我们如何失去了与食物的感官联系(中)

长期以来，嗅觉一直被视为对于人类而言微不足道，甚至无关紧要（而其他动物，比如狗，则靠鼻子生活）。

双语精读

The pandemic revealed what a blind spot our culture has about our own senses, especially our sense of smell.

大流行病揭示了我们的文化对于自己的感官，尤其是嗅觉存在多么大的盲点。

Never before has the loss of a human sense happened so fast, in so many places at once, as the anosmia (smell loss) caused by Covid-19.

人类某种感官的丧失从未像新冠肺炎引起的嗅觉缺失这样发生速度如此之快，同时涉及的范围如此之广。

But perhaps the most noticeable aspect of this mass anosmia is that we lost something that many of us had forgotten we even needed.

但也许这种大规模嗅觉缺失最值得注意的方面是，我们所失去的是许多人甚至都忘记了自己还需要的东西。

A sense of smell has long been regarded as something trivial and even inessential to humans (as opposed to other animals, such as dogs, who live by their noses).

长期以来，嗅觉一直被视为对于人类而言微不足道，甚至无关紧要（而其他动物，比如狗，则靠鼻子生活）。

Charles Darwin was among the scientists and philosophers to argue that a sense of smell was of "extremely slight service" to humans (compared with the senses of vision and hearing).

查尔斯·达尔文以及一些科学家和哲学家认为，嗅觉对人类的作用"极其微小"（相比于视觉和听觉而言）。

A survey of 7,000 young people in 2011 found that most of them would be hypothetically prepared to give up their sense of smell if it meant that they could keep their laptop or phone.

2011年，一项针对7000名年轻人的调查发现，如果丧失嗅觉就可以留下自己的笔记本电脑或手机，那么大多数人都愿意放弃嗅觉。

In reality, it is not easy to live without a sense of smell.

在现实中，没有嗅觉的生活并不容易。

We know from survey data produced by the charity Fifth Sense that anosmia lessens enjoyment of food and drink for almost everyone, as well as increasing feelings of loneliness and depression and in some cases leading to the breakdown of relationships.

从慈善机构"第五感"提供的调查数据可知，嗅觉缺失会减少几乎每个人对食物和饮料的享受程度，并增加孤独和抑郁的感觉，在某些情况下还会导致关系破裂。

The Fifth Sense survey of nearly 500 anosmia sufferers found that 92% reported enjoying food and drink less than they had when they still had a functioning sense of smell.

"第五感"对近500名嗅觉丧失患者进行的调查发现，92%的人表示，他们对食物和饮料的享受程度低于嗅觉正常时的感受。

More than half of the respondents said that they went to restaurants less often than before, and they also reported that cooking had become a source of stress and anxiety because they could no longer experience the joy of trying new recipes, and could not easily tell when something was burned.

超过一半的受访者表示，他们去餐馆的次数比以前少了，他们还反映，做饭成了压力和焦虑的来源，因为他们再也体验不到尝试新菜谱的乐趣，也不能轻易判断什么东西烧焦了。

One Fifth Sense member reported that they missed both the "dangers and delight" of being able to discern the various odours of food.

"第五感"的一名成员报告说，他们错过了能够分辨出食物各种气味所带来的"危险和快乐"。

I felt bereft when I came down with Covid in September 2021 and discovered one morning that my usual cup of coffee had lost all its aroma.

2021年9月，当我感染新冠病毒时，有一天早上我发现经常喝的咖啡不再那么醇香，这让我感到怅然若失。

I sipped in disbelief, waiting for the perfume to return, but all I got was the jolt of caffeine and bitterness on my tongue.

我难以置信地抿了一口，等待着香味回归，但我尝到的只有咖啡因的刺激和舌尖上的苦涩。

From the data so far, it seems that the vast majority of those who lose their sense of smell owing to Covid-19 will achieve a full recovery within a few weeks. I was among this fortunate majority.

从目前的数据来看，绝大多数因新冠肺炎而失去嗅觉的人将在几周内完全康复。我是这群幸运的大多数人中的一员。

One day, I zested a lemon and practically cried with gratitude when I noticed the brightness of citrus in the air. But a small percentage of those affected by post-Covid smell loss will never get it back.

