Lesson 38 The first calendar 最早的日历
课文原文
Future historians will be in a unique position when they come to record the history of our own times.
未来的历史学家在记录我们这个时代的历史时，将处于一个独特的位置。
They will hardly know which facts to select from the great mass of evidence that steadily accumulates.
面对不断积累的大量证据，他们几乎不知道该选择哪些事实。
What is more, they will not have to rely solely on the written word.
而且，他们不必完全依赖文字记载。
Films, videos, CDs and CD-ROMs are just some of the bewildering amount of information they will have.
电影、录像、光盘和只读光盘只是他们将拥有的海量信息中的一部分。
They will be able, as it were, to see and hear us in action.
可以说，他们将能够亲眼看到、亲耳听到我们的真实活动。
But the historian attempting to reconstruct the distant past is always faced with a difficult task.
但是，试图重现远古历史的历史学家，总是面临着一项艰巨的任务。
He has to deduce what he can from the few scanty clues available.
他必须从现有的少量线索中尽可能地进行推断。
Even seemingly insignificant remains can shed interesting light on the history of early man.
即使是看似微不足道的遗迹，也能为早期人类的历史提供有趣的线索。
Up to now, historians have assumed that calendars came into being with the advent of agriculture, for then man was faced with a real need to understand something about the seasons.
迄今为止，历史学家一直认为，日历是随着农业的出现而产生的，因为那时人类确实需要了解一些关于季节的知识。
Recent scientific evidence seems to indicate that this assumption is incorrect.
最近的科学证据似乎表明，这一假设是错误的。
Historians have long been puzzled by dots, lines and symbols which have been engraved on walls, bones, and the ivory tusks of mammoths.
长期以来，历史学家一直对刻在墙壁、骨头和猛犸象牙上的点、线和符号感到困惑。
The nomads who made these markings lived by hunting and fishing during the last Ice Age which began about 35,000 B.C. and ended about 10,000 B.C.
留下这些标记的游牧民族，生活在始于约公元前 35000 年、终于约公元前 10000 年的最后一个冰河时代，以狩猎和捕鱼为生。
By correlating markings made in various parts of the world, historians have been able to read this difficult code.
通过将世界各地的标记相互联系起来，历史学家已经能够解读这一复杂的密码。
They have found that it is connected with the passage of days and the phases of the moon.
他们发现，这些标记与日期的推移和月相的变化有关。
It is, in fact, a primitive type of calendar.
事实上，这是一种原始的日历。
It has long been known that the hunting scenes depicted on walls were not simply a form of artistic expression.
人们早就知道，墙壁上描绘的狩猎场景并非仅仅是一种艺术表现形式。
They had a definite meaning, for they were as near as early man could get to writing.
它们有明确的含义，因为它们是早期人类最接近文字的表达方式。
It is possible that there is a definite relation between these paintings and the markings that sometimes accompany them.
这些绘画和有时伴随它们的标记之间，很可能存在某种明确的联系。
It seems that man was making a real effort to understand the seasons 20,000 years earlier than has been supposed.
人类试图了解季节的努力，似乎比我们之前认为的要早 20000 年。
课文分析
1. Future historians will be in a unique position when they come to record the history of our own times.
·句子类型：复合句（主句 + 时间状语从句）
·核心结构：Future historians will be in a unique position [主句] + when they come to record... [时间状语从句]
·语法要点：
一般将来时：主句用will be表示将来的状态。
时间状语从句：由when引导，描述主句动作发生的时间背景。从句中come to do sth表示“着手做某事、开始做某事”。
介词短语作表语：in a unique position是固定搭配，表示“处于独特的位置 / 地位”。
·释义：未来的历史学家在记录我们这个时代的历史时，将处于一个独特的位置。
2. They will hardly know which facts to select from the great mass of evidence that steadily accumulates.
·句子类型：复合句（主句 + 宾语从句 / 不定式结构 + 定语从句）
·核心结构：They will hardly know [主句] + which facts to select... [疑问词+不定式结构作宾语] + from the great mass of evidence [状语] + that steadily accumulates [定语从句修饰evidence]
