流行玩具 “鬼口水” 含有能导致呕吐和损害生育能力的化学物质。据一个消费者团体称，在部分厂商出售的玩具中，这类化学物质可能超出了安全水平。英国消费者维权机构 Which? 调查了十一种在市面上流行的黏胶类玩具产品，并发现其中八种产品的化学物质硼含量都超出了欧盟建议的安全标准。

文字稿

Squishy, gungy, slimy slime. Around the world, children grab it and squeeze it. Every day globules are lobbed at weary adults. To the horror of parents, British TV programmes even tell kids how to make their own.

软绵绵、油腻腻、黏乎乎的黏液。在世界各地，孩子们都抓着它捏来捏去。每天，精疲力竭的家长们成了孩子们扔小黏球的对象。让他们感到可怕的是，一些英国电视节目甚至还教孩子们怎样制作自己的黏胶玩具。

But when it comes to buying the stuff, the advice from a British consumer organisation is to approach slime with caution – and not just because of the obvious reason – you know, its slime! Which? tested 11 popular slime products and found eight contained higher than recommended levels of borax, which is made of a chemical called boron. Boron is what makes the slime sticky.

但在购买这类玩具的时候，英国一消费者组织建议人们应谨慎对待，这并不只是因为最明显的原因：你知道，这种玩具可是黏液做成的！名为 “Which?” 的机构测试了十一种畅销的黏胶玩具，发现八种产品中的硼砂含量都高于推荐水平，硼砂由一种叫作“硼”的化学物质制成。硼是让胶状玩具变 “黏” 的原因。

But Nikki Stopford from Which? says it can make children ill. One product had more than four times the amount of boron the European Union says is safe. The eight products which didn't meet the standards were all purchased by Which? on Amazon, which has now removed them from sale.

但来自 “Which?” 的尼基·斯托普夫德说，该物质可能会让儿童生病。在受检测的十一种畅销产品中，有一种产品的硼含量达欧盟推荐安全值的四倍以上。“Which?” 已从亚马逊网站上购买了八种未达标产品的所有存货，这些产品现已停售。

But Science Communicator Dr Stuart Farrimund says while we should be aware of borax and boron, we shouldn't be hugely concerned.

但科学通讯员斯图尔特·法瑞蒙德博士说，尽管我们应认识到硼砂和硼的危害，但无需过于担心。

1. 词汇表

squishy 湿软的
gungy 又脏又粘的
slimy 粘糊糊的
globules 小球、小珠
lobbed 被扔出
caution 当心、警惕
recommended levels 推荐水平
sticky 黏的
standards 标准
aware 了解的，知悉的
hugely concerned 过于重视

2. 阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题 。

1. Why do you think parents are horrified by British TV programmes showing kids how to make slime?

2. Why does British consumer organisation Which? think we should approach buying slime with caution?

3. True or false? Only slime toys claimed to be dangerous are sold on Amazon.

4. According to Science Communicator Dr Stuart Farrimund, how worried should we be about playing with slime toys?

3. 答案

1. Why do you think parents are horrified by British TV programmes showing kids how to make slime?
Because, as the reporter says, every day globules are lobbed at weary adults. They are fed up with it!

2. Why does British consumer organisation Which? think we should approach buying slime with caution?
Which? thinks some slime toys contain higher than recommended levels of borax, which is made of a chemical called boron – and they could lead to illness.

3. True or false? Only slime toys claimed to be dangerous are sold on Amazon.
False. The eight products which didn't meet the standards were all purchased by Which? on Amazon (which has now removed them from sale) but they are available from other retailers.

4. According to Science Communicator Dr Stuart Farrimund, how worried should we be about playing with slime toys?
He says 'we shouldn't be hugely concerned', which means 'there is no reason to be particularly worried'.