英语杂谈：43 Kid-friendly Digital Thermometers

Hi, I’m Becky Worley and this is Good Stuff.
It’s flu season and we’re more vigilant¹ than ever about all the flues that are making around, when your kids are sick, you take their temperature, but that’s easier said than done. The words Rattle² thermometer sent the shiver down on my spine³, So, I went on a quest to find the best digital thermometers, ones that aren't traumatic for your kids or for you when you need to get an accurate temperature reading.
The first one I tested was your standard digital thermometer, looks like a regular analog⁴ thermometer, but it has a digital read off. I try to get the old under the armpit temperature, which works fine when your kids are complaining. But when they’re ornery, this becomes a battle.
So I moved on to plan B, next we tried one of these ear thermometers, it looks so easy to use these things when the nurses have in the pediatricians office, but at home not so much. Number one problem there are these little covers that you actually have to put on the tip of the thermometer and I couldn’t find them when I really need to use it the most.
Next, when I finally did find the covers and try this on myself I knew I was healthy and should have been, about 98 degrees. I could not get an accurate reading. If you really jam this thing into your ear and it’s more finicky than you think. So I wasn’t really happy with the accuracy of the readings. And then there is how it goes with your kid, so you have to actually pull the ear low down and get this thing way deep into the ear. Oh, I am Sorry. When the poor kids were sick, this whole event turned into a wresting⁵ match that ended in tears.
Then I found this, it’s a digital touchless thermometer, yeah, touchless, it’s from a company called Kidsmed, it’s called the Thermofocus, watch how it works, you push the button and it puts a beam of light on the child’s head, just like that, I have an accurate temperature reading. Now this thermometer is pricy, about 70 dollars, but here is something to consider, you can use it on a sleeping child, and not disturb them because it’s touchless. So it might be worth making that investment as flu season looms⁶ around all of us. Hey, Thanks for watching and I’m Becky Worley and this is Good Stuff. You say Good stuff. “Good Stuff.”
 

1 vigilant   

adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的

参考例句：

• He has to learn how to remain vigilant through these long nights.他得学会如何在这漫长的黑夜里保持警觉。
• The dog kept a vigilant guard over the house.这只狗警醒地守护着这所房屋。

2 rattle   

v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓

参考例句：

• The baby only shook the rattle and laughed and crowed.孩子只是摇着拨浪鼓，笑着叫着。
• She could hear the rattle of the teacups.她听见茶具叮当响。

3 spine   

n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊

参考例句：

• He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。
• His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。

4 analog   

n.类似物，模拟

参考例句：

• The analog signal contains high-frequency video information,which helps make up the picture.模拟信号包括有助于构成图像的高频视频信息。
• The analog computer measures continuously,without proceeding step by step.模拟计算机不是一步一步地进行，而是连续地进行量度。

5 wresting   

动词wrest的现在进行式

参考例句：

• The amphitheater was a sealed off round structure. Swordplay, wresting, gladiatoral and other contests were held there. 该竞技场为四周封闭式结构，可以举行斗剑、格斗、斗兽及其他竞赛项目。
• This paper introduces mechanism and control system of instrument for wresting training. 本文详细介绍了摔跤训练器的机械机构与控制方法。

6 looms   

n.织布机( loom的名词复数 )v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的第三人称单数 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• All were busily engaged,men at their ploughs,women at their looms. 大家都很忙，男的耕田，女的织布。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The factory has twenty-five looms. 那家工厂有25台织布机。 来自《简明英汉词典》