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  3. The first two stages in the development of civilized man were probably the invention of primitive weapons and the discovery of f

The first two stages in the development of civilized man were probably the invention of primitive weapons and the discovery of f

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问题     The first two stages in the development of civilized man were probably the invention of primitive weapons and the discovery of fire, although nobody knows exactly when he acquired the use of the latter.
    The origin of language is also obscure. No doubt it began very gradually. Animals have a few cries that serve as signals, but even the highest apes have not been found able to pronounce words, even with the most intensive professional instruction. The superior brain of man is apparently a necessity for the mastering of speech. When man became sufficiently intelligent, we must suppose that he gradually increased the number of cries for different purposes. It was a great day when he discovered that speech could be used for narrative. There are those who think in this respect picture language preceded oral language. A man could draw a picture on the wall of his cave to show in which direction he had gone, or what prey he hoped to catch. Probably picture language and oral language developed side by side. I am inclined to think that language has been the most important single factor in the development of man.
    Two important stages came not so long before the dawn of written history. The first was the domestication of animals; the second was agriculture. Agriculture made possible an immense increase in the number of the human species in the regions where it could be successfully practiced. Another fundamental technical advance was writing, which, like spoken language, developed out of pictures, but as soon as it had reached a certain stage, it was possible to keep records and transmit information to people who were not present when the information was given.
    These inventions and discoveries-- fire, speech, weapons, domestic animals, agriculture, and writing —made the existence of civilized communities possible. From about 3 000 BC until the beginning of the Industrial Revolution less than two hundred years ago there was no technical advance comparable to these. During this long period man had time to become accustomed to his technique, and to develop the beliefs and political organizations appropriate to it. There was, of course, an immense extension in the area of civilized life. There was no technical progress during this long time --there were even two inventions of very great importance, namely gunpowder and the mariner’s compass   but neither of these can be compared in their power to such things as speech and writing and agriculture.
It is the author’s view that in human civilization, agriculture  ______.
选项 A、is the most important step man has ever made
B、is only less important than the domestication of animals
C、and fire are of the same importance
D、can be ranked in importance with the invention of machines
答案C
解析 关于农业的阐述在文章的第三段头四句“Two important stages came not so long before the dawn of written history．The first was the domestication of animals；the second was agriculture．Agriculture made possible an immense increase in the number of the human species in the regions where it could be successfully practiced．”这句话是说农业和动物的驯化是两个重要的阶段，农业使得人类成功进行活动的数目增多，但是并没有讲过农业是人类发展最重要的一步，也没有讲过农业的重要性要次于动物驯养的重要性，因此A和B都是错误的，另外D文中也没有涉及。根据最后一段第一句判断，C是正确的。
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