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Skin – Our Outlet to the World 神奇的皮肤

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Skin is an amazing thing. Our skin keeps us dry and safe; it can stretch and heal, and it even produces essential vitamins. Without skin, we would literally fall apart! But there is much more to this organ than meets the eye, as Nina Jablonski demonstrates in her new book Skin: A Natural History.

皮肤相当神奇。它确保人体干燥、安全，可伸展并具自愈能力，甚至还制造必需维生素。若没有皮肤，人体可真的会崩解！但正如妮娜．贾柏朗丝姬在新书《皮肤：一部自然史》中所论述，这项器官的功能可不只这些。

Jablonski, an anthropologist, looks at the history of skin in the context of our collective development as a species. She points out that while most people view our evolution as the development of our growing brains, it was changes in the structure of our skin that made this possible. A big brain generates a lot of heat. As early primates began to develop larger brains, keeping cool became a problem. It didn’t help that these early hominids lived on the hot savannahs of East Africa, and had to spend a lot of time running from predators. Thus, their skin evolved to contain more sweat glands, and less heat-trapping hair.Now that they could regulate body heat through sweating, humans were free to develop vastly larger brains.

人类学家贾柏朗丝姬以物种集体发展的角度探究皮肤的历史。她指出，尽管多数人认为人类演化为脑容量的增长发展，但却是人体皮肤的结构变化使这发展成为可能。脑容量增大会产生大量热能。早期灵长类开始演化出较大头脑时，保持头部凉爽便成了问题。更糟的是，这些早期原人生活在炎热的东非大草原，且许多时间都在奔逃躲避掠食者，因此，他们的皮肤演化出更多汗腺及较易散热的毛发。既然可藉流汗调节体温，人类便进而演化出更大的脑。

But this advancement led to another problem. Early humans’ hair had protected them from the damaging effects of the sun’s rays. With no hair, they were at the mercy of UV radiation. So people’s skin got darker, which helped to minimize the damaging effects of the sun. This, according to Jablonski, is the origin of the range of skin colors we see in the world today.

但这样的进化却导致另一个问题。早期人类的毛发保护他们免于阳光的伤害；但少了毛发，他们便无法抵挡紫外线，肤色因而变深，以期将阳光的伤害降至最低。根据贾柏朗丝姬的说法，现今世人的不同肤色便源于此。

Vocabulary

单词发音

fall apart〔组织﹑制度等〕崩溃; 瓦解 to break apart where its parts are joined

more than meets the eye 比原想的复杂(或有趣等); 事情并不象外表看到的那样简单 hidden values or facts regarding something

collective [kəˋlɛktɪv] adj. 集体的；共同的

point out 指出, 提出

primate [ˋpraɪmɪt] n. 灵长类动物

predator [ˋprɛdətɚ] n. 食肉动物；掠夺者

regulate [ˋrɛgjə͵let] v. 调节

at the mercy of 任由某人/某事物摆布或控制; 受……所支配；任……处置；在……掌握中 without any protection against

radiation [͵redɪˋeʃən] n. 辐射

minimize [ˋmɪnə͵maɪz] v. 使减到最少，使缩到最小

More Information

单词发音

anthropologist [͵ænθrəˋpɑlədʒɪst] n. 人类学家

context [ˋkɑntɛkst] n.（事件的）来龙去脉，背景

hominid [ˋhɑmɪnɪd] n. 原始人类

savannah [səˋvænə] n. 大草原

heat-trapping  吸热的；聚热的

now that 既然; 因为; 而今

vastly  [ˋvæstlɪ] adv. 非常

课文讲解

Skin performs many vital biological roles. But equally important to these is the social function of skin. Our skin is the medium through which we present ourselves. We consciously use our skin to send messages about who we are, and what we want.

皮肤在生物学上扮演许多重要角色，但其社会功能也同等重要。皮肤是人类表现自我的媒介。我们刻意利用皮肤传递讯息，让他人了解我们的身份及需求。

The most obvious example of this is tattooing. This practice goes back thousands of years, and makes a powerful statement about who we are. Tattoos can be a mark of inclusion to a warrior tribe or a street gang, or they can reflect a personal belief or value. They can be used to attract a mate, or as a sign of commitment to a spouse or partner. All of these signs use the skin like a billboard, displaying a message to those around us. Similar messages can be sent using cosmetics or piercing. A woman can wear makeup to advertise (or mask) her mood, her availability, or her particular taste in music or fashion.