有一天，我正在刮柠檬皮来调味，当我注意到空气中清新的柠檬气味时，我几乎感动地哭了。但有一小部分因新冠肺炎而丧失嗅觉的人将永远无法恢复。

词汇预习

source [高考]
美[sɔːrs] | 英[sɔːs]
n. 来源；发源地；原始资料 v. 从...获得
extremely [高考]
美[ɪkˈstriːmli] | 英[ɪkˈstriːmli]
adv. 非常；极其
breakdown [高考]
美[ˈbreɪkdaʊn] | 英[ˈbreɪkdaʊn]
n. 崩溃；故障；衰弱；分类，明细；跺脚曳步舞
laptop [高考]
美[ˈlæptɑːp] | 英[ˈlæptɒp]
n. 便携式电脑；笔记本电脑
recovery [高考]
美[rɪˈkʌvəri] | 英[rɪˈkʌvəri]
n. 恢复；痊愈；复原；重获
enjoyment [高考]
美[ɪnˈdʒɔɪmənt] | 英[ɪnˈdʒɔɪmənt]
n. 享受；令人愉快的事
vision [高考]
美[ˈvɪʒn] | 英[ˈvɪʒn]
n. 视力；视觉；幻觉；眼光；洞察力；想象力 v. 幻想；设想
disbelief [高考]
美[ˌdɪsbɪˈliːf] | 英[ˌdɪsbɪˈliːf]
n. 不相信；怀疑
noticeable [高考]
美[ˈnoʊtɪsəbl] | 英[ˈnəʊtɪsəbl]
adj. 显而易见的；显著的；值得注意的
practically [高考]
美[ˈpræktɪkli] | 英[ˈpræktɪkli]
adv. 实际上；几乎；简直
depression [高考]
美[dɪˈpreʃn] | 英[dɪˈpreʃn]
n. 沮丧；萧条
bitterness [高考]
美[ ˈbɪtɚnɪs] | 英['bɪtənəs]
n. 苦味；悲痛；怨恨
brightness [高考]
美[ˈbraɪtnəs] | 英[braɪtnəs]
n. 光亮；明亮；聪明
within [高考]
美[wɪˈðɪn] | 英[wɪˈðɪn]
prep. 在(某段时间、距离或范围)内；在…里面 adv. 在…里面 n. 内部
data [高考]
美[ˈdeɪtə] | 英[ˈdeɪtə]
n. 数据；资料
loss [高考]
美[lɔːs] | 英[lɒs]
n. 遗失；丧失；损失；失败；失落；死亡
delight [高考]
美[dɪˈlaɪt] | 英[dɪˈlaɪt]
n. 高兴；快乐 v. (使)高兴；(使)欣喜
aspect [高考]
美[ˈæspekt] | 英[ˈæspekt]
n. 方面；方位；外观；外貌
mass [高考]
美[ mæs] | 英[mæs]
n. 大量；块；众多 adj. 大规模的；群众的 v. 集中 n. 弥撒曲；弥撒
anxiety [高考]
美[æŋˈzaɪəti] | 英[æŋˈzaɪəti]
n. 焦虑；担心；渴望
percentage [高考]
美[pərˈsentɪdʒ] | 英[pəˈsentɪdʒ]
n. 百分比，百分率；部分，比例；利润分成，提成；[非正式]利益，好处
majority [高考]
美[məˈdʒɔːrəti] | 英[məˈdʒɒrəti]
n. 大多数；大部分；多数票；（获胜的）票数
vast [高考]
美[væst] | 英[vɑːst]
adj. 广阔的；巨大的；大量的；巨额的 n. 浩瀚；广阔无垠的空间 n. (Vast)人名；(法)瓦斯特
slight [高考]
美[slaɪt] | 英[slaɪt]
adj. 轻微的；纤弱的；微小的 vt. 轻视；忽略 n. 轻蔑；怠慢
fortunate [高考]
美[ˈfɔːrtʃənət] | 英[ˈfɔːtʃənət]
adj. 幸运的；侥幸的；带来幸运的
perfume [高考]
美[pərˈfjuːm] | 英[ˈpɜːfjuːm]
n. 香水；香气 vt. 洒香水于；使香气弥漫
hearing [高考]
美[ˈhɪrɪŋ] | 英[ˈhɪərɪŋ]
n. 听力；听觉；说话或申辩的机会；审讯；听证会
would [高考]
美[wʊd , wəd] | 英[wʊd , wəd]
aux. 将；可能；大概；总会；愿意；will的过去式
loneliness [四级]
美[ˈloʊnlinəs] | 英[ˈləʊnlinəs]
n. 孤独；寂寞
trivial [四级]
美[ˈtrɪviəl] | 英[ˈtrɪviəl]
adj. 不重要的；琐碎的
caffeine [四级]
美[ˈkæfiːn] | 英[ˈkæfiːn]
n. 咖啡因
opposed to [四级]
美 | 英
反对；反对…的
live by [四级]
美[liv baɪ] | 英[liv bai]
v. 靠 ... 为生；住在 ... 附近
down with [四级]
美[daʊn wɪð] | 英[daun wið]
打倒, 拿下
owing to [四级]
美[ˈoɪŋ tu] | 英[ˈəuiŋ tu:]
由于；因为
leading [四级]
美[ˈliːdɪŋ , ˈledɪŋ] | 英[ˈliːdɪŋ , ˈledɪŋ]
adj. 领导的；指导的；主要的；在前的
discern [六级]
美[dɪˈsɜːrn] | 英[dɪˈsɜːn]
v. 辨别；看出；察觉
owing [专四]
美[ˈoʊɪŋ] | 英[ˈəʊɪŋ]
adj. 未付的；归因于…的
felt [专八]
美[fɛlt] | 英[felt]
n. 毛毡；毡制品 vt. 制毡；使粘结 vi. 毡合
jolt [专八]
美[dʒoʊlt] | 英[dʒəʊlt]
n. 震摇；摇动；震惊；少量 vt. 颠簸；敲击；动摇；震动 vi. 颠簸而行
trying [专八]
美[ˈtraɪɪŋ] | 英[ˈtraɪɪŋ]
adj. 难受的；令人厌烦的
opposed [托福]
美[əˈpoʊzd] | 英[əˈpəʊzd]
adj. 反对的；对立的；敌对的
less than [雅思]
美[les ðən] | 英[les ðən]
不到；少于

