新奇事件簿 肮脏的键盘

A British computer magazine has discovered our computer keyboards could be bad for our health. “Which Computing” asked a laboratory¹ to check 30 keyboards in its London office for bacteria. The results were shocking², and disgusting. The lab scientists said five of the keyboards they tested put people at risk of illness. One keyboard contained 150 times more bacteria than health officials say is safe. Its test results showed it was five times dirtier than a toilet seat. The researchers said the germs³ they found could easily cause symptoms similar to food poisoning, such as diarrhoea and upset stomachs. They named these illnesses “QWERTY tummy,” after the first six letters on the keyboard. The magazine recommended people clean their keyboards regularly to stay healthy and avoid stomach bugs⁴.

据某英国电脑杂志发现，电脑键盘对身体有害。《Which Computing》对伦敦办公室的30个键盘进行了细菌检验。检验结果令人震惊，更令人感到不适。研究员表示，有5个键盘会增加患病风险。1个键盘的细菌数量超过专家推荐安全值的150倍。该研究结果显示，键盘比坐便器还要肮脏。据研究人员所说，这些细菌很容易引起类似食物中毒症状，例如腹泻、以及胃部不适。他们将该疾病命名为“QWERTY tummy”，QWERTY是键盘的前六个字母。该杂志建议人们定期清理键盘，防止患病以及胃部不适。

The magazine said almost half the people they interviewed cleaned their keyboard less than once a month. Ten percent of people said they never cleaned it. Editor, Sarah Kidner, warned: “Most people don't give much thought to the dirt that builds up on their PC. But if you don't clean your computer, you might as well eat your lunch off the toilet.” The main causes of germs and bacteria are crumbs⁵ and other small pieces of food that drop onto the keys while workers eat at their desks. Oily fingers from eating potato chips and fries also attract bacteria. Joanne Baxter, a secretary from West London, said she was shocked at this news. “I had no idea that my keyboard could make me ill. I’m afraid to find out what nasty⁶ things there are hiding under my keys.” she said.

该杂志表示，几乎一半受访者不到一个月就会清理一次键盘。还有10%的受访者称从不清理。编辑萨拉·柯德娜警告称；“多数人并没有想过他们的电脑会有多脏。但如果你不清理，你还不如在卫生间食用午餐。”产生细菌的主要原因是掉落在键盘中的碎屑和食物。吃过薯条的“油手”也会吸引细菌。西伦敦部长乔安妮·巴克斯特对这一新闻表示震惊。她表示称：“我从来不知道我的键盘会让我生病。我甚至不敢知道我的键盘里会藏着什么可怕的东西。”

1 laboratory   

n.实验室，化验室

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a laboratory.她捐款成立了一个实验室。
• Our laboratory equipment isn't perfect,but we must make do.实验室设备是不够理想，但我们只好因陋就简。

2 shocking   

adj.令人气愤的；令人震惊的

参考例句：

• His attitude was shocking to her.他的态度令她感到震惊。
• Such behaviour is really shocking.这种行为真不像话。

3 germs   

n.微生物( germ的名词复数 )；病菌；起源；发端

参考例句：

• Dirty hands can be a breeding ground for germs. 脏手会滋生病菌。
• The air is full of millions of invisible germs. 空气中充满了许多看不见的细菌。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 bugs   

adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误

参考例句：

• All programs have bugs and need endless refinement. 所有的程序都有漏洞，都需要不断改进。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 crumbs   

int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式

参考例句：

• She stood up and brushed the crumbs from her sweater. 她站起身掸掉了毛衣上的面包屑。
• Oh crumbs! Is that the time? 啊，天哪！都这会儿啦？

6 nasty   

adj.令人讨厌的，困难的，恶劣的，下流的

参考例句：

• She got a nasty knock on the head when she fell.她跌倒时头部受到严重碰撞。
• When this material burns，it flings off a nasty smell.这种物质燃烧时发出一股难闻的气味。