【英语时差8,16】有用的盲肠

Dear a moment of science: I used to think that the appendix¹ is useless,but now I'm hearing that the appendix actually does serve a purpose.So, which is it? Y:Great question.It’s true that for a long time scientists thought that the appendix didn’t really serve a purpose. But a few years ago a study showed that the appendix in fact plays an important role.It’s a sort of hangout for useful bacteria needed to help us digest food. After a bad case of diarrhea, when most of the bacteria in our guts² is washed out, the appendix sends a fresh batch³ in to take over. D:Right.And not only that, but a more recent study has found that the appendix has a long and storied history. It’s been around in animals including kangaroos, rodents⁴ and apes for at least eighty million years. In other words, it’s fairly common in nature. Y:Now, it’s true that in developed countries with modern sanitation⁵, the human appendix has less to do than it once did.In those places, where diarrhea isn’t a major problem, the appendix isn’t called upon all the time to do its thing. That’s why when people in the United States and other developed countries have their appendix removed, they don’t seem to miss it. D:But in places where drinking water and sanitation aren’t as safe, the appendix plays a larger role in keeping people healthy.

1 appendix   

n.附录，附属物，阑尾，盲肠

参考例句：

• I have recently had my appendix removed.我最近切除了阑尾。
• There is an appendix at the back of the book.该书末尾处有一附录。

2 guts   

v.狼吞虎咽，贪婪地吃，飞碟游戏（比赛双方每组5人，相距15码，互相掷接飞碟）；毁坏（建筑物等）的内部( gut的第三人称单数 )；取出…的内脏n.勇气( gut的名词复数 )；内脏；消化道的下段；肠

参考例句：

• I'll only cook fish if the guts have been removed. 鱼若已收拾干净，我只需烧一下即可。
• Barbara hasn't got the guts to leave her mother. 巴巴拉没有勇气离开她妈妈。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 batch   

n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量

参考例句：

• The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。
• I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。

4 rodents   

n.啮齿目动物( rodent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Rodents carry diseases and are generally regarded as pests. 啮齿目动物传播疾病，常被当作害虫对待。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Some wild rodents in Africa also harbor the virus. 在非洲，有些野生啮齿动物也是储毒者。 来自辞典例句

5 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。