填空题

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 people (36) the use of the latter. The origin of language is also (37) . No doubt it began very gradually. Animals have a few cries that serve as (38) , but even the highest apes have not been found able to (39) words even with the most intensive professional instruction. The (40) brain of man is apparently (41) for the mastering of speech. When man became sufficiently intelligent, we must suppose that he gradually (42) the number of cries for different purposes. It was a great day when be discovered that speed could be used for (43) . There are those who think that 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. (44) . I am inclined to think that language has been the most important single factor in the development of man. Two important stages came not too long before the dawn of written history. (45) Agriculture was a stage in human progress to which subsequently there was nothing comparable until our own machine age. (46) They were, at first, only those in which nature fertilized the soil after each harvest.