The latest fossil unearthed in Africa allows scientists to link together the most complete chain of human evolution so far.
The 4.2 million-year-old fossil discovered in northeastern Ethiopia helps scientists fill in the gaps of how our human ancestors made the giant leap from one phase of development to another. That's because the newest fossil was found in the region where seven other types of human-like fossils spanning nearly 6 million years and three major phases of human development were previously discovered.
``We just found the chain of evolution, the continuity through time,'' Berhane Asfaw, one of the co-authors of the study said. ``One form evolved to another. This is evidence of evolution in one place through time.''
PHOTO: AFP
Although the kind of fossil the scientists discovered is not new, its location is what helps explain the shift from one early phase of human-like development to the next, they say. All eight fossils were within an easy day's walk of each other.
Until now, scientists had individual pictures of human evolution scattered around the world. Finding everything all in one general area makes those pictures more like a short movie about evolution.
``It's like ... a home movie, but a home movie covering 6 million years,'' said study lead author Tim White, co-director of Human Evolution Research Center at the University of California at Berkeley.
Scientists believe this latest discovery will help them connect the dots of human evolution. The new fossil is from a group that is believed to have evolved into modern man at some point. Additionally, the new fossil shows a connection between an even older fossil and modern human beings. (AP)
非洲最新出土的化石讓科學家得以將人類迄今最完整的進化鍊連接起來。
這個在伊索比亞東北部被人發現的四百二十萬年前的化石，有助於科學家填補人類祖先是如何從一個階段大幅進化到下一階段的空白。這是因為這個最新化石被發現的地區，是其他七種近似人類的化石稍早被發現的所在。這七種化石的時間涵括六百萬年，跨越人類三個主要進化階段。
「我們剛剛發現了演化鏈，穿越時光的進程，」這項研究的共同作者之一伯哈尼．亞斯法說：「一種形式進化到另一種。這是一個地區跨越時間的演化證據。」
科學家表示，雖然他們所發現的化石種類並非新化石，其地理位置卻有助於解釋近似人類的動物從早期階段進化到下一階段的發展。這八種化石的發現地都在方圓一天步行的距離內。
迄今，科學家已取得散落在全世界的人類進化的個別圖像。找到了某一概括地區的所有物件，讓這些圖像看起來更像是一部進化的短片。
這項研究的主導作者提姆．懷特說：「這就像是??一部家族史電影，不過卻是橫跨六百萬年的家族史電影。」他也是加州大學柏克萊分校人類進化研究中心的副主任。
科學家相信，最新的發現將有助於他們把人類進化的進程串連起來。這個新化石是從一個群組中發現，在某方面來說，據信這個群組已進化成現代人類。此外，新化石也顯示出更古老的化石與現代人類之間的關連。 （美聯社／翻譯：賴美君）
1. evolution n.
進化 (jin4 hua4)
例：The theory of evolution is widely accepted all over the world.
（進化論在全世界各地被廣為接受。 ）
2. phase n.
階段 (jie1 duan4)
例：Now that the builders have finished planning the new bridge, they are moving to the construction phase.
（既然建築商已完成新橋的設計，他們就步入工程階段。）
4. span v.t.
跨越 (kua4 yue4)，貫穿 (guan4 chuan1)
例：The paintings on display span several decades of Monet's work.
（所展出的莫內畫作橫跨好幾十年。）
3. continuity n.
連續 (lian2 xu4)，連貫 (lian2 guan4)
例：Cara's family moved to many different countries when she was young, so there wasn't a lot of continuity in her education.
（卡拉小時候家裡曾搬到好幾個不同的國家，所以她的教育沒有很連貫。）
1. How old is the most recently discovered fossil?
a. 4.2 million years old.
b. 6 million years old.
c. 4.4 million years old.
2. What is new about this fossil?
a. It's the first fossil of its kind ever found.
b. It's the first fossil found in that part of Africa.
c. It was found close to several different types of human-like fossils.
3. How many phases of human development does the new fossil record cover?
a. Three.
b. Six.
c. Eight.
4. What do scientists hope the new fossil will do?
a. Show them where they can find other similar fossils.
b. Prove the existence of a new kind of human-like animal.
c. Give a complete picture of how humans developed over time.
