©Takumi Tsutaya via AP
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。
- Is a fossil something that keeps parts of an old living thing?
- Do scientists look at fossils to learn about animals and plants from the past?
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。
- ancient /EYN-shuhnt/
- donate /DOH-neyt/
- similar /SIM-uh-ler/
- opportunity /op-er-TOO-ni-tee/
- study /STUHD-ee/
[adjective] – very old; from a long time ago
The ancient tree stood tall in the forest.
[verb] – to give something to someone, usually for a good cause
She decided to donate her old clothes to charity.
[adjective] – almost the same; alike
The two paintings look very similar.
[noun] – a chance to do something
This job offers a great opportunity for growth.
[noun] – the act of learning or researching
His study of history has made him an expert.
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。
An ancient jawbone found in Taiwan has been identified as belonging to the Denisovans, an extinct group of human ancestors. This discovery, reported in a study published on Thursday, expands the known range of the Denisovans. Until now, most fossils of this group were found in places such as Siberia and Tibet. The jawbone, found in the Penghu Channel near the Taiwan Strait, suggests that these early humans may have lived much further south than previously thought. The jawbone was sold to an antique shop before being donated to Taiwan’s National Museum of Natural Science.
Scientists from Taiwan, Japan, and Denmark analyzed the jawbone and discovered protein sequences similar to those found in Denisovan fossils from Siberia. This provides new evidence of their presence in East Asia. Experts, including Rick Potts from the Smithsonian Institution, note that more research is needed to confirm the identification. The discovery opens new opportunities for further studies on Denisovans and their interactions with other human species, such as Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. These studies can offer valuable insights into human evolution.
Scientists from Taiwan, Japan, and Denmark analyzed the jawbone and discovered protein sequences similar to those found in Denisovan fossils from Siberia. This provides new evidence of their presence in East Asia. Experts, including Rick Potts from the Smithsonian Institution, note that more research is needed to confirm the identification. The discovery opens new opportunities for further studies on Denisovans and their interactions with other human species, such as Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. These studies can offer valuable insights into human evolution.
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 jawbone found in Taiwan belonged to the Denisovans.
- Most fossils of Denisovans have been found in Africa.
- The jawbone was sold before being donated to a museum.
- Scientists from three countries analyzed the jawbone.
- The discovery of the jawbone provides no new evidence about Denisovans.
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。
| ancient | donate | similar | opportunity | study |
- He had the ______ to meet his favorite singer.
- They decided to ______ food to the homeless shelter.
- Many ______ trees grow in the forest near my home.
- The two books have ______ themes, but different stories.
- His ______ of animals helped him become a biologist.