在英国，真菌种类比植物的种类还要多，但科学家们对真菌的了解还相对较少。本期 “随身英语” 探讨蘑菇等真菌在厨房外扮演的重要角色以及这类生物很难研究的原因。

词汇：nature 自然

Fungi play an important role in ecosystems, are a source of food, and make key contributions to the world of medicine. So, why do we know so little about them?

An estimated two million fungal species – more than 90% of all fungi – have yet to be described by science, according to Rebecca Morelle, science reporter for the BBC. In the UK alone, there are thought to be around 25,000 species of fungi – five or six times more than plants. Scientists are trying to find out more about this largely unexplored world, but it is challenging. Dr Martyn Ainsworth, a senior researcher from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London, says: 'We can grow a certain number in the lab, but there is a whole host of fungi that we cannot grow in the lab. This has held back a lot of research.'

The fact that we know so little about the world of fungi leads many of us to misunderstand them. 'A lot of people are afraid of poisonous mushrooms', says Dr Jassy Drakulic, a plant pathologist, 'but only a very small proportion of the thousands of species of fungi in the world can cause disease'. Most are harmless and often beneficial, called by some 'the hidden helpers of our environment'. Some fungi provide food and shelter for wildlife, help plants absorb water and nutrients and recycle waste and dead matter. Other types of fungi grow on the roots of trees and plants, forming a huge underground network that helps nourish trees. 'Fungi are really the behind-the-scenes team that are doing all the work', adds Dr Ainsworth.

So, next time you add mushrooms to your dinner, take a painkiller for a headache, or go for a walk through the woods, remember to thank the living things that made it all possible – fungi.

词汇表

fungi （复数）真菌，真菌类植物
ecosystem 生态系统
source of 来源
make a contribution 作出贡献
fungal species 真菌种类
unexplored 未经研究的，无人涉足的
botanic 植物（学）的
lab 实验室
a whole host of 许多，大量
poisonous 有毒的
proportion 部分，比例
disease 疾病
shelter 栖息地，住所
wildlife 野生动植物
absorb 吸收
nutrient 养分，营养物
waste 废物
dead matter 枯死物，死亡有机物
root 根部
nourish 滋养

测验与练习

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。

1. True or False? There are more species of fungi than species of plants in the UK.

2. What's one reason why research into fungi has been held back?

3. What proportion of fungi are poisonous?

4. Are the ways in which fungi benefit the environment obvious?

5. True or False? Fungi only provide food for animals.

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. Until our brothers joined us, our nail salon was a _______ female business.

largely                       unexplored                    proportion                   lab

2. Large proportions of the world's oceans remain _______.

source of                   largely                           unexplored                  wildlife

3. A higher _______ of men are stay-at-home dads than in the past.

waste                        poisonous                      proportion                   ecosystem

4. Plants _______ carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.  

absorb                       nutrients                        waste                          nourish

5. It suddenly started raining heavily, but luckily the trees provided some _______.

fungi                          dead matter                   shelter                        absorb    

答案

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。 

1. True or False? There are more species of fungi than species of plants in the UK.

True. In the UK, there are thought to be around five or six times more species of fungi than plants.

2. What's one reason why research into fungi has been held back?

According to Dr Martyn Ainsworth, many fungi can't be grown in a lab, so it's harder to study them.

3. What proportion of fungi are poisonous?

According to Dr Jassy Drakulic, only a very small proportion of the thousands of species of fungi in the world can cause disease.

4. Are the ways in which fungi benefit the environment obvious?

No. Fungi are referred to as 'the hidden helpers of our environment' and as 'the behind-the-scenes team that are doing all the work'.

5. True or False? Fungi only provide food for animals.

False. Fungi provide food for wildlife, but they also form a huge underground network that helps nourish trees.

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. Until our brothers joined us, our nail salon was a largely female business.

2. Large proportions of the world's oceans remain unexplored.

3. A higher proportion of men are stay-at-home dads than in the past.

4. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.  

5. It suddenly started raining heavily, but luckily the trees provided some shelter.