TED演讲:我们为何哭泣(2)

 　　The gas stings Iris¹, and suddenly, she can't help it, she starts weeping uncontrollably. 这种气体刺激着虹膜，来势汹汹，她无力阻止，于是她开始控制不住地大哭。

　　These reflex tears are different from the basal tears that Iris is used to. 这种反应性的眼泪与虹膜经常流的基底眼泪不同。

　　Because they're designed to wash away harmful substances, or particles, 因为，它们是为了冲掉有害物质或颗粒。

　　they're released in much larger amounts, 它们的流量更大，

　　and their aqueous layer contains more antibodies to stop any microorganisms that may be trying to get in, as well. 并且水层中包含的大量抗体，也是为了阻止可能进入眼睛的微生物。

　　Both Iris and Onion are devastated². 虹膜和洋葱都震惊了。

　　They know they can't continue their relationship if Iris is going to hurt and cry every time Onion takes off her jacket. 她们知道，如果每次洋葱脱下外套，虹膜就会受到伤害并且哭泣的话，她们就无法继续做好朋友了。

　　So, they decide to break up. 于是，她们决定绝交。

　　As Onion walks out the door, Iris stops crying. 当洋葱走出房门时，虹膜停止了哭泣。

　　And immediately starts again. 紧接着她又开始哭。

　　Only now, she's not crying reflex tears but emotional tears. 但是这次，她并不是反射性流泪，而是动情落泪。

　　When someone is either too sad or too happy, it feels like a loss of control, which can be dangerous. 当一个人太难过或太开心的时候，就会感到失控，这是很危险的。

　　So, emotional tears are sent in to stabilize³ the mood as quickly as possible, 因此，留下动情的泪水可以和其他物理反应一起，

　　along with other physical reactions, such as an increased heart rate and slower breathing. 比如加快心率和减缓呼吸，来尽快稳定情绪。

　　But scientists still aren't sure exactly how or why the tears themselves are helpful. 但是科学家们仍无法确定眼泪为什么或如何起到效用的。

　　They may be a social mechanism⁴ to elicit⁵ sympathy or show submission⁶. 它可能是一种博取同情或者表达意见的社会机制。

　　But some studies have also found that emotional tears contain higher levels of stress hormones⁷, 但是某些研究也发现，动情留下的泪水中包含较高浓度的应激激素，

　　such as ACTH and enkephalin, an endorphin and natural pain killer⁸. 比如促肾上腺皮质激素和脑啡肽，后者是一种内啡肽，可以自然止痛。

　　In this case, emotional tears are also directly calming Iris down, as well as signaling her emotional state to others. 在这种情况下，动情泪水也可以让虹膜冷静下来，以及向别人传递她的情绪。

　　Sorry things didn't work out with Onion, Iris, but don't worry. 很抱歉，虹膜，你不能和洋葱做朋友了，但是别担心。

　　As long as you have all three kinds of tears working to keep you balanced and healthy, it will get better. 只要你拥有这三种泪水来保持你的健康均衡，一切都会好起来。

　　You'll see. 你会看到的。

1 iris   

n.虹膜，彩虹

参考例句：

• The opening of the iris is called the pupil.虹膜的开口处叫做瞳孔。
• This incredible human eye,complete with retina and iris,can be found in the Maldives.又是在马尔代夫，有这样一只难以置信的眼睛，连视网膜和虹膜都刻画齐全了。

2 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

3 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

4 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

5 elicit   

v.引出,抽出,引起

参考例句：

• It was designed to elicit the best thinking within the government. 机构的设置是为了在政府内部集思广益。
• Don't try to elicit business secrets from me. I won't tell you anything. 你休想从我这里套问出我们的商业机密, 我什么都不会告诉你的。

6 submission   

n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出

参考例句：

• The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword.战败将军缴剑表示投降。
• No enemy can frighten us into submission.任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。

7 hormones   

n. 荷尔蒙，激素 名词hormone的复数形式

参考例句：

• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body. 这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。
• The adrenals produce a large per cent of a man's sex hormones. 肾上腺分泌人体的大部分性激素。

8 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• 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。