【一起听英语】你吃过紫色的西红柿吗？

你吃过紫色的西红柿吗，这是科学家研究出来的一个新品种，是不是很神奇呢？

Rob: Hello I’m Rob. Welcome to 6 Minute English. With me today is Finn. Hello

Finn.

Finn: Hello Rob.

Rob: Now Finn, I'd like to start by asking you a question. Would you eat a purple

coloured tomato?

Finn: Purple? Well, that depends. Is it a naturally coloured tomato? Where does it

come from? Is this an artificial tomato? Rob, tell me more.

Rob: Artificial – yes, you mean is it man-made and trying to copy something that

is natural? Well, in a way - yes. Because scientists have developed a

genetically² modified purple tomato; they took red tomato plants and

changed their genetic¹ patterns so that they now produce new, purple

tomatoes.

Finn: Yes, so this would be an example of GM – genetically modified – food. It's

something we'll be discussing more soon and, of course, looking at some

related vocabulary.

Rob: But here's another question for you Finn that hasn't been modified – or

changed – in any way! GM food has been researched and experimented with

for many years but do you know when the first genetically modified food was

first sold commercially? Was it in:

a) 1974

b) 1984

c) 1994

Finn: Well, we think of GM food as a recent thing so I'll say the opposite, a) 1974.

Rob: OK, we’ll find out if you're right later on. Let's talk more now about

genetically modified food – or GM food. It's called this because the food's

genes³ have been changed. This means the way it grows is different from the

way it grows when it isn’t touched by humans.

Finn: Yes, so, growing GM food – or crops – is controversial. Some scientists think

it's needed to meet the world's growing demand for food.

Rob: Yes, GM food can resist – or stop the effects of – some pests or bad

weather. It can grow more quickly, meaning even more crops can be

cultivated – or grown.

Finn: But opponents of GM food – people who argue against it – say we don't know

enough about its effect on the environment.

Rob: And then there are the fears about who controls what's grown.

Finn: Yes, but despite this, GM food has become an important part of food

production. Crops like sweetcorn, rape⁴ plants, wheat and tomatoes have all

been genetically modified.

Rob: Yes, like the purple tomato, which was recently developed in the UK. It has a

dark pigment⁵ – or colour – which gives it the same potential health benefits

as blueberries.

Finn: Well, that sounds like a good thing. And not only that, it has an antioxidant

– that's a substance that stops the decaying process – which tests show

could help fight cancer.

Rob: One day we could see these purple tomatoes on pizzas or in our tomato

ketchup⁶. Let's hear from Professor Cathie Martin who is a plant biologist from

The John Innes Centre who developed this tomato. What does she say is

good about this new food?

Professor Cathie Martin, Plant Biologist, John Innes Centre:

With these purple tomatoes, you can get the same compounds that are present in

blueberries and cranberries⁷ that give them their health benefits but you can apply them

to foods that people actually eat in significant amounts and that are reasonably

affordable⁸.

Rob: So she says the good thing about this development is we can get health

benefits from something we eat significant amounts of – so lots of – and

they will be reasonably affordable – so it will be cheap.

Finn: Yes but there's still maybe a problem with the colour. We are affected⁹ by the

colour of stuff we put in our mouths. I mean, who eats blue food?!

Rob: That's true. And also because the European Union has restrictions¹⁰ on growing

GM food, this tomato has to be grown in Canada where rules are more

supportive of GM foods.

Finn: OK. Well, Professor Nick Pidgeon, who is an Environmental Psychologist, says

in the UK there is some distrust of GM food.

Rob: He says some people are concerned all this is messing with nature – it's not

natural – and maybe we don't know what the long-term consequences are.

Finn: And a big concern is that large corporations will have control over the

technology. And this could mean they control food prices too. You know Rob,

I think this is a debate that will go on and on and on.

Rob: Indeed. But it's now time to reveal the answer to today's question. Earlier I

asked you if you knew when the first genetically modified food was first sold

commercially.

Finn: I said a) 1974.

Rob: Interesting. The answer is actually 1994. A company called Calgene sold a

product that delayed the ripening¹¹ of tomatoes.

Finn: OK, well, I guess that means the fruit could last longer and it would stop it

going soft?

Rob: That was the idea. Now, before we go, Finn, could you remind us of some of

the vocabulary that we've heard today?

Finn: Yes, I will.

artificial

genetically modified

genes

resist

pests

cultivated

pigment

antioxidant

significant

affordable

distrust

ripening

Rob: Well, that brings us to the end of today's 6 Minute English. We hope you’ve

enjoyed today’s programme. Please join us again soon.

Both: Bye.

1 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

2 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物

3 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

4 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

5 pigment   

n.天然色素，干粉颜料

参考例句：

• The Romans used natural pigments on their fabrics and walls.古罗马人在织物和墙壁上使用天然颜料。
• Who thought he might know what the skin pigment phenomenon meant.他自认为可能知道皮肤色素出现这种现象到底是怎么回事。

6 ketchup   

n.蕃茄酱，蕃茄沙司

参考例句：

• There's a spot of ketchup on the tablecloth.桌布上有一点番茄酱的渍斑。
• Could I have some ketchup and napkins,please?请给我一些番茄酱和纸手巾？

7 cranberries   

n.越橘( cranberry的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The tart flavour of the cranberries adds piquancy. 越橘的酸味很可口。
• Look at the fresh cranberries. 你看这些新鲜的蔓越橘。 来自无师自通 校园英语会话

8 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

9 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

10 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

11 ripening   

v.成熟，使熟( ripen的现在分词 )；熟化；熟成

参考例句：

• The corn is blossoming [ripening]. 玉米正在开花[成熟]。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• When the summer crop is ripening, the autumn crop has to be sowed. 夏季作物成熟时，就得播种秋季作物。 来自《简明英汉词典》