澳大利亞和印度尼西亞科學傢在印尼的蘇拉威西島上發現瞭目前已知最早的繪有人和動物形象的洞穴壁畫。這幅壁畫創作於距今至少 5 萬年，畫中描繪瞭一隻野豬以及三個類似人類的形象，比此前發現的最古老的同類洞穴壁畫提早瞭 5 千年之多。
The discovery is important because it pushes back the time that modern humans first showed the ability for creative thought.
這幅壁畫的發現意義重大，因為它提前瞭現代人類首次展現出創造性思維的時間點。
The painting shows a pig standing with its mouth partly open with at least three other human-like figures interacting with it. The largest of them has both arms extended and appears to be holding a rod, possibly a spear. The second is immediately in front of the pig with its head next to its snout. It also seems to be holding a stick, one end of which may be in contact with the pig’s throat. And the final figure seems to be upside down with its legs facing up and splayed outwards. It has one hand reaching towards and seemingly touching the pig’s head.
這幅畫呈現瞭一頭站立著、嘴部略有張開的野豬與三個類似人類的形象發生互動的場景。其中最大的那個形象張開雙臂，看上去像是握著一根棍子，可能是長矛。第二個形象位於野豬的正前方，它的頭挨著野豬的口鼻部。這個形象也似乎握著一根棍子，棍子的一端似乎碰到瞭野豬的喉嚨。第三個形象看上去是倒過來的，它的雙腿張開朝向上方。這個形象的一隻手伸向野豬的頭部，似乎已經摸到瞭豬的頭。
Representational cave paintings have been found across the world. The big question is whether that ability first emerged in Africa, where modern humans evolved and spread when our species left the continent 60,000 years ago, or it emerged independently, later, as there became a greater social need for recorded communication.
世界各地都曾發現過寫實類型的洞穴壁畫。但最重要的問題是：當 6 萬年前我們的祖先進化成現代人類並且從非洲分散開來的時候，繪制這些壁畫的能力就已經出現；還是說當書面交流成為一種廣泛的的社會需要時，這項能力才分別在不同的人群中逐漸形成？
詞匯表
creative thought 創造性思維
rod 棍子，棒狀物
spear 長矛
snout 口鼻部
upside down 上下顛倒
splayed 張開，叉開
representational 寫實的
spread （生物）分散開來
emerged 出現，形成
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. Why is the cave painting discovery important?
2. True or False? None of the human-like figures in the painting are near the pig.
3. What do two of the human-like figures appear to be holding?
4. According to the article, when did modern humans first start to leave the African continent?
答案
1. Why is the cave painting discovery important?
The discovery is important because it pushes back the time that modern humans first showed the ability for creative thought.
2. True or False? None of the human-like figures in the painting are near the pig.
False. One of the figures is immediately in front of the pig with its head next to its snout. Another has one hand reaching towards and seemingly touching the pig’s head.
3. What do two of the human-like figures appear to be holding?
One figure appears to be holding a rod, possibly a spear, and the other seems to be holding a stick.
4. According to the article, when did modern humans first start to leave the African continent?
According to the article, modern humans left the African continent 60,000 years ago.
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