The Grossness of Halitosis 恶，有口臭！
by Suzanne Cowan and Matthew Brown
Are friends standing at a distance? Maybe it's time to get rid of your bad breath.
朋友们都跟你保持距离？也许你该消除一下口臭了。
Almost everyone has bad breath at times. Bad breath can occur when you wake up in the morning or after eating a _(1)_ with ingredients like garlic and onions. For some, however, bad breath is a constant problem _(2)_ just an occasional one. In most cases, bad breath, or halitosis, can be eliminated. Before you decide to try one of the many _(3)_ for bad breath, you might want to check to see how your breath smells.
A popular way to _(4)_ whether you have bad breath is to breathe into your hands and then smell the air. But this is not actually a very reliable method. A better way is to lick your wrist, wait a moment, and then smell it. If it smells bad, it's _(5)_ that you have bad breath. An _(6)_ better way is to ask someone you trust to smell your breath and give you his or her opinion.
Bad breath can be caused by various things. Sometimes it is just a matter of having food in between your teeth or a dental problem. Brushing _(7)_ helps keep your teeth clean, but flossing is also important. For some, the problem is more difficult to _(8)_. Bacteria in the mouth can cause bad breath as they _(9)_ proteins. To control the bacteria, brush the roof of your mouth, and make sure to gently clean the back of your tongue without damaging the taste buds at the back. Try a mouthwash that doesn't _(10)_ alcohol, and drink water during the day so your mouth doesn't get too dry.
It's important to keep your mouth clean and try to have good breath. Don't worry about the problem too much, though. And don't be scared of a little garlic and onions now and then.
(A) cures (B) even (C) meal (D) contain (E) regularly (F) likely (G) find out (H) resolve (I) rather than (J) break down
原来如此
1. Bad breath can occur when you wake up in the morning or after eating a meal with ingredients like garlic and onions.
理由:
a. 空格前有不定冠词 a，可知空格内应置入单数可数名词。
b. 符合上述的选项仅有 (C) meal（一餐），且置入后符合语意，表早上刚起床或刚吃过含有大蒜和洋葱等食材的『一餐』后会产生口臭之意，故选 (C)。
2. For some, however, bad breath is a constant problem rather than just an occasional one.
理由:
a. 空格前为一完整的句构，空格后有名词词组 an occasional one（偶尔才有口臭），可知空格内应置入连接词或介词。
b. 符合上述的选项仅有 (I) rather than（而非），且置入后符合语意，表有些人『并非』偶尔才有口臭，而是长期为口臭所苦之意，故选 (I)。
c. rather than N/V-ing/V 而非……
= instead of N/V-ing
例: Rather than going to the party, I decided to stay home.
（我决定窝在家里，不去派对了。）
3. Before you decide to try one of the many cures for bad breath, you might want to check to see how your breath smells.
理由:
a. 空格前有定冠词 the 和数量形容词 many（许多的），可知空格内应置入复数名词。
b. 符合上述的选项仅有 (A) cures（疗法），且置入后符合语意，表在你决定从众多『疗法』中择一来消除口臭之前，也许会想了解自己的口气闻起来如何，故选 (A)。
c. cure n. 疗法（之后与介词 for 并用）
例: We all hope that scientists will someday discover a cure for cancer.
（我们都希望科学家有一天能找出治疗癌症的方法。）
4. A popular way to find out whether you have bad breath is to breathe into your hands and then smell the air.
理由:
a. 空格前有不定词 to，空格后的 whether you have bad breath 是名词子句，可知空格内应置入原形及物动词或原形及物动词词组。
b. 符合上述的选项有 (D) contain（包含）、(G) find out（查出）、(H) resolve（解决）和 (J) break down（分解），然仅 find out 置入后符合语意，表『查出』自己是否有口臭的常见方式之意，故选 (G)。
c. find out... 查出∕弄清楚……
例: Did you find out why Elsie went to Korea last week?
（你弄清楚艾尔希上星期前往韩国的原因吗？）
5. If it smells bad, it's likely that you have bad breath.
理由:
a. 空格前有虚主词 it 和 be 动词 is，空格后为 that 所引导的副词子句，可知空格内应置入形容词，以供此副词子句修饰。
b. 符合上述的选项有 (B) even（平均的）和 (F) likely（可能的），然仅 likely 置入后符合语意，表如果味道很糟，你『可能』就有口臭，故选 (F)。
c. It's likely + that 子句 很可能……
例: It's likely that the weather will be beautiful this weekend.
（周末可能会是个好天气。）
6. An even better way is to ask someone you trust to smell your breath and give you his or her opinion.
理由:
a. 空格后有比较级形容词 better（较好的），可知此处测试可用来修饰比较级形容词的副词，计有以下 6 个：
far, much, a lot, a great deal, still, even。
例: That book is good, but this one is even more interesting.
（那本书很好看，但这本书更是有趣。）
b. 根据上述，可知应选 (B)。
7. Brushing regularly helps keep your teeth clean, but flossing is also important.
理由:
a. 空格前有作主词的动名词 Brushing（刷牙），空格后有动词 helps，句构完整，故可知应置入副词来修饰动名词 Brushing 或动词 helps。
b. 符合上述的选项仅剩 (E) regularly（经常地），且置入后符合语意，表『经常』刷牙有助于保持牙齿清洁，故选 (E)。
c. regularly adv. 经常地；固定地
例: I play basketball regularly to keep in shape.
