【趣谈英语】手指甲比脚趾甲长得快-Fingernails Grow Faster Than Toenails

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

 

dominant¹: strong; used most often

keratin: a fibrous protein found in hair, nails, and the outer layer of skin

puberty: the growth period during which a child’s body reaches sexual² maturity³

nail-biting: causing anxiety or nervousness

root: base; starting point

hangnail: a flap⁴ of torn skin at the nail root

 

Fingernails Grow Faster Than Toenails

Are you trying to grow your nails? Nails may refer to fingernails or toenails. Fortunately, fingernails grow three to four times faster than toenails. Unfortunately, toenails are much thicker than fingernails. Fingernails can break, split⁵, or bend quite easily. Did you know that the nails on your dominant hand grow more quickly? This is handy, since these nails are more likely to wear down from use. Nails are made of keratin, a protein that is also found in hair and skin. Long, strong nails in children are a sign of good health. Fingernail growth slows down after puberty. This can be a nail-biting time for teens. People who bite their nails often get hangnails. Hangnails are not really nails. A hangnail is a flap of torn skin at the root of the nail. Hangnails on toes are usually caused by dry skin.

 

 

1 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

2 sexual   

adj.性的，两性的，性别的

参考例句：

• He was a person of gross sexual appetites.他是个性欲旺盛的人。
• It is socially irresponsible to refuse young people advice on sexual matters.拒绝向年轻人提供性方面的建议是对社会不负责任。

3 maturity   

n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期

参考例句：

• These plants ought to reach maturity after five years.这些植物五年后就该长成了。
• This is the period at which the body attains maturity.这是身体发育成熟的时期。

4 flap   

n.垂下物，帽沿，袋盖；v.拍打，拍动

参考例句：

• Although I moistened it,the flap doesn't stick to the envelope.我把信封弄湿了，可是信封口盖还是粘不上。
• With a flap of its wings the sparrow flew off.麻雀忒儿一声飞了。

5 split   

n.劈开，裂片，裂口；adj.分散的；v.分离，分开，劈开

参考例句：

• Who told you that Mary and I had split up?谁告诉你玛丽和我已经离婚了？
• The teacher split the class up into six groups.老师把班级分成6个小组。