and realized that it was a sign that the child was growing up and developing valuable powers of observation and independent judgment,
并且意識到這象征著孩子們正在成熟和發展寶貴的觀察力、獨立判斷力，
新概念英語第四冊
Lesson 34 Adolescence
?? 句中詞匯解析
從本句中提取的重要詞匯
n. 符號;手勢;跡象;指示牌;
vt.& vi. 簽名;打手勢;
?? sign(mark)→記號；征兆；簽字；做手勢；表示
"Sign your name in the blank space below."
把名字簽在下面的空白處。
近義：legalize, authenticate, seal, stamp, subscribe, undersign
反義：abrogate, negate, nullify, outlaw, quash, repeal
adj. 貴重的，寶貴的;有價值的;可評估的;
n. 貴重物品，財寶;
?? valu=value價值+able形容詞后綴→有價值的
"However, to my brother they are very valuable."
然而，對我弟弟來說，它們是很珍貴的。
近義：helpful, immeasurable, appreciated, inappreciable, inestimable, loved
反義：inexpensive, knockdown, downscale, downmarket, cheaply
n. 觀察;觀察力;評論;觀察所得;
?? ob加強動作+serv服務，保持+ation名詞后綴 → 觀察
"Most information was collected by direct observation of the animals' behaviour."
大部分信息都是通過直接觀察動物的行為收集到的。
近義：inspection, perusal, scrutiny, study, consideration, note
反義：applause, approbation, assent, nodding, o.k., ok
adj. 自主的;不相關連的;無黨派的;不相干的人所做的（或提供的）;
n. 獨立自主的人;無黨派人士;
?? in不+depend依靠+ent...的 → 不依靠的 → 獨立的
"The evidence was corroborated by two independent witnesses."
此證據由兩名獨立證人提供。
近義：liberated, maverick, nonpartisan, autonomic, autonomous, indie
反義：associate, attache, provisionary, provisory, reliant, secondary
n. 小孩，孩子;幼稚的人;產物;弟子;
?? 復數：child(孩子)+ren(人) chi(吃)+ld(冷凍):吃冷凍棒冰- 小孩
"The child was found abandoned but unharmed."
該棄兒被人們發現時安然無恙。
近義：infant, innocent, kid, kiddie, kiddy, lad
反義：senior, oldie, oldy, oldster, gaffer, greybeard