万物简史 第446期:小生物的世界(17)
英语课
The most rampantly 1 infectious organism on Earth, a bacterium 2 called Wolbachia, doesn't hurt humans at all, 地球上最具传染性的生物，一种名叫沃尔巴克体的细菌，根本有伤害人类，
or, come to that, any other vertebrates—but if you are a shrimp 3 or worm or fruit fly, it can make you wish you had never been born. 或者可以说根本不伤害任何别的脊椎动物——不过，要是你是个小虾、蠕虫或果蝇，你会但愿自己真没有被生出来。
Altogether, only about one microbe in a thousand is a pathogen for humans, according to National Geographic 4, 据《国家地埋杂志》说，总的来说，大约每1000种微生物当中，只有一种是对人类致病的，
though, knowing what some of them can do, we could be forgiven for thinking that that is quite enough. 虽然我们知道其中还会有一些干坏事，情有可原地这么认为就够了。
Even if mostly benign 5, microbes are still the number-three killer 6 in the Western world, 即使大多数生物是无害的，微生物仍是西方世界的第三杀手，
and even many less lethal 7 ones of course make us deeply rue 8 their existence. 虽然许多不要我们的命，但也弄得我们深深地后悔来到这个世界上。
Making a host unwell has certain benefits for the microbe. 把寄主弄得很不舒服，对微生物是有某种好处的。
The symptoms of an illness often help to spread the disease. 病症往往有利于传播细菌。
Vomiting 9, sneezing, and diarrhea are excellent methods of getting out of one host and into position for another. 呕吐、打喷嚏和腹泻是细菌离开一个寄主，准备入住另一寄主的好办法。
The most effective strategy of all is to enlist 10 the help of a mobile third party. 最有效的方法是找个移动的第三者帮忙。
Infectious organisms love mosquitoes because the mosquito's sting delivers them directly to a bloodstream 传染性微生物喜欢蚊子，因为蚊子的螫针可以把它们直接送进流动的血液，
where they can get straight to work before the victim's defense 11 mechanisms 12 can figure out what's hit them. 趁受害者的防御系统尚未搞清受到什么攻击之前，它们可以马上着手干活。
This is why so many grade-A diseases—malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, encephalitis, 因此，许多A级疾病——疟疾、黄热病、登革热、脑炎，
and a hundred or so other less celebrated 13 but often rapacious 14 maladies—begin with a mosquito bite. 以及100多种其他不大著名而往往又很严重的疾病——都是以被蚊子叮咬开始的。
It is a fortunate fluke for us that HIV, the AIDS agent, isn't among them—at least not yet. 对我们来说，很侥幸的是，艾滋病的介体——人体免疫缺陷病毒——不在其中，至少目前还不在其中。
n.(pl.)bacteria 细菌
- The bacterium possibly goes in the human body by the mouth.细菌可能通过口进入人体。
- A bacterium is identified as the cause for his duodenal ulcer.一种细菌被断定为造成他十二指肠溃疡的根源。
n.虾，小虾；矮小的人
- When the shrimp farm is built it will block the stream.一旦养虾场建起来，将会截断这条河流。
- When it comes to seafood,I like shrimp the best.说到海鲜，我最喜欢虾。
adj.地理学的，地理的
- The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
adj.善良的，慈祥的；良性的，无危险的
- The benign weather brought North America a bumper crop.温和的气候给北美带来大丰收。
- Martha is a benign old lady.玛莎是个仁慈的老妇人。
n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者
- Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
- The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。
adj.致死的；毁灭性的
- A hammer can be a lethal weapon.铁锤可以是致命的武器。
- She took a lethal amount of poison and died.她服了致命剂量的毒药死了。
n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔
- You'll rue having failed in the examination.你会悔恨考试失败。
- You're going to rue this the longest day that you live.你要终身悔恨不尽呢。
吐
- Symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting. 症状有腹泻和呕吐。
- Especially when I feel seasick, I can't stand watching someone else vomiting." 尤其晕船的时候，看不得人家呕。”
vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍
- They come here to enlist men for the army.他们来这儿是为了召兵。
- The conference will make further efforts to enlist the support of the international community for their just struggle. 会议必将进一步动员国际社会，支持他们的正义斗争。
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。
n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用
- The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
adj.有名的，声誉卓著的
- He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
- The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。
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