美国科学60秒 SSS 2012-12-18
时间：2018-12-24 作者：英语课 分类：Scientific American(十二)月
英语课
This is a season when becteria sinus infections run rampant 1, but some people are better able to ward 2 off that malady 3. And they can be identified by their taste buds, because those of us who can better detect bitter flavors may also be better equipped to fight off upper respiratory tract 4 infections. The finding is in the Journal of Clinical Investigation 5.
It turns out that those bitter taste receptors aren’t just in our mouths. They are also in our noses. Being better able to sense bitterness may be a first line of defense 6 against becteria. That’s because those becteria actually tastes bitter to us. So when taste receptors in our airways 7 sense a bitter flavor, they rolled out the defenses.
Cilia lining 8 our sinuses beat faster, to sweep away germs. And becteria killing 9 nitric oxide 10, gets released into our nasal cavities. Better bitter sensing, means a bigger response. It’s one reason researchers at the Monell Chemical Sense Center are trying to come up with a universal taste test, a standardised measurement of how well we sense flavours. Because one key to living healthier, could be on the tip of your tongue.
It turns out that those bitter taste receptors aren’t just in our mouths. They are also in our noses. Being better able to sense bitterness may be a first line of defense 6 against becteria. That’s because those becteria actually tastes bitter to us. So when taste receptors in our airways 7 sense a bitter flavor, they rolled out the defenses.
Cilia lining 8 our sinuses beat faster, to sweep away germs. And becteria killing 9 nitric oxide 10, gets released into our nasal cavities. Better bitter sensing, means a bigger response. It’s one reason researchers at the Monell Chemical Sense Center are trying to come up with a universal taste test, a standardised measurement of how well we sense flavours. Because one key to living healthier, could be on the tip of your tongue.
1 rampant
adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的
- Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
- You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。
2 ward
n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开
- The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
- During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。
3 malady
n.病，疾病(通常做比喻)
- There is no specific remedy for the malady.没有医治这种病的特效药。
- They are managing to control the malady into a small range.他们设法将疾病控制在小范围之内。
4 tract
n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林)
- He owns a large tract of forest.他拥有一大片森林。
- He wrote a tract on this subject.他曾对此写了一篇短文。
5 investigation
n.调查，调查研究
- In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
- He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
6 defense
n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩
- The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
- The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。
7 AIRWAYS
航空公司
- The giant jets that increasingly dominate the world's airways. 越来越称雄于世界航线的巨型喷气机。
- At one point the company bought from Nippon Airways a 727 jet. 有一次公司从日本航空公司买了一架727型喷气机。
8 lining
n.衬里，衬料
- The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
- Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。