2/7 解析英语
作者 Brian Foden
阅读时间 6分钟
听讲解 听朗读
本图文出处:
https://www.ivy.com.tw/newsLetter/an...102614423247847MP3:
为什么爆米花会「爆」呢? The Science behind Popcorn
爆米花背后的科学原理相当简单。这当中有三 个主要因素影响着。
目录 / More to Learn / 中文翻译(& 答案)
科普园地
It’s a natural treat loved by people around the world. For a lot of moviegoers, a night out at the cinema wouldn’t be the same without it. Many adults and kids also delight in making it at home to snack on. After all, it’s hard not to love a food that explodes . But why exactly does popcorn blow up and turn into something delicious?
In fact, the science behind popcorn is fairly simple. With popcorn, there are three main factors at work. Firstly, the kernel, or seed, of popcorn contains a small amount of water, along with a large amount of starch. Secondly, the outer shell of the kernel, which is called the hull, is strong and traps water inside it. Thirdly, when heated enough, the water expands into steam. This steam makes the starch softer. It also produces pressure inside the kernel. Since the steam cannot escape from the hull, it eventually explodes. When that happens, the kernel basically turns inside out.
Does all corn act this way? No, the corn that people commonly eat is a variety known as sweet corn. No matter how long someone leaves sweet corn on a barbecue or in an oven, it won’t burst into little puffs. The popcorn people eat comes from a variety of corn that is itself called popcorn. Another interesting fact about popcorn is related to the reason that it makes a bang when it pops. It was once thought that the sound came from the kernel breaking. However, scientists discovered it is actually due to the sudden release of water vapor from the kernel. In other words, this swift change in air pressure produces the popping sound.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?
(A) How and where popcorn is grown.
(B) Why popcorn bursts open when heated.
(C) The history behind a popular snack food.
(D) Why popcorn is so popular around the world.
2. According to the passage, which part of the kernel prevents steam from flowing out?
(A) A (B) B (C) C (D) D
3. Four students are in a group discussion. Which of the following statements is correct?
(A) “In addition to popcorn, sweet corn can also pop.”
(B) “The corn kernel is mainly composed of the seed, starch, and flakes.”
(C) “Many people enjoy eating popcorn while watching movies.”
(D) “Sweet corn also makes a popping sound when fried in hot oil.”
答案: 1 .B 2 .D 3 .C
单字片语整理
Words in Use
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factor [ˋfæktɚ]
n. 因素
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barbecue [ˋbɑrbɪkju]
vt. 烤（肉等）（缩写为 BBQ [ `barbIkyu ]）
n. 烤肉聚会（可数）；烤肉架（可数）；烤出来的食物（不可数）
●
variety [vəˋraɪətɪ]
n. 变化；种类
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oven [ˋʌvən]
n. 烤箱
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trap [træp]
vt. 设陷阱捕捉
n. 陷阱；圈套，骗局，诡计
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burst [bɝst]
vt. & vi. （使）爆破 / 炸
n. 爆破 / 炸，喷；（感情）爆发
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expand [ɪkˋspænd]
vt. & vi. （使）（尺寸或数量）扩大，增加
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eventually [ɪˋvɛntʃʊəlɪ]
adv. 终究，到头来
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delight [dɪˋlaɪt]
.vt. 使喜悦
n. 欣喜
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fairly [ˋfɛrlɪ]
adv. 相当地，蛮
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cinema [ˋsɪnəmə]
n. 电影院
●
bang [bæŋ]
vt. 猛然撞击
n. 发出砰的一声
adv. 准确地〔英〕
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release [rɪˋlis]
vt. & n. 释出，释放（= let go of）；发行，发布
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vapor [ˋvepɚ]
n. . 蒸气
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explode [ɪkˋsplod]
vi. 激增
vt. & vi. 爆炸，炸掉
●
swift [swɪft]
a. 迅速的，敏捷的
●
puff [pʌf]
vi. . 喘气
vt. & vi. 抽（烟）
n. 抽烟；一阵（风或烟）；泡芙
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hull [hʌl]
n. 船身，船壳
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starch [stɑrtʃ]
n. 淀粉
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kernel [ˋkɝn!]
n. （玉米、麦等的）粒／子
Practical Phrases
●
escape from + 地方 从某处逃脱
According to the news, a notorious drug dealer escaped from prison.
