Listen&Learn: Stone Age

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock

Learn about the earliest period of human development

prehistoric cave painting of bison — Prehistoric cave painting

Pre-listening vocabulary

prehistoric: before the invention of writing
ancestor: a species that another species originates from
antlers: the horns on the head of a deer
sculpture: a three-dimensional piece of art
permanent: lasting a long time
shelter: a structure that protects someone from weather and other threats
forge: to heat metal and shape it into something new

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

The Stone Age was a prehistoric era when and human-like species began to build and use stone tools. It lasted about 3 million years. Archaeologists divide the Stone Age into three periods: the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic. The earliest tools were sharp flakes and hammerstones, which may have been built by the human ancestor Australopithecus at the beginning of the Paleolithic era. Early humans and their , the Neanderthals and Denisovans, used tools made of stone, , and antlers to cut meat and make clothing. They even carved sculptures out of stone. By the Neolithic period, humans had developed axes. They used these to build more permanent shelters, which evolved into and villages. Beginning around 3000 BC, humans learned how to forge , ending the Stone Age and starting the Bronze Age.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

The Stone Age lasted about
a. 3 million years
b. 30,000 years
c. 3000 years
The earliest tools were likely built by
a. humans
b. Neanderthals
c. Australopithecus
The Stone Age ended when
a. humans learned how to control fire
b. the Neanderthals went extinct
c. humans learned how to forge metal

Discussion/essay questions

Our relatives, the Neanderthals and Denisovans, died out tens of thousands of years ago. What do you think the world would look like if they had survived longer? Do you think we would be able to coexist? Why or why not?

Transcript

The Stone Age was a prehistoric era when humans and human-like species began to build and use stone tools. It lasted about 3 million years. Archaeologists divide the Stone Age into three periods: the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic. The earliest tools were sharp flakes and hammerstones, which may have been built by the human ancestor Australopithecus at the beginning of the Paleolithic era. Early humans and their relatives, the Neanderthals and Denisovans, used tools made of stone, bones, and antlers to cut meat and make clothing. They even carved sculptures out of stone. By the Neolithic period, humans had developed axes. They used these to build more permanent shelters, which evolved into farms and villages. Beginning around 3000 BC, humans learned how to forge metal, ending the Stone Age and starting the Bronze Age.

Answers to comprehension questions

1a 2c 3c

Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub

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15 comments

English Club Indonesia says:

If the Neanderthals and Denisovans had survived longer, we would be living together with them right now.
Rocio taboada says:

That’s great listing
wail says:

i agree
thank you very mutch
English Club Indonesia says:

The world would be okay with those human species still around. Differences of ethnicity, races, and even species create diversity.
Aung Mai says:

amazing web that supports me improve my English.
Joshua says:

The story drives me in the mood to how great the world has evolved!
ISLAM ALBOOZ says:

This kind of learning English is like sharp flacks in stones we cannot forget
Mariam Akhter says:

an excellent process to learn English through this reading passage.
Suad says:

Good i like it
Yasmin says:

That’s great listing
Carrie Wong says:

I like English Club.
KRAIS says:

This kind of topic always appeal to me, has a lot of interesting facts that probably I’m gonna look them up later, like digging in subjects like this.

Words that I’ve learned today: Archaeologist, human ancestor, antlers, stone and silver age, era, relatives, prehistoric and sharp flakes.
Mia caul says:

i like this story about the stone age.
Peace says:

I agree
Samar says:

Ok I agree