英國科學家研發出可以分辨不同威士忌之間細微差別的人造“舌頭”。這項技術可以用于幫助打擊假酒交易。

文字稿

Engineers used sub-microscopic slides of gold and aluminium, arranged in a chequerboard pattern, to act as the tongue's taste buds. The researchers poured whisky samples over the metals and measured how they absorb light while submerged.

工程師們把由金和鋁兩種金屬切割制成的細微薄片，以棋盤狀排列，充當舌頭的味蕾。研究人員將不同的威士忌樣品倒在這些金屬“舌頭”上，并測量它們在不同液體中吸收光線的方式。

The artificial tongue was able to tell the differences between various whiskies with an accuracy of more than 99%. It could also pick up subtle distinctions between the same whisky, aged 12, 15 or 18 years.

人造“舌頭”能夠分辨出各種威士忌之間的差別，準確率超過99%。它還能分辨年份分別為12年、15年或18年的同一種威士忌之間的細微差別。

Scientists at the universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde who carried out the research say it could be used to test virtually any liquid. They claim it could help to reduce the trade in counterfeit alcohol, which is sold illegally across the UK and can contain dangerous chemicals, including windscreen washer and bleach.

進行這項研究的格拉斯哥大學和斯特拉斯克萊德大學的科學家們說，人造“舌頭”可被用來“品嘗”任何液體。他們稱，這將有助于減少假酒交易。在英國各地非法銷售的假酒中可能含有危險的化學物質，包括擋風玻璃清洗液和漂白劑。

詞匯

chequerboard 棋盤
taste buds 味蕾
absorb 吸收
submerged 在水中的
artificial 人工的
accuracy 準確度
subtle 細微的
counterfeit 假貨
windscreen washer 擋風玻璃清洗液
bleach 漂白劑

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題 。

1. Which metals were used to create this artificial tongue?

2. True or false? The artificial tongue was able to tell the difference between whiskies of different ages.

3. How will this invention help the whisky industry?

4. What else could this artificial tongue be used for?

答案

1. Which metals were used to create this artificial tongue?

Engineers used sub-microscopic slides of gold and aluminium.

2. True or false? The artificial tongue was able to tell the difference between whiskies of different ages.

True. It could pick up subtle distinctions between the same whisky, aged 12, 15 or 18 years.

3. How will this invention help the whisky industry?

It could help to reduce the trade in counterfeit alcohol, which is sold illegally  across the UK.

4. What else could this artificial tongue be used for?

Scientists say it could be used to test virtually any liquid.