and realized that it was a sign that the child was growing up and developing valuable powers of observation and independent judgment,
并且意识到这象征着孩子们正在成熟和发展宝贵的观察力、独立判断力，
新概念英语第四册
Lesson 34 Adolescence
📚 句中词汇解析
从本句中提取的重要词汇
n. 符号;手势;迹象;指示牌;
vt.& vi. 签名;打手势;
💡 sign(mark)→记号；征兆；签字；做手势；表示
"Sign your name in the blank space below."
把名字签在下面的空白处。
近义：legalize, authenticate, seal, stamp, subscribe, undersign
反义：abrogate, negate, nullify, outlaw, quash, repeal
adj. 贵重的，宝贵的;有价值的;可评估的;
n. 贵重物品，财宝;
💡 valu=value价值+able形容词后缀→有价值的
"However, to my brother they are very valuable."
然而，对我弟弟来说，它们是很珍贵的。
近义：helpful, immeasurable, appreciated, inappreciable, inestimable, loved
反义：inexpensive, knockdown, downscale, downmarket, cheaply
n. 观察;观察力;评论;观察所得;
💡 ob加强动作+serv服务，保持+ation名词后缀 → 观察
"Most information was collected by direct observation of the animals' behaviour."
大部分信息都是通过直接观察动物的行为收集到的。
近义：inspection, perusal, scrutiny, study, consideration, note
反义：applause, approbation, assent, nodding, o.k., ok
adj. 自主的;不相关连的;无党派的;不相干的人所做的（或提供的）;
n. 独立自主的人;无党派人士;
💡 in不+depend依靠+ent...的 → 不依靠的 → 独立的
"The evidence was corroborated by two independent witnesses."
此证据由两名独立证人提供。
近义：liberated, maverick, nonpartisan, autonomic, autonomous, indie
反义：associate, attache, provisionary, provisory, reliant, secondary
n. 小孩，孩子;幼稚的人;产物;弟子;
💡 复数：child(孩子)+ren(人) chi(吃)+ld(冷冻):吃冷冻棒冰- 小孩
"The child was found abandoned but unharmed."
该弃儿被人们发现时安然无恙。
近义：infant, innocent, kid, kiddie, kiddy, lad
反义：senior, oldie, oldy, oldster, gaffer, greybeard