British fiction writer J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter franchise has become a global phenomenon, but Quidditch, the real-life sport inspired by the airborne game played by wizards in the series, is now ditching its whimsical name. Quidditch, the fictional sport invented by Rowling in the series, was adapted by Harry Potter fans and made into a real-life sport. The sport is now played in 40 countries among nearly 600 teams. However, the International Quidditch Association (IQA) said it was joining US Quidditch (USQ) and Major League Quidditch (MLQ) in adopting the new name after the two bodies had previously announced their decision
Taipei Performing Arts Center opens this week (1/3)「大貢丸」北藝中心開幕（一） A: The Taipei Performing Arts Center finally opens to the public this week. B: Are you talking about that building next to Shilin Night Market which looks like a massive meatball? A: Yes. The sphere-shaped theater has three auditoria and was designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect Rem Koolhaas. B: We should find a time to visit the center together. A: 台北表演藝術中心本週終於要開幕了。 B: 你說的是士林夜市旁，很像一顆「大貢丸」的建築嗎？ A: 這座球型綜合劇院有三個劇場，由榮獲普利茲克獎的建築大師庫哈斯所設計。 B: 那我們就找機會去參觀一下吧。 （Translated by Edward Jones, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
Go camping camp (n)「營」可用在許多地方，例如summer camp「夏令營」、boot camp「戰鬥營」、甚至concentration camp「集中營」也是用這個字；而Camp David「大衛營」則是美國總統度假的地方。此外，camp也可當動詞「紮營」，camping當名詞是「露營」，紮營的地點「營地」則是campsite。 Fans of the world-renowned rock band, Crazy Noise, camped out the night before the band’s first concert in Europe. （世界知名搖滾樂團Crazy Noise的歌迷，在樂團首場歐洲演唱會的前一晚，就在外紮營徹夜等待。） Rebecca and I met at a summer camp in Florida when we were 12 years old. （十二歲那年，我和瑞貝卡在佛羅里達州的夏令營首次相遇。） 露營重要須知 若想在國家公園內露營，需要事先登記或申請許可證（permit），也因為在野外過夜，要準備充足的裝備與食物，重要配備像是帳篷、手電筒、睡袋…等，或者有些營地也有提供camping gear「露營裝備」的租借服務，gear是「設備」的意思，與equipment同義；此外，腳踏車或汽車的變速段數也可用gear來形容。 The demonstration video on the company’s Web site shows customers how to use bicycle gears properly. （公司網頁的示範影片展示如何正確使用腳踏車的變速設備。） Smith & Smith Outdoors offers a collection of rental camping gear such as tents, trekking poles, sleeping bags and so on. （史密斯戶外用品店提供一系列的露營用具租借，例如帳篷、登山杖、睡袋…等。） 手電筒的美式英文是flashlight，這個字同時也可解釋為「（手機或相機中的）閃光燈」。要注意「手電筒」在英式英文裡是torch (n)，在美式英文中torch則是「火把」的意思，因此奧運開幕式的火炬就稱為Olympic Torch。 It’s important to include a battery-powered flashlight, bottled water, and non-perishable food in the emergency survival kit. （在緊急救難袋中放置一個電池供電的手電筒，瓶裝水和不容易腐壞的食物是很重要的。） 搭帳篷（pitch a tent）也是露營的重要過程，pitch可當動詞或名詞，而且有多重字義，pitch在這裡是「搭」，也就是put up的意思。此外pitch也可解釋為「投擲」，如投手就是pitcher，而在多益測驗中，pitch常用作名詞使用，例如sales pitch「銷售宣傳、口號」。 You need
Taipei Performing Arts Center opens this week (2/3) 大貢丸」北藝中心開幕（二） A: At a cost of NT$6 billion (about US$200 million), the Taipei Performing Arts Center is finally set to open nine years after construction began. B: Wow, that’s expensive, although it does look cool. A: To celebrate its opening to the public, the center has put together a program of 37 shows, comprising 142 performances. B: Fantastic! I’m going to take a look at the program calendar. A: 聽說北藝中心造價高達近六十億台幣（約近兩億美元），蓋了九年終於蓋好啦。 B: 這麼貴？不過看起來是蠻酷的。 A: 為了慶祝開幕，該中心還安排了三十七檔節目、一百四十二場演出呢。 B: 太棒了！我先來查一下節目表。 （Translated by Edward Jones, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
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