科学家对生活在  4500 年前尼罗河谷的一位男性的遗骨进行了  DNA 检测，检测结果可能会揭露关于埃及文明是如何兴盛起来的新线索。对这具骨架的分析显示，这名男子五分之一的  DNA 都来自于居住在 1500 公里外另一个伟大文明的祖先。这些祖先属于当时的美索不达米亚文明，也就是现今的伊朗地区。

Archaeological evidence indicates that ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia may have been in contact at least 10,000 years ago, when people in Mesopotamia began to farm and domesticate animals, and so making the transition from hunter-gatherers to an agricultural society. Many scholars believe that this social and technological revolution may have influenced similar developments in ancient Egypt, but there's been no irrefutable proof of direct contact between the populations until now.

考古证据表明，古埃及文明和美索不达米亚文明可能早在一万年前就有过接触。当时，美索不达米亚人开始进行农垦并驯化动物，从而开启了从狩猎采集者向农耕社会的转变。许多学者相信，这一社会和技术变革可能影响了古埃及文明的类似发展进程，但此前还没有确凿的证据证明两个人群之间发生过直接接触。

Scientists have been using ancient DNA analysis to track changes in human evolution over millions of years, but refinements of the technique mean the technology now has the potential to show more recent historical events in a new way.

科学家一直在用对人类远古 DNA 的分析来追踪人类在数百万年间的进化过程，但这项技术的改进意味着它现在有可能以一种新的方式呈现更近期的历史事件。

词汇表

archaeological 考古学的
in contact 接触，联系
domesticate 驯化
hunter-gatherers 狩猎采集者
agricultural 农业的
revolution 变革
irrefutable 无可辩驳的
track 跟踪
refinements 改进，改良

听力练习

一、听第一遍音频，回答问题。

1. What is the main idea of this report?

二、用一分钟阅读下列问题，然后听第二遍音频并回答问题。

1. What did people in Mesopotamia start doing 10,000 years ago?
a. farming and domesticating animals
b. hunting and gathering
c. trading with ancient Egypt

2. 10,000 years ago, people in Mesopotamia transitioned to a(n) _______ society.

3. Many scholars believe Mesopotamia’s transition to a farming society may have influenced ancient Egypt.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

4. This is the first time scientists have used DNA analysis to track changes in human evolution.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

5. How have scientists been able to reveal this new information?
a. by using the same DNA analysis techniques they've always used
b. by refining the DNA analysis techniques
c. by creating a new kind of DNA analysis technology

三、听第三遍音频，将句子补充完整。（提示：可以反复听，直到听清楚每一个词）

1. Archaeological evidence indicates that ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia ________________ in contact at least 10,000 years ago…

2. … there's been no irrefutable ________________ direct contact between the populations until now.

答案

一、听第一遍音频，回答问题。

1. What is the main idea of this report?

A DNA bone test of a man who lived in ancient Egypt has revealed that populations in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia may have come into contact 10,000 years ago.

二、用一分钟阅读下列问题，然后听第二遍音频并回答问题。

1. a. …10,000 years ago, when people in Mesopotamia began to farm and domesticate animals…

2. 10,000 years ago, people in Mesopotamia transitioned to a(n) agricultural society.

3. a. True. … an agricultural society. Many scholars believe that this social and technological revolution may have influenced similar developments in ancient Egypt.

4. b. False. Scientists have been using ancient DNA analysis to track changes in human evolution…

5. b. … but refinements of the technique mean the technology now has the potential to show more recent historical events in a new way.

三、听第三遍音频，将句子补充完整。（提示：可以反复听，直到听清楚每一个词）

1. Archaeological evidence indicates that ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia may have been in contact at least 10,000 years ago…

2. … there's been no irrefutable proof of direct contact between the populations until now.