常春藤生活英语：Everyday Things 原来如此！

Everyday Things　原来如此!

London had a big problem during the hot and humid summer of 1858. The River Thames had become seriously polluted because of the recent invention of flush toilets. These were much better than the traditional holes in the ground, but now the city had to dump a lot more waste into the river. This led to a horrible smell that floated in the air all around London. People even soaked their curtains in bleach to try to reduce the odor. Soon, this problem was nicknamed The Great Stink.

Heavy rain finally saved the day and rid London of its smell. British politicians soon passed a law that funded the building of sewers all over the country. The toilet is a good example of things that people take for granted which can cause a lot of trouble.

This month, National Geographic Channel dives into The Toilet on Everyday Things. The show goes behind one of the most important and overlooked inventions of all time. Toilets are significant because no matter who you are, what you do, how much money you have, or where you live, everyone still has to use the bathroom.

1858那年炎热潮湿的夏季，伦敦市碰上了很大的问题。泰晤士河的污染变得更为严重，因为冲水马桶刚刚发明。它们虽然比传统的在地上挖个洞要方便太多，但现在整座城市得往河中倒进更多污物。这样的状况使得伦敦市的空气中到处弥漫着臭味。民众甚至将窗帘用漂白水泡过，试着减少怪味。这个问题很快就被戏称为『大恶臭』。

滂沱大雨挽救了局面，让伦敦免于臭气熏天。英国的政治人物很快就通过法律，在全国出资兴建污水道。人们将许多可能会引起大麻烦的东西视为理所当然，马桶就是一个好例子。

本月份，国家地理频道《原来如此!》将看尽《马桶大小事》。本节目将一探史上最重要、却也是最遭人忽视的发明之一。马桶非常重要，因为不论您是谁、从事哪一行、有多少钱、住在哪里，每个人都得要上厕所。

Building Your Vocabulary

1.horrible　a. 糟糕的;可怕的

The accident left a horrible scar on my back.

这场意外在我背上留下一道可怕的伤痕。

2.fund　vt. 资助，为……提供资金

The project was funded by the government.

这项计划是由政府出资进行。

3.overlook　vt. 忽视(本文以过去分词作形容词用)

It is easy to overlook a small detail like that.

像那样的细支末节很容易受到忽略。

4.significant　a. 重要的，重大的

The computer is one of the most significant inventions of the 20th century.

计算机是二十世纪最重要的发明之一。

Phrases for Learning

1.dump + 物 + into...　　将某物倒入……

Mom dumped the leftovers into the trash can.

妈妈将厨余丢进垃圾桶里。

2.take...for granted　　将……视为理所当然

People often take their friends for granted.

人们常常视其朋友为当然。

参考字词

1.flush toilet　n. 冲水马桶

2.waste　　n. 排泄物;废弃物

3.bleach　n. 漂白水，漂白剂

4.odor　n. 臭味

5.stink　n. 恶臭

6.sewer　n. 污水管，下水道

Tips In Use

...because of the recent invention of flush toilets...

(……因为冲水马桶刚刚发明。)

because of 与 because 均表『因为，由于』，但使用上有所不同。

1."because of..."为一词组，其后须接名词。

Many houses collapsed because of the earthquake.

(许多房屋因地震而倒塌。)

2.because 为连接词，须连接完整的两句。

Many houses collapsed because there was an earthquake.

Enjoy Box

马桶』名称的由来

相信许多人一定会纳闷，明明是人坐的桶，为什么要叫『马桶』呢?这个问题可由中国历朝的皇帝说起：据《左传》记载，魏晋南北朝时的晋景公在品尝新麦之后觉得腹胀，上完厕所后却不慎跌进粪坑而死，暴露出当时宫厕的简陋。

汉高祖刘邦也称一绝。某次他在群臣面前内急，为了节省时间来开会，竟然要一个文官把帽子递给他。他转过身去，不一会儿，半帽子『龙尿』就呈现在众人面前了。

或许是受了汉高祖用大臣帽子撒尿的启发，后世的皇帝们多半不再上厕所，而使用便壶来解决问题。《西京杂记》说，汉朝宫廷用瑰玉做成『虎子』，以备皇上随时方便支用。相传西汉时飞将军李广因射死卧虎，故请人铸成虎形的铜质便器，表示对猛虎的蔑视，这就是『虎子』得名的由来。到了唐朝之时，因为皇族中有先人名为『李虎』，便将『虎子』这个大不敬的名称改叫『兽子』或『马子』，之后就逐渐演变成『马桶』。