英语听力文摘 English Digest 43、家中植物可能引起过敏反应

　　When people come down with a runny nose and itchy eyes in their homes, they often think the cause is an allergy¹. The usual suspects are dust mites² and pets. They should, however, also consider their houseplants.
"Basically, any houseplant can set off an allergy," said Stefan Gentzen, director of the German garden retailers³' association in Berlin. "At the time of the sale customers generally don't know that they will have an allergic⁴ reaction to the plant."
There are, however, plants that are known to cause allergic reactions. The best-known example is the ficus, (Ficus benjamina), also known as the weeping fig⁵ or Benjamin's fig.
"The ficus is found in almost every office building and in many private homes. That's why it is known for touching⁶ off allergies," Gentzen said.
The plant's allergens come from the milky⁷ sap on the surface of the leaves.
"The types of immediate⁸ reactions are running nose, itchy eyes and respiratory problems similar to asthma⁹. Hours later eczema could develop," Anja Schwalfenberg, patient adviser¹⁰ at the German allergy and asthma association in Moenchengladbach said.
Less well known is the allergic potential of plants in the Asteraceae family such as chrysanthemums¹¹ and daisies.
"Their allergens are dispersed¹² in an area through pollen¹³ and can cause sniffles or asthmas," said Thomas Fuchs, president of the professional association for Germany allergists.
People who know that they are allergic to a specific plant should keep away from that plant, Fuchs advised.
allergic  (adj.)   过敏的；引起过敏反应的
to come down with   病倒；染上
dust mite   尘蹒
to set off   引起；引发
best-known   最着名的；最（为人熟知的）
to touch off   促成；引发
milky  (adj.)   乳状的；乳白色的
asthma  (n.)   气喘；哮喘
to disperse  (v.)   散开；分散
pollen  (n.)   花粉

1 allergy   

n.(因食物、药物等而引起的)过敏症

参考例句：

• He developed an allergy to pollen.他对花粉过敏。
• The patient had an allergy to penicillin.该患者对青霉素过敏。

2 mites   

n.（尤指令人怜悯的）小孩( mite的名词复数 )；一点点；一文钱；螨

参考例句：

• The only discovered animals are water bears, mites, microscopic rotifers. 能够发现的动物只有海蜘蛛、螨和微小的轮虫。 来自辞典例句
• Mites are frequently found on eggs. 螨会经常出现在蛋上。 来自辞典例句

3 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

4 allergic   

adj.过敏的，变态的

参考例句：

• Alice is allergic to the fur of cats.艾丽斯对猫的皮毛过敏。
• Many people are allergic to airborne pollutants such as pollen.许多人对空气传播的污染物过敏，比如花粉。

5 fig   

n.无花果(树)

参考例句：

• The doctor finished the fig he had been eating and selected another.这位医生吃完了嘴里的无花果，又挑了一个。
• You can't find a person who doesn't know fig in the United States.你找不到任何一个在美国的人不知道无花果的。

6 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

7 milky   

adj.牛奶的，多奶的；乳白色的

参考例句：

• Alexander always has milky coffee at lunchtime.亚历山大总是在午餐时喝掺奶的咖啡。
• I like a hot milky drink at bedtime.我喜欢睡前喝杯热奶饮料。

8 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

9 asthma   

n.气喘病，哮喘病

参考例句：

• I think he's having an asthma attack.我想他现在是哮喘病发作了。
• Its presence in allergic asthma is well known.它在过敏性气喘中的存在是大家很熟悉的。

10 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

11 chrysanthemums   

n.菊花( chrysanthemum的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The cold weather had most deleterious consequences among the chrysanthemums. 寒冷的天气对菊花产生了极有害的影响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The chrysanthemums are in bloom; some are red and some yellow. 菊花开了， 有红的，有黄的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 dispersed   

adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的

参考例句：

• The clouds dispersed themselves. 云散了。
• After school the children dispersed to their homes. 放学后，孩子们四散回家了。

13 pollen   

n.[植]花粉

参考例句：

• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。
• He developed an allergy to pollen.他对花粉过敏。