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Handy Dandy Lions 蒲公英：梦想的信差

课文朗读

课文讲解

 繁體中文譯本

When I was a kid, I skipped and spun through sunny meadows of golden dandelions and imagined a world where everyone was healthy and wishes came true. As it turns out, my imagination wasn’t running wild – dandelions do have a bundle of health benefits and are believed to possess some extraordinary powers.

小时候，我会边跳边转圈，穿越阳光下泛着金黄色泽的蒲公英草地，想象一个人人健康，且梦想都能实现的地方。但结果证实，我不是胡思乱想－蒲公英的确有很多健康益处，并据信拥有某些独特的魔力。

“Dandelion” translates in most languages as “lion’s tooth,” referring to the shape of its toothed leaves. Yet gardeners still mistake them for weeds, because if not completely removed from the ground, their roots easily reproduce. What they do not know is that dandelions have about as many culinary and medicinal uses as any other item in their garden.

蒲公英的英文，在多数语言中直译为「狮子的牙齿」，指的是它齿状的叶片。然而养花莳草的人仍将其视为杂草，因为若不彻底铲除，它们的根便会轻易繁殖。但他们有所不知，蒲公英在烹饪及医疗上的功能，绝不逊于园中任何其他植物。

Dandelion petals are used to make wine, sweet syrup and jam, and are a main ingredient in Dandelion and Burdock soda. Dandelion petals and leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. The petals brighten soups and salads, and the leaves add a distinct bitter taste. Dandelion roots boiled with sweet vegetables create savory miso, and can be sautéed and served with onions and soy sauce for a unique side dish. The roots can also be ground to make dandelion coffee.

蒲公英花瓣可制成酒、甘甜的糖浆及果酱，且为蒲公英牛蒡汽水的主要成分。蒲公英花叶皆可生吃或熟食，且可增添汤头及色拉的风味。叶片则具独特的苦味。蒲公英的根与甜菜一起烹煮可制成美味的味噌汤，嫩煎后配上洋葱及酱油则是独特的小菜，根部研磨后也可制成蒲公英咖啡。

Dandelions are loaded with vitamins such as C and E, and contain more calcium than spinach and more beta-carotene than carrots! Dandelions also help stimulate digestive functions, and are good for the stomach and intestines. They are recommended for tired or stressed-out people.

蒲公英富含维他命C及E，含钙量超越菠菜，β胡萝卜素含量甚至超过胡萝卜！蒲公英也有助于促进消化功能，且对肠胃有益，医师会建议疲劳或压力大的人食用。

Vocabulary

单词发音

a bundle of【口】大堆，大批，大量[S][（+of）]

refer to 意指

reproduce [͵riprəˋdjus] v. 繁殖

culinary [ˋkjulɪ͵nɛrɪ] adj. 烹饪的

distinct [dɪˋstɪŋkt] adj. 截然不同的; 完全不同的

savory [ˋsevərɪ] adj. 美味可口的

load [lod] v. 使摆满；使充满；使长满[H][（+with）]

calcium [ˋkælsɪəm] n. 钙

stressed-out【非正式】极度焦虑的; 非常紧张的﹐压力大的

More Information

单词发音

handy-dandy 猜（哪手中握有物）游戏

skip [skɪp] v.（轻巧地）跳来跳去，蹦蹦跳跳

meadow [ˋmɛdo] n. 草地，牧草地

dandelion [ˋdændɪ͵laɪən] n.【植】蒲公英

run wild 胡闹; 失去控制(或约束) to get out of control

gardener [ˋgɑrdənɚ] n. 园丁；花匠

mistake [mɪˋstek] v. 把……误认为[（+for）]

weed [wid] n. 杂草；野草

medicinal [məˋdɪsn!] adj. 药的；药用的；有药效的

petal [ˋpɛt!] n. 花瓣

burdock [ˋbɝ͵dɑk] n.【植】牛蒡

brighten [ˋbraɪtn] v. 为…增添风味; （使）生色

miso [ˈmiso] n. 味噌

sauté [soˋte] v. 嫩煎（或炒、煸）fried quickly in a little fat

side dish〔正菜以外的〕小菜﹐配菜〈如色拉〉

spinach [ˋspɪnɪtʃ] n.【植】菠菜

intestine [ɪnˋtɛstɪn] n. 肠

课文讲解

While their health and culinary uses alone make them special, dandelions’ real magic occurs after a visit by nature’s little friends: bees. When dandelions are pollinated, they transform into fuzzy white balls of joy. I love blowing them and watching their tiny umbrella-like seeds dance in the breeze. I used to pretend they drifted around the world. Apparently, I was right. Dandelions are found almost everywhere!

