
©(Maria Guagnin/Sahout Rock Art and Archaeology Project 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。
- Do you think making art in hard places, like on rocks or cliffs, would be difficult?
 - Have you ever traveled to see something interesting from the past, like ruins or museums?
 
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。
- desert /DEZ-ert/ 
[noun] – a very dry area of land with little rain, plants, or water
Travelers crossed the desert on camels to reach the next town. - tool /tool/ 
[noun] – an object used to make, build, or repair something
Farmers used simple tools to grow crops in the fields. - narrow /NAR-oh/ 
[adjective] – small in width, not wide
The hikers walked along a narrow path between the mountains. - detail /dih-TEYL/ 
[noun] – a small part or feature of something that gives more information
The artist painted the details of the flowers carefully on the wall. - cattle /KAT-l/ 
[noun] – large farm animals such as cows and bulls, kept for milk or meat
Farmers kept their cattle in the field near the village. 
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。
Archaeologists have found very old rock carvings in the desert of Saudi Arabia. The pictures showed camels, gazelles, and other animals. Experts said the carvings were about 12,000 years old. Some were more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall. A report in Nature Communications said this discovery shows that people lived in the area about 2,000 years earlier than was thought before. The carvings were made with simple stone tools that could cut strong lines into the rock. Some pictures were made in high and narrow places, so the artists worked under hard conditions. Experts said the details of the work showed great skill.A stone tool found under the carvings helped scientists to date the art more clearly. One picture showed an auroch, a type of cattle that is now extinct and did not live in the desert. This finding suggested that the people may have traveled to other places or moved with the seasons. The study also said that people may have used small lakes or rock cracks with water to survive. Experts explained that this discovery is very important because it shows early life, art, and culture in the Middle East.
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 carvings showed only birds and fish.
 - Experts said the carvings were about 12,000 years old.
 - The carvings were made with modern metal tools.
 - The artists showed little skill in the details of the work.
 - A stone tool under the carvings helped scientists find the age of the art.
 
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。
| tools | desert | narrow | details | cattle | 
- The village was connected by a ______ bridge over the river.
 - Ancient people built shelters in the ______ to protect themselves from the heat.
 - Builders used stone ______ to shape the walls of early houses.
 - The ______ were important for providing milk and meat in ancient times.
 - The guide explained the ______ of the old castle’s design to visitors.