原文视听

Surely the first thing that happened in the change to a modern kind of diet
饮食方式向现代化的转变 最初肯定是这样的
was when people controlled fire
人们学会了控制火源
and then probably just accidentally dropped food in it.
然后很可能是无意间 将食物掉进火里
And then they'd have tried that food
接着 他们尝了尝火烧过的食物
and they'd have found it was delicious.
发现它们美味可口
That set us off on a whole new direction,
从此人类有了新的进化方向
because the acquisition of cooking
因为如果说学会烹饪
was probably the most important increase
有可能是人类历史上
in the quality of diet in the history of life,
饮食质量最重要的提高
but certainly in the history of human evolution.
那在人类进化史上 这点毋庸置疑
Many scientists do not agree that cooking
许多科学家都认为烹饪
could have been the cause of such a dramatic step.
不可能带来如此引人注目的飞跃
They think that the ability to adapt to new environments
他们认为适应新环境
and to interact successfully with those around them
以及与环境和谐共存的能力
are also important influences.
也都是重要的影响因素
One of the major ideas is
他们的主要观点之一就是
that we evolved our large, complex brains
我们进化出大而复杂的大脑
to cope with our social environment.
以适应社会环境的变化
What we find in primate societies
在灵长类动物社群中 我们发现
is not necessarily the biggest, strongest individuals
最高大 最强壮的个体
which have the highest reproductive success,
不一定是最高产的
it's often the cleverest -
但常是最聪明的
those that can manipulate others, form coalitions
它们能够操纵其他同类 建立联盟
and get themselves into a higher position of social standing.
以提高自己的社会地位

重点解释

That set us off on a whole new direction,从此人类有了新的进化方向

set off出发，动身

What time are you planning to set off tomorrow?

你打算明天几点钟启程?

They've set off on a journey round the world.

他们已经开始环游世界。

They think that the ability to adapt to new environments他们认为适应新环境

adapt to适应

You must adapt to the norms of the society you live in.

在社会中生活就要遵循社会行为准则。

The new students are very slow to adapt to the rules.

新生对于那些规定适应得很慢。

we evolved our large, complex brains to cope with our social environment.我们进化出大而复杂的大脑以适应社会环境的变化

cope with对付；应付；处理

For all his learning, he didn't know how to cope with the situation.

他虽然学识渊博，但对这种情况他也不知道如何应付。

Inexperienced she was, she could cope with the difficulties wonderfully well.

尽管她没有经验，但她能巧妙地克服这些困难。