수능 빈칸유형 제작 ｜Human Thumb

다음 빈칸에 들어갈 말로 가장 적절한 것을 고르시오.

 

The human thumb is a remarkable feature that distinguishes humans and primates from most other animals. Unlike other fingers, the thumb can move across the palm to meet the other fingers, enabling what scientists call "opposition movement." This unique ability allows us to perform precise actions such as writing or operating a smartphone.

Scientists have discovered that this thumb capability first emerged approximately 2 million years ago. German researchers compared fossil hand bones and found that hominins from South Africa, who lived about 2 million years ago, had significantly better thumb _________ than earlier species like Australopithecus. Recent research has also revealed a connection between thumb length and brain size. British scientists analyzed 94 primate species and found that primates with relatively longer thumbs consistently had larger brains, particularly in the neocortex, which handles thinking and planning. This suggests that thumb evolution and cognitive development occurred together in what scientists call "co-evolution."                                                                                                                                             

① challenge ② stability ③ dominance ④ efficiency ⑤ reputation

*neocortex 신피질

 

 

[정답] ④ efficiency

[해설]
독일 연구진이 화석 손뼈를 비교 분석한 결과, 200만 년 전 남아프리카의 호미닌이 오스트랄로피테쿠스 같은 초기 종들보다 엄지의 '효율성(efficiency)'이 훨씬 뛰어났다는 내용이다. 글 전체에서 엄지의 '맞섬 움직임'이 글쓰기나 스마트폰 조작 같은 정교한 동작을 가능하게 한다고 설명하고 있으며, 이러한 능력이 뇌 발달과 함께 공진화했다는 논지를 전개하고 있다. 따라서 단순한 우세(dominance)나 안정성(stability)이 아니라, 엄지를 사용한 작업 수행의 '효율성'이 더 뛰어났다는 의미가 가장 적절하다.

① challenge (도전) - 문맥상 부적절
② stability (안정성) - 물건을 잡는 견고함으로 오해할 수 있으나, 글의 초점은 작업 효율성
③ dominance (우세) - "significantly better"와 연결될 수 있으나, 단순 우위가 아닌 기능적 효율성이 핵심
⑤ reputation (명성) - 문맥상 전혀 맞지 않음

[해석]
인간의 엄지손가락은 인간과 영장류를 대부분의 다른 동물들과 구별하는 놀라운 특징이다. 다른 손가락들과 달리, 엄지는 손바닥을 가로질러 다른 손가락들과 만날 수 있는데, 과학자들은 이것을 "맞섬 움직임"이라고 부른다. 이 독특한 능력은 우리가 글을 쓰거나 스마트폰을 조작하는 것과 같은 정교한 동작을 수행할 수 있게 해준다.

과학자들은 이러한 엄지 능력이 약 200만 년 전에 처음 나타났다는 것을 발견했다. 독일 연구진들은 화석 손뼈를 비교 분석한 결과, 약 200만 년 전에 살았던 남아프리카의 호미닌이 오스트랄로피테쿠스와 같은 초기 종들보다 훨씬 뛰어난 엄지 효율성을 가지고 있었다는 것을 발견했다. 최근 연구는 또한 엄지 길이와 뇌 크기 사이의 연관성을 밝혀냈다. 영국 과학자들은 94종의 영장류를 분석한 결과, 상대적으로 엄지가 긴 영장류일수록 지속적으로 더 큰 뇌를 가지고 있었으며, 특히 사고와 계획을 담당하는 신피질에서 그러했다는 것을 발견했다. 이것은 엄지의 진화와 인지 발달이 과학자들이 "공진화"라고 부르는 것으로 함께 일어났음을 시사한다.

[구문독해]
1. The human thumb is a remarkable feature [that distinguishes humans and primates from most other animals].
   인간의 엄지손가락은 [인간과 영장류를 대부분의 다른 동물들과 구별하는] 놀라운 특징이다.
   [ ]는 feature를 수식하는 관계대명사절

2. Unlike other fingers, the thumb can move across the palm to meet the other fingers, [enabling what scientists call "opposition movement."]
   다른 손가락들과 달리, 엄지는 손바닥을 가로질러 다른 손가락들과 만날 수 있는데, [과학자들이 "맞섬 움직임"이라고 부르는 것을 가능하게 한다.]
   [ ]는 결과를 나타내는 분사구문

3. This unique ability allows us to perform precise actions [such as writing or operating a smartphone].
   이 독특한 능력은 우리가 [글을 쓰거나 스마트폰을 조작하는 것과 같은] 정교한 동작을 수행할 수 있게 해준다.
   allow + 목적어 + to부정사 구문

4. German researchers compared fossil hand bones and found [that hominins from South Africa, {who lived about 2 million years ago}, had significantly better thumb efficiency than earlier species like Australopithecus].
   독일 연구진들은 화석 손뼈를 비교 분석한 결과, [약 200만 년 전에 살았던 남아프리카의 호미닌이 오스트랄로피테쿠스와 같은 초기 종들보다 훨씬 뛰어난 엄지 효율성을 가지고 있었다는 것]을 발견했다.
   [ ]는 found의 목적어 역할을 하는 명사절
   { }는 hominins를 수식하는 관계대명사절

5. British scientists analyzed 94 primate species and found [that primates {with relatively longer thumbs} consistently had larger brains, particularly in the neocortex, {which handles thinking and planning}].
   영국 과학자들은 94종의 영장류를 분석한 결과, [상대적으로 엄지가 긴 영장류일수록 지속적으로 더 큰 뇌를 가지고 있었으며, 특히 사고와 계획을 담당하는 신피질에서 그러했다는 것]을 발견했다.
   [ ]는 found의 목적어 역할을 하는 명사절
   첫 번째 { }는 primates를 수식하는 전치사구
   두 번째 { }는 neocortex를 부연 설명하는 관계대명사절

6. This suggests [that thumb evolution and cognitive development occurred together in {what scientists call "co-evolution"}].
   이것은 [엄지의 진화와 인지 발달이 과학자들이 "공진화"라고 부르는 것으로 함께 일어났음]을 시사한다.
   [ ]는 suggests의 목적어 역할을 하는 명사절
   { }는 전치사 in의 목적어 역할을 하는 관계대명사절

[어휘]
remarkable - 놀라운
distinguish - 구별하다
primate - 영장류
opposition - 맞섬, 대립
precise - 정교한
emerge - 나타나다
approximately - 약, 대략
fossil - 화석
hominin - 호미닌 (인류의 조상)
significantly - 상당히, 훨씬
efficiency - 효율성
species - 종
reveal - 밝히다, 드러내다
analyze - 분석하다
relatively - 상대적으로
consistently - 지속적으로, 일관되게
neocortex - 신피질
cognitive - 인지의
co-evolution - 공진화

 

 

참조: https://sgsg.hankyung.com/article/2026010163141