英语听力文摘 English Digest 591、蜂蜜为什么不会变坏？

 　　Why Doesn’t Honey Spoil?

 

　　If you haven’t cleaned out your refrigerator in a while, there might be a nasty surprise waiting for you. There, in a forgotten piece of Tupperware, lurks¹ the ravioli you didn’t finish three weeks ago. Opening the lid with curiosity and fear, you’re confronted by a blue-green mess that only vaguely² resembles pasta.

 

　　The lesson here seems to be that even when a jar or container is resealed and refrigerated, the food inside inevitably³ succumbs⁴ to a moldy⁵ end.

 

　　Actually, it depends on the food. For instance, when’s the last time you noticed that your honey had gone bad? Apparently⁶, a jar of honey that’s been opened and resealed can stay on the shelf for years without going bad. Archaeologists have even found ancient jars with unspoiled honey inside.

 

　　So What’s The Secret To This Longevity⁷?

 

　　Most food ferments⁹ when bacteria living in it eat sugars and nutrients¹⁰ in the food. The bacteria subsequently produce waste in the form of acids and other chemicals that affect the appearance, smell, and taste of the food. In other words, bacterial¹¹ waste is what causes food to rot and appear moldy.

 

　　But like most life forms, bacteria need water to thrive. While many foods contain a good deal of water, honey contains almost none. What little water exists in honey binds¹² to its sugars and enzymes¹³, leaving little for bacterial growth. Unsealed, honey will attract water from the air and eventually ferment⁸. But sealed, honey lasts for ages.

 

　　Of course, even sealed honey will eventually crystallize and turn hard, but this doesn’t mean it’s spoiled. In fact, even years later, it’s as good as new.

 

 

 

 

　　为什么蜂蜜不会变坏？

 

　　如果你有一段时间没有清理过你的冰箱了，那么里面脏乱的景象会让你大吃一惊。被遗忘的特百惠保鲜盒里放着三天前你没有吃完的饺子。你好奇又害怕地打开盖子，看到的是一团蓝绿色的脏乱的东西，看起来依稀有点像意大利面。

 

　　这似乎可以告诉我们，即使一个打开的罐子或容器被再次密封并且冷藏，里面的食物都会不可避免地会发霉。

 

　　实际上，会不会发霉取决于食物本身。例如，你最近一次发现你的蜂蜜变坏是什么时候？很明显，一罐打开过又重新密封的蜂蜜可以保存好几年而且不变质。考古学家们甚至发现古代罐子里装的蜂蜜仍未变质。

 

　　那蜂蜜的保质期能长期保存的秘密是什么呢？

 

　　大部分食物发酵是因为有细菌以这些食物的糖分和其它营养成分为食。接下来细菌代谢产生的废物会以酸和其他化学物质的方式存在并且影响食物的外观，气味和味道。换句话说，细菌的代谢物正是使食物腐烂和外观发霉的原因。

 

　　但是和许多生物一样，细菌需要水来繁殖。很多食物都含有大量水分，但是蜂蜜却几乎不含水分。蜂蜜中仅有的水分和糖分与酶结合在一起，几乎没水分提供给细菌生长。如果不被密封，蜂蜜会吸收空气中的水分，最后发酵。但是若密封起来，蜂蜜可保存好几年。

 

　　当然，即使是密封的蜂蜜最后也会结晶和变硬，但是这不代表变坏。实际上，即使数年以后，蜂蜜仍旧新鲜如初。

1 lurks   

n.潜在，潜伏；（lurk的复数形式）vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• Behind his cool exterior lurks a reckless and frustrated person. 在冷酷的外表背后，他是一个鲁莽又不得志的人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Good fortune lies within Bad, Bad fortune lurks within good. 福兮祸所倚，祸兮福所伏。 来自互联网

2 vaguely   

adv.含糊地，暖昧地

参考例句：

• He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
• He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面，对一切都视而不见。

3 inevitably   

adv.不可避免地；必然发生地

参考例句：

• In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去，毫无疑问是会散伙的。
• Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。

4 succumbs   

不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的第三人称单数 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死

参考例句：

• Eventually the virus prevails and the infected person succumbs to the infection. 最终病毒体会战胜药物，而导致感染者死亡。
• A German lender succumbs to perverse incentives. Who's next? 一德国贷方受制屈服于非正当（投资）动机。谁将步其后尘？

5 moldy   

adj.发霉的

参考例句：

• She chucked the moldy potatoes in the dustbin.她把发霉的土豆扔进垃圾箱。
• Oranges can be kept for a long time without going moldy.橙子可以存放很长时间而不腐烂。

6 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

7 longevity   

n.长命；长寿

参考例句：

• Good habits promote longevity.良好的习惯能增长寿命。
• Human longevity runs in families.人类的长寿具有家族遗传性。

8 ferment   

vt.使发酵；n./vt.（使）激动，（使）动乱

参考例句：

• Fruit juices ferment if they are kept a long time.果汁若是放置很久，就会发酵。
• The sixties were a time of theological ferment.六十年代是神学上骚动的时代。

9 ferments   

n.酵素( ferment的名词复数 )；激动；骚动；动荡v.（使）发酵( ferment的第三人称单数 )；（使）激动；骚动；骚扰

参考例句：

• These chemically active ferments cause havoc. 这些化学活性的酶造成广泛损害。 来自辞典例句
• High solid ferments and yeast lees contract to highlight textural qualities. 采用固体发和酵母分离技术提高酒的品质。 来自互联网

10 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 bacterial   

a.细菌的

参考例句：

• Bacterial reproduction is accelerated in weightless space. 在失重的空间，细菌繁殖加快了。
• Brain lesions can be caused by bacterial infections. 大脑损伤可能由细菌感染引起。

12 binds   

v.约束( bind的第三人称单数 )；装订；捆绑；（用长布条）缠绕

参考例句：

• Frost binds the soil. 霜使土壤凝结。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Stones and cement binds strongly. 石头和水泥凝固得很牢。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 enzymes   

n. 酶，酵素

参考例句：

• It was said that washing powders containing enzymes remove stains more efficiently. 据说加酶洗衣粉除污更有效。
• Among the enzymes which are particularly effective are pepsin, papain. 在酶当中特别有效的是胃朊酶、木瓜酶。