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 of canals being used to catch fish?
- Have you ever caught or eaten catfish?
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。
- network /NET-wurk/
- discovery /dih-SKUHV-uh-ree/
- publish /PUHB-lish/
- cultural /KUHL-cher-uhl/
- highlight /HAHY-lahyt/
[noun] – a group or system of connected people or things
The train network connects all the cities.
[noun] – the process of finding something that was not known before
The discovery of gold made the town famous.
[verb] – to make information or a book available for people to read
She will publish her first book next year.
[adjective] – related to the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a society
The festival showed the town’s cultural traditions.
[verb] – to make something stand out or be noticed
She will highlight key points in the text.
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。
A 4,000-year-old network of earthen canals was discovered in Belize’s Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, revealing how ancient societies modified landscapes in Central America’s Yucatan Peninsula. The discovery, published in Science Advances on Friday, was made using drones and Google Earth satellite images. Built by semi-nomadic people during the early Maya civilization, the canals were used for over 1,000 years to trap freshwater fish like catfish. This period marked the rise of permanent farming villages and a distinct cultural identity. Aerial images showed zigzag canal patterns stretching for miles, indicating advanced environmental manipulation.
Excavations showed that the canals helped trap fish and supported resource management. Artifacts, such as barbed spear points, suggested that spearfishing was common, with tools likely attached to sticks for easier hunting. This canal system diversified diets and supported population growth, laying the foundation for future cultural progress. Experts said these environmental changes reflected sophisticated societal organization. The discovery highlights a continuous link between early societies and the later Maya civilization, offering valuable insights into the region’s development and the early inhabitants’ control over their environment.
Excavations showed that the canals helped trap fish and supported resource management. Artifacts, such as barbed spear points, suggested that spearfishing was common, with tools likely attached to sticks for easier hunting. This canal system diversified diets and supported population growth, laying the foundation for future cultural progress. Experts said these environmental changes reflected sophisticated societal organization. The discovery highlights a continuous link between early societies and the later Maya civilization, offering valuable insights into the region’s development and the early inhabitants’ control over their environment.
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。
- The canals in Belize were built by early Maya civilization.
- The canals were used only for farming, not for catching fish.
- The discovery was made with drones and satellite images.
- The canals were used for less than 500 years.
- Spearfishing tools were found during the excavations.
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。
| network | discovery | publish | cultural | highlight |
- The teacher ______ important facts on the board.
- She joined a ______ of teachers online.
- His ______ of a new star amazed scientists.
- They ______ news online every day.
- He learned about ______ foods in class.