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Early people had very little effect on the environment. They lived in eaves in very small “clan” groups. They collected or killed only enough for the clan’s survival. Early clans were nomadic, which means that they did not stay in one place. Instead, they moved around, following the animals that were their main food source and seeking areas where seasonal plants grew wild. Moving around seasonally helped to protect the environment. The land had time to recover and animals had time to breed （繁殖） before the clan returned for the next season.
As time went by, these small family clans joined with others to form larger groups for protection. Joining with other clans gave them more hunters and more women to help cut up the meat and share it between families.
Eventually, people tamed （驯养） wild animals such as dogs and horses. People settled around rivers and fertile plains to share responsibilities and duties. Then, people began to plant crops instead of moving to areas where the plants grew. This development changed the environment.
Traditional forms of work also changed. Some people were better at performing a particular task than other clan members, so they began to specialize in things they were good at doing. This also meant that they began to exchange their goods for things that others produced.
People began to communicate with distant tribes. Land was cleared for roads. Foreign plants and animals were transported to places where they had not existed before. Specialization also gave people more free time. So art, dance and music became important ways of expressing feelings and thoughts. This was how many great civilizations started.
Compared to the past, modern civilization has experienced many changes to become the highly developed society that exists today. Populations have increased rapidly. Forests have been cleared for farms. Inventions and technology have made work easier.
However, pollution and other serious problems have also resulted from human progress. As concerned citizens, it is up to us to learn from past mistakes and to help maintain and improve our environment.
1. Early tribes didn’t have much effect on animal population because ______.
A. they kept animals for themselves
B. they ate only vegetables
C. they killed only enough for food
D. they loved animals
2. The main purpose for small clans to join together was ______.
A. to hunt animals
B. to seek safety
C. to share caves
D. to protect environment
3. Which of the following is TRUE according to this passage?
A. Early people moved to new places looking for new sources of food.
B. Modern civilization began when people started to live together in big groups.
C. Modern advancements are always good for the environment.
D. People began to exchange goods because they didn’t have enough money.
4. It can be concluded from the passage that ______.
A. human progress has brought civilization to the society
B. civilization has improved traditional forms of work
C. our environment has been affected by human progress
D. early people understood environmental protection
clan n . 部落，氏族
cut up 切碎
fertile adj . 肥沃的，富饶的；能繁殖的
specialization n . 特殊化，专门化
civilization n . 文明，文化；文明社会
Instead, they moved around, following the animals that were their main food source and seeking areas where seasonal plants grew wild.
（参考译文） 取而代之的是，它们跟随动物四处迁徙并寻找季节性植物生长茂密的地方，这些动物是它们主要的食物来源。