虽然在保健及烹饪上的应用使其很独特，蒲公英真正神奇的地方，却在自然界的小朋友蜜蜂造访后才看得到。蒲公英授粉后会变为白茸茸的毛球。我喜欢吹拂它们，看着它们如袖珍雨伞般的种子随风轻舞。我曾佯装它们会飘至世界各地。显然我没错，几乎到处都有蒲公英！

There are several fun bits of folklore about dandelions. To let a loved one living afar know you are thinking about them, think good thoughts and blow dandelion seeds in the direction of that person. If even a single seed remains after blowing a second time, that person is also thinking about you. Another story claims that dandelions act as clocks. The number of attempts it takes to blow off a dandelion’s white puffy seeds is equal to the current hour.

蒲公英有些有趣的民间传说。若想让住在远方的爱人知道你思念着他，只要想着美好的事再朝那人的方向吹蒲公英种子，吹两次后如果剩下一颗种子，就表示他同样思念着你。另一种说法则认为蒲公英有如时钟，把白茸茸的种子吹光的次数，便表示现在几点。

My favorite bit of folklore is about blowing all of a dandelion’s seeds off in a single breath. If you can do this, it is said that your wishes will come true! In Dandelion Wish, a story by Sandra Ann Horn, a carnival of dreams and secret wishes parades down the road after a young boy successfully blows off a dandelion’s seeds.

我最喜欢的则是一口气吹走所有蒲公英种子的传说，如果能办到，据说愿望便会实现！桑德拉．安．宏恩写的《许愿蒲公英》故事中，一个小男孩成功吹散蒲公英种子后，出现一场嘉年华会，会中梦想及神秘愿望沿路游行。

There are good reasons why dandelions bloom all around the globe. They are not meant to harm the growth of other plants. They exist to provide food and good health, and best of all, they just might make your wishes come true!

全球各地都有蒲公英盛开是有道理的，它们不会妨碍其他植物生长，它们存在是为了让人食用及作保健用，而最棒的是，它们可能会让你美梦成真！

−by Matthew Wilson

Vocabulary

单词发音

pollinate [ˋpɑlə͵net] v. 给〔花﹑植物〕传授花粉

fuzzy [ˋfʌzɪ] adj. 有绒毛的

apparently [əˋpærəntlɪ] adv. 显然地

bit [bɪt] n. 小段[（+of）]

folklore [ˋfok͵lor] n. 民间传说，民俗

afar [əˋfɑr] adv.【书】在远方

puffy[ˋpʌfɪ] adj. 膨胀的，肿胀的

be equal to 等于

carnival [ˋkɑrnəv!] n. 嘉年华会

parade [pəˋred] v. 游行，列队行进

bloom [blum] v. 开花；生长茂盛

Reading Questions

1.   From which do dandelions get their name?

A.  The color of their petals.

B.  The shape of their leaves.

C.  The size of their seeds.

D.  The length of their roots.

2.   Which of the following is NOT true about dandelions?

A.  Their roots can regenerate easily.

B.  They can be used in soups and salads.

C.  They have a unique sweet taste.

D.  They are high in vitamins and nutrients.

3.   According to folklore, what does it mean if you blow all of a dandelion’s seeds off in a single breath?

A.  The one you love really loves you back.

B.  You get to make three wishes.

C.  The person you are thinking of is thinking about you too.

D.  All of your wishes will be fulfilled.

4.   What can we infer about dandelions from this article?

A.  That they are healthy and can provide us with hope.

B.  That they are a weed that should be gotten rid of.

C.  That they are quite tasty, but not very healthy.

D.  That one would have to be desperately hungry to eat a dandelion.

Answer