·语法要点：
否定副词hardly：表示“几乎不”，本身带有否定含义，句子视为否定句。
疑问词 + 不定式：which facts to select相当于which facts they should select，在句中作know的宾语。
定语从句：that steadily accumulates修饰先行词evidence，关系代词that在从句中作主语。
固定搭配：the great mass of表示“大量的”。
·释义：面对不断积累的大量证据，他们几乎不知道该选择哪些事实。
3. What is more, they will not have to rely solely on the written word.
·句子类型：简单句（含插入语）
·核心结构：What is more [插入语] + they will not have to rely solely on the written word [主句]
·语法要点：
插入语What is more：固定短语，意为“此外、而且”，用于补充说明，不影响主句结构。
情态动词have to：表示“不得不、必须”，否定形式 will not have to表示“不必”。
固定搭配rely on：表示“依赖、依靠”，副词 solely修饰动词rely，意为“仅仅、只”。
名词短语the written word：指代“书面文字、文字记载”。
·释义：而且，他们不必完全依赖文字记载。
4. Films, videos, CDs and CD-ROMs are just some of the bewildering amount of information they will have.
·句子类型：复合句（主句 + 省略关系代词的定语从句）
·核心结构：Films, videos, CDs and CD-ROMs are just some of the bewildering amount of information [主句] + (that/which) they will have [定语从句修饰information]
·语法要点：
主谓一致：主语是多个并列名词，谓语动词用复数are。
定语从句省略：先行词information在从句中作宾语，关系代词that/which可省略。
形容词bewildering：意为“令人困惑的、令人眼花缭乱的”，修饰 amount of information，体现信息量之大。
固定搭配some of：表示“…… 中的一部分”。
·释义：电影、录像、光盘和只读光盘只是他们将拥有的海量信息中的一部分。
5. They will be able, as it were, to see and hear us in action.
·句子类型：简单句（含插入语）
·核心结构：They will be able to see and hear us in action [主句] + as it were [插入语]
·语法要点：
情态结构be able to：表示“能够”，与 can同义，但更侧重将来的能力。
插入语as it were：固定短语，意为“可以说、在某种程度上”，用于委婉地表达观点。
固定搭配in action：表示“在行动中、在实际场景中”，此处指 “亲眼看到、亲耳听到我们的真实活动”。
·释义：可以说，他们将能够亲眼看到、亲耳听到我们的真实活动。
6. But the historian attempting to reconstruct the distant past is always faced with a difficult task.
·句子类型：简单句（含现在分词作后置定语）
·核心结构：But the historian [主语] + attempting to reconstruct the distant past [现在分词短语作后置定语] + is always faced with a difficult task [谓语部分]
·语法要点：
现在分词作后置定语：attempting to reconstruct...修饰the historian，相当于定语从句who is attempting to reconstruct...。
固定搭配be faced with：表示“面临、面对”，此处用一般现在时 is faced with表示客观事实。
固定搭配attempt to do sth：表示“试图做某事”。
·释义：但是，试图重现远古历史的历史学家，总是面临着一项艰巨的任务。
7. He has to deduce what he can from the few scanty clues available.
·句子类型：复合句（主句 + 宾语从句）
·核心结构：He has to deduce [主句谓语] + what he can [宾语从句，省略了deduce] + from the few scanty clues available [状语]
·语法要点：
宾语从句省略：what he can完整形式为what he can deduce，为避免重复省略了动词deduce。
形容词scanty：意为“不足的、少量的”，修饰 clues。
形容词available：作后置定语修饰clues，表示“现有的、可获得的”。
固定搭配deduce sth from sth：表示“从…… 推断出……”。
·释义：他必须从现有的少量线索中尽可能地进行推断。
8. Even seemingly insignificant remains can shed interesting light on the history of early man.
·句子类型：简单句
·核心结构：Even seemingly insignificant remains [主语] + can shed interesting light on the history of early man [谓语部分]
·语法要点：
副词seemingly：意为“表面上、看似”，修饰形容词 insignificant。
形容词insignificant：意为“无足轻重的、不重要的”，修饰 remains（此处指“遗迹、遗物”）。
核心固定搭配shed light on：表示“阐明、为…… 提供线索 / 信息”，是书面语高频短语。
·释义：即使是看似微不足道的遗迹，也能为早期人类的历史提供有趣的线索。
9. Up to now, historians have assumed that calendars came into being with the advent of agriculture, for then man was faced with a real need to understand something about the seasons.