重点讲解

The pandemic revealed what a blind spot our culture has about our own senses, especially our sense of smell.

大流行病揭示了我们的文化对于自己的感官，尤其是嗅觉存在多么大的盲点。

blind spot 盲点；没有认识；无知

（英文释义：if sb has a blind spot about sth, they ignore it or they are unwilling or unable to understand it）

【例】I have a blind spot where modern art is concerned.

对于现代艺术我一窍不通。

【拓展】sweet spot 最佳击球点；甜蜜点；最有效点

【例】This series aims to hit a sweet spot between romantic comedy and thriller.

这部连续剧旨在达到浪漫喜剧和惊悚片的完美结合。

Never before has the loss of a human sense happened so fast, in so many places at once, as the anosmia (smell loss) caused by Covid-19.

人类某种感官的丧失从未像新冠肺炎引起的嗅觉缺失这样发生速度如此之快，同时涉及的范围如此之广。

blind spot 盲点；没有认识；无知

（英文释义：if sb has a blind spot about sth, they ignore it or they are unwilling or unable to understand it）

【例】I have a blind spot where modern art is concerned.

对于现代艺术我一窍不通。

【拓展】sweet spot 最佳击球点；甜蜜点；最有效点

【例】This series aims to hit a sweet spot between romantic comedy and thriller.

这部连续剧旨在达到浪漫喜剧和惊悚片的完美结合。

But perhaps the most noticeable aspect of this mass anosmia is that we lost something that many of us had forgotten we even needed.

但也许这种大规模嗅觉缺失最值得注意的方面是，我们所失去的是许多人甚至都忘记了自己还需要的东西。

trivial adj. 微不足道的；琐碎的

【例】a trivial detail/matter 细枝末节/琐事

【拓展】trifle n. 琐事；小事

【例】One should not get angry about such a trifle.

