在英國，真菌種類比植物的種類還要多，但科學家們對真菌的了解還相對較少。本期 “隨身英語” 探討蘑菇等真菌在廚房外扮演的重要角色以及這類生物很難研究的原因。

詞匯：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.

詞匯表

fungi （復數）真菌，真菌類植物
ecosystem 生態系統
source of 來源
make a contribution 作出貢獻
fungal species 真菌種類
unexplored 未經研究的，無人涉足的
botanic 植物（學）的
lab 實驗室
a whole host of 許多，大量
poisonous 有毒的
proportion 部分，比例
disease 疾病
shelter 棲息地，住所
wildlife 野生動植物
absorb 吸收
nutrient 養分，營養物
waste 廢物
dead matter 枯死物，死亡有機物
root 根部
nourish 滋養

測驗與練習

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

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.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

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. 閱讀課文并回答問題。 

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.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

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.