·句子类型：复合句（主句 + 宾语从句 + 原因状语从句）
·核心结构：Up to now [时间状语] + historians have assumed [主句] + that calendars came into being... [宾语从句] + for then man was faced with... [原因状语从句]
·语法要点：
时间状语Up to now：意为“迄今为止”，主句用现在完成时 have assumed。
宾语从句：that引导的从句作assumed的宾语，从句用一般过去时came into being描述过去的事件。
原因状语从句：由并列连词for引导，补充说明主句观点的原因，语气比because弱，多用于书面语。
固定搭配：
come into being：表示“产生、形成”。
with the advent of：表示“随着…… 的出现 / 到来”。
be faced with a need to do sth：表示“面临做某事的需求”。
·释义：迄今为止，历史学家一直认为，日历是随着农业的出现而产生的，因为那时人类确实需要了解一些关于季节的知识。
10. Recent scientific evidence seems to indicate that this assumption is incorrect.
·句子类型：复合句（主句 + 宾语从句）
·核心结构：Recent scientific evidence seems to indicate [主句] + that this assumption is incorrect [宾语从句]
·语法要点：
系表结构seem to do：表示“似乎、好像”，后接不定式 to indicate。
宾语从句：that引导的从句作indicate的宾语，从句用一般现在时is incorrect表示客观事实。
名词assumption：意为“假设、假定”，对应上一句中的 have assumed。
·释义：最近的科学证据似乎表明，这一假设是错误的。
11. Historians have long been puzzled by dots, lines and symbols which have been engraved on walls, bones, and the ivory tusks of mammoths.
·句子类型：复合句（主句 + 定语从句）
·核心结构：Historians have long been puzzled by dots, lines and symbols [主句，被动语态] + which have been engraved on walls... [定语从句修饰dots, lines and symbols]
·语法要点：
现在完成时被动语态：主句have been puzzled by表示“长期以来一直被…… 所困惑”。
定语从句：which引导的从句修饰先行词dots, lines and symbols，从句用现在完成时被动语态have been engraved表示“被刻在…… 上”。
副词long：意为“长期以来”，常与完成时连用。
·释义：长期以来，历史学家一直对刻在墙壁、骨头和猛犸象牙上的点、线和符号感到困惑。
12. The nomads who made these markings lived by hunting and fishing during the last Ice Age which began about 35,000 B.C. and ended about 10,000 B.C.
·句子类型：复合句（主句 + 两个定语从句）
·核心结构：The nomads lived by hunting and fishing [主句] + who made these markings [定语从句修饰nomads] + during the last Ice Age [时间状语] + which began... and ended... [定语从句修饰Ice Age]
·语法要点：
定语从句修饰人：who made these markings修饰先行词the nomads，关系代词who在从句中作主语。
定语从句修饰物：which began... and ended...修饰先行词the last Ice Age，关系代词which在从句中作主语，并列两个谓语动词began和ended。
固定搭配live by doing sth：表示“以…… 为生”，后接动名词 hunting and fishing。
·释义：留下这些标记的游牧民族，生活在始于约公元前 35000 年、终于约公元前 10000 年的最后一个冰河时代，以狩猎和捕鱼为生。
13. By correlating markings made in various parts of the world, historians have been able to read this difficult code.
·句子类型：简单句（含介词短语作状语）
·核心结构：By correlating markings made in various parts of the world [介词短语作方式状语] + historians have been able to read this difficult code [主句]
