Clues to the past (P4-5)
山东省烟台第二中学 赵霞
Lead in
Do you know any of the archaeological discoveries in our country? Can you name some of them?
(archaeological  adj.考古的 archaeology  n.考古学)
Let’s enjoy some of the breathtaking archaeological discoveries in China!

 
Dunhuang
敦煌
 
Hemudu
河姆渡
 
Sinanthropus Pekinensis
北京猿人
 
Yin Ruins
殷墟
 
Terra-cotta Warriors
秦始皇兵马俑
 
Famen Temple
法门寺

Read for the main idea
Now read the article and figure out how many archaeological discoveries have been mentioned.
In May, the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) unveiled the top 10 new archaeological discoveries of 2019 in China. Here three of them have been picked out.

Read for the detailed information
Read the passage again and fill in the chart below.
 
 
Jiegedong Paleolithic cave site
疥疙洞旧石器时代洞穴遗址
 
Pingliangtai site
平粮台城址
 
Xiwubi site
西吴壁遗址

Read the information about each discovery and answer the questions.
1. What did people think of the origin of human beings before the site was found?
2. How can we get to know about the clues of early Chinese civilization?
1. What did people think of the origin of human beings before the site was found?
   People tended to believe that all ancestors of modern humans came from Africa.
2. How can we get to know about the clues  of early Chinese civilization?
   The 4,000-plus-year-old Pingliangtai site in Henan province may give us some clues of early Chinese civilization. Combined with the drainage system and central axis layout, it gives a glimpse of the ancient city with good urban planning in China.

Read for the language learning
1. Grammar and vocabulary

1) In May, the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) unveiled the top 10 new archaeological discoveries of 2019 in China.
unveil：v. 展示，介绍，推出；将……公之于众
veil: v. 遮掩；掩饰；n. 面纱
In 2019, in a Xiwubi site in Shanxi province many bronze artifacts (工艺品) aging back 4,500 years were unearthed.
unearth: v. 发掘；揭露
earth: v. 用土掩盖 n. 土地

2.) While future often evokes excitement for the unknown, history can offer glimpses of truth about the past.
未来常常唤起对未知的兴奋，而历史可以让我
们看到过去的真相。
while：conj.（表示对比）而；然而
While Tom's very good at science, his brother is absolutely hopeless. 
汤姆很擅长理科，而他的兄弟绝对是不可救药。

2.Translation
1) For centuries, people have been fascinated by the origin of human beings and scholars put forward different hypotheses.
be fascinated by ：着迷于；对……很感兴趣
the origin of human beings： 人类起源
几个世纪以来，人们对人类的起源一直很感兴趣，学者们提出了不同的假说。
2) Combined with the drainage system and central axis layout, it “gives a glimpse of the ancient city with good urban planning in China.”
combined with… ：结合；联合……
give a glimpse of：对……有初步的了解
结合排水系统和中轴线布局，让我们对中国城市规划良好的古城有一个初步的了解。
3) As the technology to manufacture bronze came to China, many rulers incorporated  bronze into the unique ceremonial system, so more and more complicated bronze artifacts were gradually developed.
incorporated … into: 将……融入到……
随着青铜制造技术传入中国，许多统治者将青铜融入到独特的礼制中，越来越多复杂的青铜制品渐渐发展起来。

4) The finding in Xiwubi may throw light on how the manufacturing of bronze artifacts contributed to the rise of powerful kings.
throw light on：使……显得清楚；阐明……
how引导宾语从句，做介词on的宾语
西吴壁的这一发现可能有助于解释青铜制品的制造如何促进了强大国王的崛起。

Assignment
Write a summary of the article according to what we have talked about during the class and share your writing with your classmates.