时差N小时 成熟的水果(上)

Usually a green, sour fruit is just a fruit that's not ripe yet.

通常绿绿色,酸酸的水果只是表明水果还不成熟。

If you left a lime on the tree longer would it eventually change color and become sweet, like an orange?

如果你长时间不摘取树上的酸橙，它最终会改变颜色,变得甜甜的，就像桔子那样吗?

Actually, limes do become much more yellow and less sour as they ripen¹.

事实上, 酸橙会变得更黄,而且成熟后不会那样酸。

Under ripe limes are darker green and quite bitter.

熟透的酸橙颜色呈现黑绿,尝起来更为苦涩。

There are other clues to their ripeness too.

还有其他线索表明这些水果的成熟。

Ripe limes are heavy with juice and more aromatic², with a fragrant³ “limey” smell.

成熟的酸橙因为汁水会有些沉甸甸，闻起来更芳香,带有“酸橙”香味的味道。

Most fruits we eat use similar cues to advertise ripeness.

我们吃的大多数水果都是依靠类似的标志表明成熟度。

Why would plants want parts of them to be eaten?

为什么植物们希望自己的果实被进食?

Fruiting plants have evolved a partnership⁴ with certain animals in order to increase the success of their seeds.

水果植物因为某些动物成功增加播撒的种子已经得以进化。

Tasty fruit pulp⁵ is the reward plants offer to animals in exchange for dispersing⁶ their seeds.

美味的果肉是植物提供动物们以换取播撒自身种子的奖励。

1 ripen   

vt.使成熟；vi.成熟

参考例句：

• I'm waiting for the apples to ripen.我正在等待苹果成熟。
• You can ripen the tomatoes on a sunny windowsill.把西红柿放在有阳光的窗台上可以让它们成熟。

2 aromatic   

adj.芳香的，有香味的

参考例句：

• It has an agreeable aromatic smell.它有一种好闻的香味。
• It is light,fruity aromatic and a perfect choice for ending a meal.它是口感轻淡，圆润，芳香的，用于结束一顿饭完美的选择。

3 fragrant   

adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的

参考例句：

• The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。
• The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。

4 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

5 pulp   

n.果肉，纸浆；v.化成纸浆，除去...果肉，制成纸浆

参考例句：

• The pulp of this watermelon is too spongy.这西瓜瓤儿太肉了。
• The company manufactures pulp and paper products.这个公司制造纸浆和纸产品。

6 dispersing   

adj. 分散的 动词disperse的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• Whereas gasoline fumes linger close to the ground before dispersing. 而汽油烟气却靠近地面迟迟不散。
• Earthworms may be instrumental in dispersing fungi or bacteria. 蚯蚓可能是散布真菌及细菌的工具。