不应该为这么一点儿小事生气。

as opposed to （表示对比）相对于

（英文释义：used to make a contrast between two things）

【例】200 attended, as opposed to 300 the previous year.

出席的有200人，而前一年是300人。

【拓展】in contrast to 相比于；形成对比

A sense of smell has long been regarded as something trivial and even inessential to humans (as opposed to other animals, such as dogs, who live by their noses).

长期以来，嗅觉一直被视为对于人类而言微不足道，甚至无关紧要（而其他动物，比如狗，则靠鼻子生活）。

trivial adj. 微不足道的；琐碎的

【例】a trivial detail/matter 细枝末节/琐事

【拓展】trifle n. 琐事；小事

【例】One should not get angry about such a trifle.

不应该为这么一点儿小事生气。

as opposed to （表示对比）相对于

（英文释义：used to make a contrast between two things）

【例】200 attended, as opposed to 300 the previous year.

出席的有200人，而前一年是300人。

【拓展】in contrast to 相比于；形成对比

Charles Darwin was among the scientists and philosophers to argue that a sense of smell was of "extremely slight service" to humans (compared with the senses of vision and hearing).

查尔斯·达尔文以及一些科学家和哲学家认为，嗅觉对人类的作用"极其微小"（相比于视觉和听觉而言）。

service n. 使用状况

【例】That computer gave us very good service.

我们那台计算机很好用。

【搭配】be of service to sb 对某人有用；对某人有帮助

【例】His professional knowledge has been of great service to us.

他的专业知识对我们大有助益。

A survey of 7,000 young people in 2011 found that most of them would be hypothetically prepared to give up their sense of smell if it meant that they could keep their laptop or phone.

2011年，一项针对7000名年轻人的调查发现，如果丧失嗅觉就可以留下自己的笔记本电脑或手机，那么大多数人都愿意放弃嗅觉。

service n. 使用状况

【例】That computer gave us very good service.

我们那台计算机很好用。

【搭配】be of service to sb 对某人有用；对某人有帮助

【例】His professional knowledge has been of great service to us.

他的专业知识对我们大有助益。

In reality, it is not easy to live without a sense of smell.

在现实中，没有嗅觉的生活并不容易。

breakdown n.

1. （车辆或机器等的）故障，损坏

【例】an electricity breakdown 断电

2. 关系破裂

【例】the breakdown of a marriage 婚姻破裂

3. （讨论）失败；崩溃

【例】a breakdown of negotiations 谈判的破裂

【拓展】break down 出故障；关系破裂；失败

从慈善机构"第五感"提供的调查数据可知，嗅觉缺失会减少几乎每个人对食物和饮料的享受程度，并增加孤独和抑郁的感觉，在某些情况下还会导致关系破裂。

breakdown n.

1. （车辆或机器等的）故障，损坏

【例】an electricity breakdown 断电

2. 关系破裂

【例】the breakdown of a marriage 婚姻破裂

3. （讨论）失败；崩溃

【例】a breakdown of negotiations 谈判的破裂

【拓展】break down 出故障；关系破裂；失败

The Fifth Sense survey of nearly 500 anosmia sufferers found that 92% reported enjoying food and drink less than they had when they still had a functioning sense of smell.

"第五感"对近500名嗅觉丧失患者进行的调查发现，92%的人表示，他们对食物和饮料的享受程度低于嗅觉正常时的感受。

discern v.

1. 觉察出；了解

【例】He discerned a certain coldness in their welcome.

他觉察到他们的接待有点冷淡。

2. （依稀）看出，听出，分辨出

【例】He discerned a vessel moving in the far distance.

他看到一条船在很远地方航行。

【拓展】discernible adj. 看得出的；看得清的

【例】There is often no discernible difference between rival brands.

相互竞争的品牌之间往往看不出明显的区别。

超过一半的受访者表示，他们去餐馆的次数比以前少了，他们还反映，做饭成了压力和焦虑的来源，因为他们再也体验不到尝试新菜谱的乐趣，也不能轻易判断什么东西烧焦了。

discern v.

