听力文摘：长期用筷子有损关节

Chopsticks and Arthritis¹

筷子与关节炎

If you've ever tried eating with chopsticks, you know they can be a pain to learn how to use. According to a Boston University study, ever since their invention nearly five-thousand years ago, chopsticks have been a source of literal pain by exacerbating² the onset³ of osteoarthritis in old age.

如果你有用筷子吃过饭，你就知道学习使用它就是一种痛苦。波士顿大学的一项研究表明，因为他们（指中国人）发明筷子是在近5000年以前，所以(使用)筷子是造成（一个人）在老年时期产生骨关节炎的原因之一。

Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints⁴ caused by repeated use of a particular joint⁵. Normally the ends of bones are covered with a shock-absorber-like pad of springycartilage that helps bone ends move more easily.

骨关节炎是一种由重复使用某一关节而造成的关节疾病。通常情况下，骨头的末端是被一层类似可以防震的、有弹性的软骨覆盖的垫层。

Over time, repeated use of the joint can wear the cartilage down like the eraser on a frequently used pencil. When cartilage wears down, bone end rubs against bone end on a joint, causing stiffness and often extreme pain. Over time, an unprotected joint can become deformed⁶ and parts of the rubbing bones can wear away and chip off, causing even more discomfort⁷.

随着时间的推移，对关节的重复使用会磨损该软骨，就像在经常使用的铅笔上面的橡皮擦一样。当软骨被磨损了，骨头末端就会与关节末端产生摩擦，造成（骨头）坚硬，而且时常极度疼痛。随着时间的推移，这个不受保护的关节就会变得畸形，与之摩擦的骨头部分会因为摩擦而磨损，造成更多的不适。

What does this have to do with chopsticks? Any repetitive motion involving the fingers can amplify⁸ the effects of naturally occurring cartilagedecay. If you've ever used chopsticks you know that pinching them together puts stress on the thumb and forefinger⁹.

这与筷子又有什么关系呢？包括手指在内的任何一个重复性的动作都会比自然发生的软骨衰退效果严重。如果你有用过筷子你就会知道将它们夹在一起会将压力施在大拇指和食指上。

Imagine making this motion at every meal every day of your life and you begin to understand how chopsticks can harm your joints. According to the Boston University study, the thumb joint is the primary victim of chopstick use.

试想如果你每天每餐都这样，你就会明白筷子是如何伤害你的关节了。根据波士顿大学的研究，使用筷子的主要受害部位就是大拇指。

If you're an adventurousdiner and occasionally like to eat Asian food using authentic¹⁰ dining implements¹¹, don't worry. Only regular use over many years is cause for alarm.

如果你是个爱冒险的食客，不时的喜欢吃要使用点用餐工具的亚洲食物，不要担心。因为只有超过数年的定期使用才会造成危险。

1 arthritis   

n.关节炎

参考例句：

• Rheumatoid arthritis has also been linked with the virus.风湿性关节炎也与这种病毒有关。
• He spent three months in the hospital with acute rheumatic arthritis.他患急性风湿性关节炎，在医院住了三个月。

2 exacerbating   

v.使恶化，使加重( exacerbate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• This pedagogical understretch is exacerbating social inequalities. 这种教学张力不足加重了社会不平等。 来自互联网
• High fertilizer prices are exacerbating the problem. 高涨的肥料价格更加加剧了问题的恶化。 来自互联网

3 onset   

n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始

参考例句：

• The drug must be taken from the onset of the infection.这种药必须在感染的最初期就开始服用。
• Our troops withstood the onset of the enemy.我们的部队抵挡住了敌人的进攻。

4 joints   

接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。

5 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

6 deformed   

adj.畸形的；变形的；丑的，破相了的

参考例句：

• He was born with a deformed right leg.他出生时右腿畸形。
• His body was deformed by leprosy.他的身体因为麻风病变形了。

7 discomfort   

n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便

参考例句：

• One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
• She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。

8 amplify   

vt.放大，增强；详述，详加解说

参考例句：

• The new manager wants to amplify the company.新经理想要扩大公司。
• Please amplify your remarks by giving us some examples.请举例详述你的话。

9 forefinger   

n.食指

参考例句：

• He pinched the leaf between his thumb and forefinger.他将叶子捏在拇指和食指之间。
• He held it between the tips of his thumb and forefinger.他用他大拇指和食指尖拿着它。

10 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

11 implements   

n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• Primitive man hunted wild animals with crude stone implements. 原始社会的人用粗糙的石器猎取野兽。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• They ordered quantities of farm implements. 他们订购了大量农具。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》