据新闻报导，一个恶名昭彰的毒贩越狱了。
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inside out 里面翻到外面地
Sam didn’t notice that he was wearing his T-shirt inside out.
山姆没发现他把 T 恤里外穿反了。
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In other words, S + V 换句话说／也就是说，⋯⋯
●
be related to 与⋯⋯有关
The artist’s paintings are related to there lationship between man and nature.
那名艺术家的画作是关于人类与大自然之间的关系。
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snack on... 吃⋯⋯（当作点心）
Do you have anything in your house to snack on? I’m hungry.
你家里有什么可以吃的吗？我饿死了。
●
at work 起作用，产生影响
Rock formations are a perfect example of weathering at work.
岩石的的形成是风化作用产生影响的最佳范例。
More to Learn
pop [ pɑp ] vi. 砰的一声爆开
• The balloon Amy held suddenly popped and gave her a fright.
艾咪手里拿的气球突然砰的一声爆开，吓了她一大跳。
以下介绍跟烹饪或食物相关的拟声词(状声词):
a. pop 是爆米花爆开的声音，或是开酒瓶盖时「啵」 一声的声音。
b. bubble 是水、汤沸腾时的咕噜咕噜声。
• Please turn off the gas when you hear the water bubbling.
听到水滚时，请关掉瓦斯。
c. crack 是鸡蛋裂开时的声音。
• Knock the egg on the table a few times and it will crack.
把鸡蛋敲桌子几下，它就会裂开。
d. crackle 是炸食物时所发出的劈劈啪啪声。
• I can hear the crackling sound whenever my mother fries something.
每当我妈妈炸东西时，我都能听到劈劈啪啪声。
e. sizzle 是铁板煎烤食物发出的滋滋声。
• The steak sizzles on the grill, and I start to get hungry.
牛排在烤架上滋滋作响，我开始觉得饿了。
中文翻译(& 答案)
它是一种受到世界各地人们喜爱的天然美味食物。对很 多常去看电影的人来说，如果没有它，在电影院的夜晚就会 有所不同。许多大人和小孩也喜欢在家里做这道点心吃。毕 竟，很难不爱上会爆开的食物。但爆米花究竟为什么会爆， 并变成美味的东西呢?
事实上，爆米花背后的科学原理相当简单。这当中有三 个主要因素影响着。首先，爆米花的玉米粒(或种子)含有 少量的水分和大量的淀粉。其次，玉米粒的外壳(hull)很 结实，会把水分存在里头。第三，当加热至够热时，水会膨 胀成蒸气。这些蒸气使淀粉变得较软。它还会在玉米粒内部 产生压力。由于蒸气无法从外壳溢出，外壳最终就爆开了。 这种情况发生时，玉米粒基本上就会外翻过来。
所有的玉米都会这样吗?不，一般人们常吃的玉米是一 种被称为甜玉米的品种。无论将甜玉米放在烤肉架上或烤箱 中多久，它都不会爆裂成蓬松的米花。人们吃的爆米花来自 一种本身叫做爆米花的玉米品种。另一个关于爆米花的有趣 事实是关乎爆米花爆裂时产生砰砰声的原因。曾有人认为， 这个声音是因为玉米粒破裂。然而，科学家发现，事实上砰 砰声是因为玉米粒中突然释放的水蒸气。换句话说，是这种 气压的迅速变化产生了爆裂声。
1. 第二段的主旨为何?
(A) 爆米花的种植方式和地点。
(B) 爆米花加热时为何会爆开。
(C) 人气零食背后的历史。
(D) 爆米花为何在世界各地如此受欢迎。
2. 根据本文，玉米粒的哪个地方会防止蒸气溢出?
(A) A (B) B (C) C (D) D
题解: 根据第二段，由于蒸气无法从外壳溢出，玉米粒 最终就会爆开，图中 D 所指的部分为玉米粒的外 壳(hull)，故选之。
3. 四位学生正在小组讨论。以下哪项叙述是正确的?
(A) 「除了爆米花会爆之外，甜玉米也会爆。」
(B) 「玉米粒主要由种子、淀粉和玉米片组成。」
(C) 「许多人喜爱在看电影时吃爆米花。」
(D) 「甜玉米在热油中油炸时也会有爆裂声。」
