常春藤生活英语【89】Mosquito Repellent 蚊虫克星

Mosquito Repellent 蚊虫克星

Many people regard summer as a time for relaxing, eating ice cream, and...ouch! I just got bitten by a mosquito!
　
For centuries, people have been searching for effective ways to prevent mosquito bites. What they have been looking for is mosquito repellent1. This refers to anything that keeps mosquitoes away or prevents them from landing on you. Mosquitoes have always been hard to deal with. Therefore, it is not surprising that the origins of mosquito repellant are from long ago.
　
The first known mosquito repellent was used by ancient Egyptians. They took oil from castor oil plants2 and burned it in lamps. Ancient Romans used a mix of vinegar3, resin4, and oil to drive away insects that bite. Many other cultures, such as those in India and China, also used plants as repellents. Around 1890, the first mosquito coil5 was made in Japan. It was made of natural plant oil. Today, these coils are used all over the world. During World War II, the first chemical repellents were created. In 1946, the American government developed DEET. Since then, it has been the chemical that is most often
added to repellents.
　　
许多人把夏季视为是悠闲放松、吃冰淇淋的好时光，还有……噢！我刚被蚊子叮了一下！
　　
数百年来，人们一直在寻找预防蚊子叮咬的有效方法。他们所寻寻觅觅的就是驱虫剂。驱虫剂指的是任何能赶走蚊子，或是防止牠们停在您身上的东西。蚊子自古以来一直都很难缠。因此，驱虫剂的起源悠久实不令人意外。
　　
第一个为人所知的驱虫剂是由古埃及人所使用的。他们自蓖麻中提炼蓖麻子油，并放在油灯里烧。古罗马人则用醋、树脂和油的混合液来驱除会叮人的昆虫。在印度和中国等其它文化当中，也使用植物来作为驱虫剂。1890年前后，日本制造了第一个圈状蚊香。它是由天然植物油所制成。如今，世界各地仍使用这种蚊香。第二次世界大战期间，第一批化学驱虫剂问世。1946年，美国政府研发了DEET。从那时起，它便成为最常被添加在驱虫剂里的化学物质。

Building Your Vocabulary

► effective　a. 有效的
These pills are effective in curing headaches.
这些药丸能有效治疗头痛。

Phrases for Learning

1. regard A as B　　把 A 看作 B，认为 A 是 B
Chris regards Mandy as his true love.
克里斯视曼蒂为他的真爱。
2. refer to...　　指的是……
I wasn't referring to you when I made my comments.
当我发表我的意见时，我指的人不是你。
3. deal with...　　解决∕处理……
Kyle had to deal with the problem by himself.
凯尔必须自行解决这个问题。
4. drive away.../drive...away　　赶走……
Mom used a broom to drive the rat away.
妈妈用扫帚把老鼠赶跑。
5. be made of...　　由……制成
This dessert is made of bananas, chocolate, and ice cream.
这道甜点是由香蕉，巧克力和冰淇淋所制成。

参考字词

1. repellent　n. 驱虫剂
2. castor oil plant　n. 蓖麻
castor oil　n. 蓖麻子油
3. vinegar　n. 醋
4. resin　n. 树脂
5. mosquito coil　n. 蚊香
coil　n.（一）圈

Grammar Check

What they have been looking for is mosquito repellent.
（他们所寻寻觅觅的就是驱虫剂。）
　　
疑问词（what, when, where, why, how 等）可引导名词子句，在主要子句中作主词、受词或置于 be 动词后作主词补语。在本句中，what 引导的名词子句"what they have been looking for"即作主词用。

I want to know when you'll arrive.
（我想知道你何时会到。）

注意:
how 在引导的名词子句中修饰形容词或副词时，须将该形容词或副词置于 how 之后，使 how 直接修饰该形容词或副词。

Just go outside and you'll see how hot it is today.
（你只要走出室外就可以明白今天有多热。）

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