The earliest-known candles date back 3,000 years to ancient Egypt. They were made from reeds soaked in animal fat and then lit to provide light. Later, the ancient Romans developed the first true candles with wicks, which were similar to the ones we use today. Evidence of the early use of candles has also been found in China, Japan, and India. A major development in candle making occurred in Europe in the Middle Ages, when people began to make candles with beeswax instead of animal fat. These candles burned cleanly without producing smoke or an unpleasant smell.
最早已知的蠟燭可以追溯到三千年前的古埃及。它們是用浸泡在動物脂肪中的蘆葦製成的，然後點燃以提供光源。後來，古羅馬人發明了第一支真正帶有燭芯的蠟燭，與我們今天使用的蠟燭類似。在中國、日本和印度也發現了早期使用蠟燭的證據。蠟燭製造的重大發展發生在中世紀的歐洲，當時人們開始用蜂蠟取代動物脂肪來製作蠟燭。這些蠟燭能乾淨地燃燒，不會產生煙霧或難聞的氣味。
生活必備字詞：
date back + 一段時間 回溯至……（一段時間）前
evidence n. 證據（不可數）
unpleasant a. 令人不愉快的
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本文節錄自《常春藤生活英語》雜誌，完整內容請見二月號。
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