Level 1 · Reading series
Lesson 16 · Why Onions Make Us Cry
Audio track 16
Listen first
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When we cut an onion, we break many small cells. They make a chemical that changes into a gas.
The gas reaches the eye. The eye makes tears to wash it away. A sharp knife can break fewer cells than a dull one.
A cold onion may also make less gas. After cutting it, wash your hands and do not touch your eyes.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
切洋葱时，许多细小的细胞会被切开。细胞释放出的化学物质会变成气体。
气体接触眼睛后，眼睛会分泌泪水把它冲走。锋利的刀可能比钝刀切坏更少的细胞。
冷藏过的洋葱也可能产生更少的刺激性气体。切完后要洗手，别用手碰眼睛。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- cut
- 切；过去式也写 cut。
- onion
- 洋葱。
- chemical
- 化学物质；也可作形容词‘化学的’。
- gas
- 气体；煤气。
- eye
- 眼睛。
- tear
- 眼泪。作动词时还有‘撕裂’的意思。
- sharp knife
- 锋利的刀。sharp 意为‘锋利的’。
- cold
- 冷的；寒冷的。
- wash
- 洗。
- cell
- 细胞；也可指小隔间。本文指洋葱的细胞。
Background notes (Chinese)
洋葱细胞被破坏后，在酶的作用下会产生能刺激眼睛的挥发性物质。流泪是眼睛试图冲掉刺激物的反应。使用刀具时，安全比实验更重要，应有大人在旁指导。
资料来源：American Chemical Society 关于洋葱催泪物质的资料。