientist, says this is a big discovery. It shows that not all basilosaurids were the same and had different jobs. The fossil has important parts like bones and flippers that help us understand its body and behavior. By studying these parts, scientists can learn how they look and move. This discovery is important for us to learn how different animals lived and worked together in the oceans years ago. It also helps us understand how life changed over many years on Earth.

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 unveiled insights into Earth’s ancient oceans.
The fossil’s excellent preservation surprised researchers in Egypt.
Previously, all basilosaurids were thought to be large.
The fossil’s bones and flippers aid in understanding its anatomy.
Scientists uncover how the animal moved by examining the parts.

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。

discover

earth

communication

leader

bone

The paleontologist carefully assembled the ancient animal’s skeletal __________.
The success of any project relies on effective _____________ among team members.
The researchers unexpectedly __________ a new species of flower in the rainforest.
The astronauts marveled at the breathtaking view of the distant __________ from space.
As the __________ of the expedition, she led the team through challenging terrain.