科學傢們表示，他們發現先前出土的多雙草編涼鞋是歐洲最古老的鞋子，據信已有6000多年的歷史。
The items were first discovered deep inside the cave in the 19th Century. But scientists have only recently realised that they’re much older than previously thought – 6,200 years old – to be exact.
這些草編涼鞋於19世紀在一處洞穴深處首次被人發現。但科學傢們直到最近才認識到，它們比之前想象的要古老得多，確切地說，已有6200年的歷史。
Some parts of the sandals didn’t survive, but the intricately-woven esparto grass soles are still intact. And because they’re small in size, they probably belonged to children and would have been kept on their feet with twisted or braided cords.
涼鞋上有一些部分沒能保存下來，不過編織精巧而復雜的西班牙草制鞋底仍然完好無損。涼鞋很小，很可能是童鞋，而且是通過纏繞扭繩或編繩固定在腳上的。
But the shoes are not the oldest items that were found. Several esparto grass baskets were also discovered, and they date back 9,500 years to the Mesolithic period. Four of them are in very good condition.
但這些鞋子並不是這一批文物中最古老的物品。人們還發現瞭幾個西班牙草籃子，可以追溯到9500年前的中石器時代。其中四個草籃子的保存狀況非常好。
Scientists are also examining the mummified bodies, stone stools, ancient boar‘s teeth and other artefacts that were also found in the cave.
科學傢們還在檢測這個洞穴中發現的木乃伊屍體、石凳、古代野豬的牙齒和其它人工制品。
But it’s the prehistoric shoes that are causing the most excitement. Until now, the oldest shoes found in Europe were made from grass and leather and were around 5,000 years old. They were discovered on the Italy-Austria border in 1991.
但最令人興奮的發現是這些史前的鞋子。在這之前，在歐洲發現的最古老的鞋子是由草和皮革制成的，約有5000年的歷史，於1991年在意大利與奧地利的邊境被人發現。
So, don’t throw your espadrilles away at the end of the summer. Who knows, they might last another few thousand years!
所以，不要過完夏天就扔掉你的漁夫鞋。沒準它們還能再保存個幾千年呢！
詞匯表
sandals 涼鞋
intricately-woven 編織精巧而復雜的
esparto grass 西班牙草，細莖針草
soles 鞋底
Mesolithic 中石器時代
mummified 制成木乃伊的
boar 野豬
artefacts 人工制品
prehistoric 史前的
espadrilles 漁夫鞋，佈面藤底涼鞋
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. When were the shoes discovered?
2. Which part of the shoes is in the best condition?
3. True or False? The shoes were the oldest items found in the cave.
4. How old are the second-oldest shoes found in Europe?
答案
1. When were the shoes discovered?
The shoes were discovered in the 19th Century.
2. Which part of the shoes is in the best condition?
The soles are intact.
3. True or False? The shoes were the oldest items found in the cave.
False. Items dating back to the Mesolithic period 9,500 years ago were also found in the cave.
4. How old are the second-oldest shoes found in Europe?
Until this find, the oldest shoes found in Europe were around 5,000 years old.
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