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Germs, Dirt Could Be Good for Children’s Health 细菌、灰尘可能对孩子健康有益

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Germs, Dirt Could Be Good for Children’s Health  细菌、灰尘可能对孩子健康有益

Results of a new study suggest that the popular trend for keeping children clean to the point of sanitization may not only be of no benefit to a child’s health, but it may actually be harming it. Scientists say the evidence lends strong support to the “hygiene hypothesis” of the 1980s. The hypothesis proposed that exposure to germs in early childhood is essential to a strong immune system in later life and also reduces the chances of developing allergies.

根据最新研究显示，让孩子保持清洁、干净到几乎是无菌无毒的这种状态，不仅不会对孩子的健康带来益处，可能还会造成伤害。科学家表示，实验证明强烈支持1980年代时提出的「卫生假说」。这项假说主张于年幼时接触细菌对日后免疫系统的增强是极其重要的，同时也能降低过敏生成的机率。

The researchers agree, saying certain bacteria that live on the skin are vital to the process of a wound or cut healing properly. These germs are actually good for us, and so avoiding getting muddy or constantly wiping these bacteria away is actually doing more harm than good to children’s health. As the number of people in the developed world who suffer from allergies rises dramatically, it certainly isn’t a problem to sneeze at.

研究人员同意某些附生在皮肤上的病菌与伤口或割伤愈合的过程息息相关。这些细菌是对人体有益的，如果老是避免弄脏身体或是勤将这些细菌擦拭而去，实际上对孩子的健康是有害无益。从已开发国家中罹患过敏人口数量大幅攀升的情况看来，这可不是嗤之以鼻的小问题。

U.S. Agrees to Bring Emissions Reduction Plan to Copenhagen Table  美国将出席哥本哈根会议并订出减量目标

Bowing to pressure from the international community, the U.S. has finally announced it will not arrive at the Copenhagen climate change summit without a proposed target for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. All other industrialized nations have already made their proposed cuts public. As the U.S. is among the world’s worst offenders in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, the EU and other countries have expressed dissatisfaction with President Barack Obama’s progress on climate change, particularly after he claimed the issue was at the top of his agenda.

受到国际社会的压力，美国终于宣布届时出席哥本哈根气候变迁高峰会议，一定会订出温室气体排放减量的目标。所有其他工业国皆已公布其减量目标。由于美国是全球温室气体排放量最高的黑乌贼之一，欧盟与其他国家对欧巴马总统在气候变迁议题上的进展表示不满，特别是他之前声称该议题为其执政的首要之务。

The rest of the world needs America on board if the meeting is to have any significant effect, so the announcement is being regarded as an important step forward. At home, however, Obama still needs to be cautious. With the Senate will unable to come to an agreement on climate change law, the president will not want to upset the balance by announcing any targets that would not be consistent with domestic legislation.

世界各国皆需要美国的共襄盛举，使会议发挥实质的影响力，因此美方的宣布被视为重要的进步。不过，在美国本土，欧巴马还是得谨言慎行。由于参议院还是无法在气候变迁法上达成共识，总统也不愿宣布任何有可能会与国内法规出现不一致的指标，避免打乱目前的局势。

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Vocabulary

单词发音

to the point of  到...的程度

evidence [ˋɛvədəns] n. 证据

propose [prəˋpoz] v. 提议，建议

exposure [ɪkˋspoʒɚ] n. 暴露

essential [ɪˋsɛnʃəl] adj. 必要的; 绝对重要的; 必不可少的

allergy [ˋælɚdʒɪ] n. 过敏症

properly [ˋprɑpɚlɪ] adv. 恰当地；正确地

constantly [ˋkɑnstəntlɪ] adv. 不断地；时常地

in terms of 就...方面来说 regarding something; concerning something

dissatisfaction [͵dɪssætɪsˋfækʃən] n. 不满；不平

agenda [əˋdʒɛndə] n. 待议诸事项；议程

cautious [ˋkɔʃəs] adj. 十分小心的，谨慎的

come to an agreement 达成协议

consistent [kənˋsɪstənt] adj. 一贯的﹐一致的; 与……一致的

domestic [dəˋmɛstɪk] adj. 国内的

More Information

单词发音

sanitization [͵sænətaɪˋzeʃən] n. 无菌无毒; 卫生处理 to make sanitary, as by cleaning or disinfecting

hygiene [ˋhaɪdʒin] n. 卫生（学）; 保健（学）

hypothesis [haɪˋpɑθəsɪs] n. 假说

immune system（身体内的）免疫系统

sneeze [sniz] at 蔑视, 轻视 Informal to dismiss lightly

bow to 屈服于, 屈从于 to accept something without really wanting to

summit [ˋsʌmɪt] n. 最高级会议

offender [əˋfɛndɚ] n. 违法者；犯规的人

significant [sɪgˋnɪfəkənt] adj. 重要的，重大的

upset [ʌpˋsɛt] v. 打乱，搅乱

legislation [͵lɛdʒɪsˋleʃən] n. 法律，法规

Listening Post : Copenhagen Climate Summit