（我固定去打篮球来维持体态。）
8. For some, the problem is more difficult to resolve.
理由:
a. 空格前有不定词 to，可知应置入原形动词或原形动词词组。
b. 符合上述的选项有 (D) contain（包含）、(H) resolve（解决）和 (J) break down（分解），然仅 resolve 置入后符合语意，表对有些人来说，要『解决』口臭这个问题是更加困难之意，故选 (H)。
c. resolve vt. 解决
例: How can we resolve this problem?
（我们要如何解决这个问题？）
9. Bacteria in the mouth can cause bad breath as they break down proteins.
理由:
a. 空格前有主词 they（= bacteria），空格后有名词 proteins（蛋白质），可知空格应置入及物动词或及物动词词组。
b. 符合上述的选项有 (D) contain（包含）和 (J) break down（分解），然仅 break down 置入后符合语意，表口腔的细菌在『分解』蛋白质的过程中会产生不好的味道，故选 (J)。
c. break down... 把……分解
例: Enzymes in your stomach break down food after you eat it.
（食物吃下肚后，胃中的酵素会把它们分解。）
10. Try a mouthwash that doesn't contain alcohol, and drink water during the day so your mouth doesn't get too dry.
理由:
a. 空格前有否定的助动词 doesn't，空格后有名词 alcohol（酒精），可知应置入原形及物动词。
b. 符合上述的选项仅剩 (D) contain（包含），且置入后符合语意，表试试看不『含』酒精的漱口水之意，故选 (D)。
c. contain vt. 包含，含有
例: This book contains lots of challenging word puzzles.
（这本书中有很多具挑战性的字谜。）
精解字词词组
1. almost everyone 几乎每一个人
注意:
almost、practically 和 virtually（几乎）通常用来修饰涵盖性完全的词类，共计有四个：every、no、all、any。
例: Almost everyone in this class speaks fluent English.
（这班上几乎每个人英文都说得很流利。）
2. at times 有时，偶尔
= (every) now and then
= once in a while
= sometimes
例: At times, the boss can be a bit hard to talk to.
（那位老板有时候不太好沟通。）
3. occasional a. 偶尔的
occasionally adv. 偶尔
例: Except for the occasional headache, Al is very healthy.
（除了偶尔会头痛外，艾尔非常健康。）
例: I occasionally take a nap after lunch.
（我偶尔会在午饭后睡个午觉。）
4. eliminate vt. 消除；排除
例: I think we can eliminate the problem if we work together.
（我认为只要我们同心协力，就能解决这个难题。）
5. reliable a. 可靠的，可信赖的
rely vi. 依靠，依赖
rely on... 依赖……
= count on...
= depend on...
例: The reporter said he got his information from a reliable source.
（该记者说他的消息出自可靠的来源。）
例: Don't worry. You can always rely on me for help.
（别担心；你可以随时仰赖我的帮忙。）
6. in between... 介于……之间，在……中间
in between your teeth 在你的齿缝间
注意:
在英文的句构中，介词后通常以名词或动名词作其受词，但有时为描述特殊状况，介词 in 及 from 之后可以用介词词组作受词。
例: The deer was stuck in between two rocks.
（这只鹿被卡在两块大石头中间。）
例: The boy jumped out from behind the door and frightened his sister.
（这男孩从门后跳出来吓他妹妹。）
7. make sure to V 务必∕一定要……
例: Make sure to fasten your seat belt before the plane lands.
（飞机降落前务必要系好安全带。）
8. be scared of... 害怕……
= be frightened of...
= be terrified of...
= be afraid of...
例: I'm scared of heights.
（我怕高。）
单字小铺
1. grossness n. 恶心
gross a. 恶心的（= disgusting）
2. halitosis n. 口臭
3. ingredient n.（烹调的）原料
4. garlic n. 大蒜
5. constant a. 持续不断的
6. lick vt. 舔
7. wrist n. 手腕
8. various a. 各式各样的
9. dental a. 牙齿的
10. floss vt. 用牙线清洁 & n. 牙线
11. bacteria n. 细菌（复数）
bacterium n. 细菌（单数）
12. protein n. 蛋白质
13. taste bud n. 味蕾（常用复数）
14. mouthwash n. 漱口水
15. alcohol n. 酒精
词组小铺
1. in most cases 在多数情况下，往往
2. a matter of... 有关……的问题
3. worry about... 忧心∕担心……
几乎每个人都偶尔会有坏口气的经验。早上刚起床或刚吃过含有大蒜和洋葱等食材的一餐都会产生口臭。然而，有些人并不是偶尔才有口臭，而是长期为口臭所苦。大部分的案例显示口臭是可以消除的。在你决定从众多疗法中择一来消除口臭之前，你也许会想了解自己的口气闻起来如何。
检查自己是否有口臭的常见方式是对着双手呵气，然后再闻一闻。不过这个方式并不绝对可靠。比较有效的方式是舔一下手腕，稍后片刻再闻味道。如果味道很糟，你可能就有口臭。最好的办法就是找一个你信得过的人，要他∕她闻一下你的口气再告诉你意见。
形成口臭的原因有很多种。有时候只是因为食物的残渣留在牙缝或是口腔问题所造成。经常刷牙有助于保持牙齿清洁，但用牙线清洁牙齿也同样重要。对有些人来说，消除口臭是难上加难。口腔的细菌在分解蛋白质的过程中会产生不好的味道。为了消除细菌，记得要刷上颚，并务必轻刷舌根，但不要伤了舌头后方的味蕾。试试看不含酒精的漱口水，平常还要多喝水以免口干舌燥。
保持口腔清洁和口气清新是很重要的。但也别整天提心吊胆，连偶尔吃一点大蒜和洋葱都不敢。
标准答案: 1. (C) 2. (I) 3. (A) 4. (G) 5. (F) 6. (B) 7. (E) 8. (H) 9. (J) 10. (D) |