最明显的例子便是刺青。此做法可回溯至数千年前，强烈地表明身份。刺青可作为战士部落或街头帮派的隶属标记，或者，反映个人信仰或价值观。它们可用来吸引对象，或作为对配偶及伴侣表示承诺的象征。这些记号彷佛将皮肤当成告示牌，向周遭人展示讯息。类似讯息也可透过化妆或穿洞传递。女性可藉化妆展现（或掩饰）心情、是否接受邀约，或对音乐及时尚的独到品味。

Even without decorations, our skin tells a great deal. We judge a person’s age and disposition by their skin. We are more likely to trust someone with laugh and smile lines than someone whose wrinkles furrow into a perpetual frown.

即使没有装饰，皮肤也能透露许多讯息。我们藉由皮肤判断他人的年龄及性格。我们较易信任笑口常开、有笑纹的人，而较不信任老是愁容满面的人。

Because skin is such a central part of our lives, it’s easy to take it for granted. Even our sense of touch, which comes through the skin, is vital for our well-being. Although sight and hearing seem much more important for getting around, without touch the world would be a very lonely place. Affectionate touching is essential for healthy development of children. Our touch expresses our love, and our connection with others. With all of these aspects of our lives dependent on it, it is no wonder Dr. Jablonski calls skin “the underappreciated organ.”

由于皮肤在人类生命中如此重要，人们容易习以为常。甚至由皮肤连结的触觉也攸关我们的健康幸福。尽管视觉及听觉对人类活动似乎更为重要，但少了触觉，世界会变得孤寂。充满关爱的抚触是孩子健康成长所不可或缺，抚触可传达我们对他人的关爱及联系。由于生活中有这么多层面都仰赖着皮肤，难怪贾柏朗丝姬博士称皮肤为「被忽视的器官」。

−by Michael Karanicolas

Vocabulary

单词发音

vital [ˋvaɪt!] adj. 极其重要的

medium [ˋmidɪəm] n. 传播媒介

spouse [spaʊz] n. 配偶

advertise [ˋædvɚ͵taɪz] v.（通过外表或行为）显示（某种特质）

disposition [͵dɪspəˋzɪʃən] n. 性格；性情

wrinkle [ˋrɪŋk!] n. 皱；皱纹

perpetual [pɚˋpɛtʃʊəl] adj. 永久的；长期的

take something for granted 认为…是理所当然的  to expect someone or something to be always available to serve in some way without thanks or recognition

affectionate [əˋfɛkʃənɪt] adj. 充满深情的

More Information

单词发音

tattoo [tæˋtu] v.-〔用针和墨水〕在〔皮肤上〕刺花纹﹐文身

inclusion [ɪnˋkluʒən] n. 包含

commitment [kəˋmɪtmənt] n. 承诺，保证

billboard [ˋbɪl͵bord] n. 布告板, 广告牌

wear [wɛr] v. 涂抹（香水，化妆品）

availability [ə͵veləˋbɪlətɪ] n. 有空闲; 有闲暇

a great deal 很多, 大量 to a very great degree or extent

furrow [ˋfɝo] v. 起皱纹

frown [fraʊn] n. 皱眉; v. 皱眉

well-being [ˋwɛlˋbiɪŋ] n. 健康; 幸福

get around 随意走走; 四处走动 to travel from place to place

underappreciated [͵ʌndɚəˋpriʃɪ͵etɪd] adj. 不受重视；未得到正确评价的  not duly appreciated

Reading Questions

1.   The word “advancement” in this article is closest in meaning to __________.

A.  evolution

B.  perfection

C.  ability

D.  example

2.   Which of the following is NOT a reason why it was difficult for early primates to keep cool?

A.  Their brains increased in mass.

B.  They lived in extremely hot climates.

C.  They were constantly on the run from predators.

D.  The skin was thicker than it is today.

3.   Which of the following best describes the social function of skin?

A.  It allows us to advertise products to those around us.

B.  It ensures that negative feelings have no effect on us.

C.  It reminds people to take care of one another.

D.  It enables us to communicate a variety of emotions.

4.   What is the writer’s main purpose for writing this article?

A.  To explain the differences between white and dark skin.

B.  To describe the many different skin problems humans can be affected by.

C.  To illustrate the importance of skin to mankind’s life.

D.  To explain why the human brain has expanded over the last 10,000 years.

Answer