·语法要点：
介词by + 动名词短语：表示方式、手段，意为 “通过……”，此处 correlating是动名词。
过去分词作后置定语：made in various parts of the world修饰markings，相当于which were made...。
现在完成时have been able to：表示“已经能够”，强调过去动作对现在的影响。
·释义：通过将世界各地的标记相互联系起来，历史学家已经能够解读这一复杂的密码。
14. They have found that it is connected with the passage of days and the phases of the moon.
·句子类型：复合句（主句 + 宾语从句）
·核心结构：They have found [主句] + that it is connected with the passage of days and the phases of the moon [宾语从句]
·语法要点：
现在完成时have found：表示过去的发现对现在的影响。
宾语从句：that引导的从句作found的宾语，从句用一般现在时is connected with表示客观事实。
固定搭配be connected with：表示“与…… 有关 / 相关”。
名词短语：the passage of days（日期的推移）、the phases of the moon（月相）。
·释义：他们发现，这些标记与日期的推移和月相的变化有关。
15. It is, in fact, a primitive type of calendar.
·句子类型：简单句（含插入语）
·核心结构：It is a primitive type of calendar [主句] + in fact [插入语]
·语法要点：
插入语in fact：表示“事实上、实际上”，用于强调事实，位置灵活。
形容词primitive：意为“原始的、早期的”，修饰 calendar。
·释义：事实上，这是一种原始的日历。
16. It has long been known that the hunting scenes depicted on walls were not simply a form of artistic expression.
·句子类型：复合句（形式主语结构 + 主语从句）
·核心结构：It has long been known [形式主语结构] + that the hunting scenes... were not simply a form of artistic expression [真正的主语从句]
·语法要点：
形式主语It：It作形式主语，真正的主语是that引导的从句，避免句子头重脚轻。
现在完成时被动语态has long been known：表示“长期以来众所周知”。
过去分词作后置定语：depicted on walls修饰the hunting scenes，相当于which were depicted...。
否定副词not simply：表示“并非仅仅”，强调句子的否定含义。
·释义：人们早就知道，墙壁上描绘的狩猎场景并非仅仅是一种艺术表现形式。
17. They had a definite meaning, for they were as near as early man could get to writing.
·句子类型：复合句（主句 + 原因状语从句）
·核心结构：They had a definite meaning [主句] + for they were as near as early man could get to writing [原因状语从句]
·语法要点：
原因状语从句：由for引导，补充说明主句观点的原因。
固定结构as... as early man could get to：表示“早期人类能达到的最…… 的程度”，此处 as near to writing as early man could get意为“早期人类最接近文字的表达方式”。
形容词definite：意为“明确的、确定的”，修饰 meaning。
·释义：它们有明确的含义，因为它们是早期人类最接近文字的表达方式。
18. It is possible that there is a definite relation between these paintings and the markings that sometimes accompany them.
·句子类型：复合句（形式主语结构 + 主语从句 + 定语从句）
·核心结构：It is possible [形式主语结构] + that there is a definite relation... [真正的主语从句] + between these paintings and the markings [介词短语作后置定语] + that sometimes accompany them [定语从句修饰markings]
·语法要点：
形式主语It：真正的主语是that引导的从句that there is a definite relation...。
定语从句：that sometimes accompany them修饰先行词the markings，关系代词that在从句中作主语，them指代these paintings。
固定搭配between... and...：表示“在…… 和…… 之间”。
·释义：这些绘画和有时伴随它们的标记之间，很可能存在某种明确的联系。
19. It seems that man was making a real effort to understand the seasons 20,000 years earlier than has been supposed.
·句子类型：复合句（主句 + 表语从句 + 比较状语从句）
·核心结构：It seems [主句] + that man was making a real effort to understand the seasons [表语从句] + 20,000 years earlier than has been supposed [比较状语从句]
·语法要点：
系表结构It seems that...：表示“似乎……、看来……”，后接表语从句。
过去进行时was making a real effort：表示过去某一时期正在进行的动作，强调“当时正在努力”。
固定搭配make an effort to do sth：表示“努力做某事”。
比较状语从句省略：than has been supposed完整形式为than it has been supposed，为避免重复省略了主语it。
·释义：人类试图了解季节的努力，似乎比我们之前认为的要早 20000 年。
词汇分析
一、核心词汇
1.unique /juˈniːk/adj. 独一无二的；独特的
2.accumulate /əˈkjuːmjəleɪt/v. 积累，积聚
3.bewildering /bɪˈwɪldərɪŋ/adj. 令人眼花缭乱的；惊人的
4.reconstruct /ˌriːkənˈstrʌkt/v. 重建；还原；重现
5.scanty /ˈskænti/adj. 稀少的，贫乏的
6.deduce /dɪˈdjuːs/v. 推断，推论，演绎
7.insignificant /ˌɪnsɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/adj. 无足轻重的，微小的
8.assume /əˈsjuːm/v. 假定，认为；假设
9.assumption /əˈsʌmpʃn/n. 假设，设想
10.advent /ˈædvent/n. 出现，来临
11.puzzle /ˈpʌzl/v. 使困惑 n. 谜题
12.engrave /ɪnˈɡreɪv/v. 雕刻，镌刻
13.nomad /ˈnəʊmæd/n. 游牧民，流浪者
14.correlate /ˈkɒrəleɪt/v. 使相互关联，联系
15.primitive /ˈprɪmətɪv/adj. 原始的，远古的
16.depict /dɪˈpɪkt/v. 描绘，描画；描述
17.definite /ˈdefɪnət/adj. 明确的，确定的
18.accompany /əˈkʌmpəni/v. 伴随，陪同
19.phase /feɪz/n. 阶段；月相
20.historian /hɪˈstɔːriən/n. 历史学家
二、高级固定搭配
1.be in a unique position
处于得天独厚的地位；占据独特优势
课文用法：记录时代拥有独特视角
2.the great mass of evidence
大量海量证据
3.rely solely on
单纯依靠；唯独依赖
4.the written word
书面文字；文字记载
5.in action
在现实活动中；付诸实践
6.be faced with
面临（难题 / 处境）
7.shed light on
阐明；揭示；为…… 提供线索（雅思 / 考研顶级搭配）
8.come into being
形成；诞生；产生
9.with the advent of
随着…… 的到来 / 出现
10.live by doing sth
以…… 为生；靠…… 度日
11.be connected with
与…… 息息相关
12.artistic expression
艺术表现形式
13.make an effort to do
竭力 / 努力做某事
三、拓展高频搭配
1. accumulate 积累
·build up 逐步积累
·pile up 堆积
·gather together 汇集
2. deduce from 从… 推断
·infer from 推论
·conclude from 断定
·draw a conclusion from 得出结论
3. shed light on 揭示
·throw light on 阐明（同义互换）
·clarify 澄清
·reveal 揭露
4. be faced with 面临
·confront with 直面
·be up against 遭遇困境
5. assume 认为 / 假定
·presume 推定
·suppose 设想
·take it for granted 理所当然认为
6. with the advent of 随着出现
·with the arrival of
·on the appearance of
7. primitive 原始的
·ancient 古老的
·original 原始最初的
·primeval 远古的
8. definite 明确的
·explicit 清晰直白的
·distinct 明显的
·certain 确定无疑的
句型
句式 1
课文原句
Future historians will be in a unique position when they come to record the history of our own times.
万能句型
sb will be in a unique position when they come to do sth
套用作文句
Young people will be in a unique position when they come to shape the future of society.
翻译
年轻人在塑造社会未来之时，将占据得天独厚的有利地位。
句式 2
课文原句
They will hardly know which facts to select from the great mass of evidence that steadily accumulates.
万能句型
sb hardly know which sth to choose from a large amount of things that keep increasing
套用作文句
We hardly know which goals to choose from numerous dreams that keep emerging.
翻译
我们几乎无法从层出不穷的众多理想中抉择该追寻何种目标。
句式 3
课文原句
Even seemingly insignificant remains can shed interesting light on the history of early man.
万能句型
Even seemingly unimportant things can shed light on sth
套用作文句
Even seemingly trivial daily acts can shed light on one’s inner character.
翻译
即便是看似微不足道的日常小事，也能反映出一个人的内在品性。
句式 4
课文原句
Up to now, people have assumed that sth came into being with the advent of sth else.
课文原句
Up to now, historians have assumed that calendars came into being with the advent of agriculture.
套用作文句
Up to now, many people have assumed that happiness came into being with the advent of wealth.
翻译
迄今为止，许多人都认为幸福是随着财富的出现而产生的。
句式 5
课文原句
It seems that people did sth far earlier than has been supposed.
课文原句
It seems that man was making a real effort to understand the seasons 20,000 years earlier than has been supposed.
套用作文句
It seems that humans began to value nature much earlier than has been supposed.
翻译
人类开始重视自然的时间，似乎远比人们以往设想的要早得多。