1. 觉察出；了解

【例】He discerned a certain coldness in their welcome.

他觉察到他们的接待有点冷淡。

2. （依稀）看出，听出，分辨出

【例】He discerned a vessel moving in the far distance.

他看到一条船在很远地方航行。

【拓展】discernible adj. 看得出的；看得清的

【例】There is often no discernible difference between rival brands.

相互竞争的品牌之间往往看不出明显的区别。

One Fifth Sense member reported that they missed both the "dangers and delight" of being able to discern the various odours of food.

"第五感"的一名成员报告说，他们错过了能够分辨出食物各种气味所带来的"危险和快乐"。

discern v.

1. 觉察出；了解

【例】He discerned a certain coldness in their welcome.

他觉察到他们的接待有点冷淡。

2. （依稀）看出，听出，分辨出

【例】He discerned a vessel moving in the far distance.

他看到一条船在很远地方航行。

【拓展】discernible adj. 看得出的；看得清的

【例】There is often no discernible difference between rival brands.

相互竞争的品牌之间往往看不出明显的区别。

I felt bereft when I came down with Covid in September 2021 and discovered one morning that my usual cup of coffee had lost all its aroma.

2021年9月，当我感染新冠病毒时，有一天早上我发现经常喝的咖啡不再那么醇香，这让我感到怅然若失。

bereft adj.

1. 丧失，失去（某物）

【例】bereft of ideas/hope 无计可施；失去希望

2. 失落的；凄凉的

【例】He was utterly bereft when his wife died.

他的妻子去世时，他十分凄凉。

a/the jolt of sth 少量（提神或刺激的东西）

【例】a jolt of wine/icy air 一点酒/一阵凛冽的空气

I sipped in disbelief, waiting for the perfume to return, but all I got was the jolt of caffeine and bitterness on my tongue.

我难以置信地抿了一口，等待着香味回归，但我尝到的只有咖啡因的刺激和舌尖上的苦涩。

bereft adj.

1. 丧失，失去（某物）

【例】bereft of ideas/hope 无计可施；失去希望

2. 失落的；凄凉的

【例】He was utterly bereft when his wife died.

他的妻子去世时，他十分凄凉。

a/the jolt of sth 少量（提神或刺激的东西）

【例】a jolt of wine/icy air 一点酒/一阵凛冽的空气

From the data so far, it seems that the vast majority of those who lose their sense of smell owing to Covid-19 will achieve a full recovery within a few weeks. I was among this fortunate majority.

从目前的数据来看，绝大多数因新冠肺炎而失去嗅觉的人将在几周内完全康复。我是这群幸运的大多数人中的一员。

owing to 因为；由于

【例】The game was canceled owing to the rain.

比赛因大雨取消了。

【拓展】because of/due to/on account of 因为；由于

affect v.

1. 影响

【例】How will these changes affect us?

这些变化对我们会有什么影响？

2. （疾病）侵袭，感染

【例】be affected with high fever 发高烧

3. （感情上）深深打动

【例】He was much affected by the sad news.

这不幸的消息使他大受震动。

4. 假装；做作

【例】She affected a calmness she did not feel.

她强装镇静。

【辨析】effect n. 影响；效果 v. 使发生；实现

One day, I zested a lemon and practically cried with gratitude when I noticed the brightness of citrus in the air. But a small percentage of those affected by post-Covid smell loss will never get it back.

有一天，我正在刮柠檬皮来调味，当我注意到空气中清新的柠檬气味时，我几乎感动地哭了。但有一小部分因新冠肺炎而丧失嗅觉的人将永远无法恢复。

owing to 因为；由于

【例】The game was canceled owing to the rain.

比赛因大雨取消了。

【拓展】because of/due to/on account of 因为；由于

affect v.

1. 影响

【例】How will these changes affect us?

这些变化对我们会有什么影响？

2. （疾病）侵袭，感染

【例】be affected with high fever 发高烧

3. （感情上）深深打动

【例】He was much affected by the sad news.

这不幸的消息使他大受震动。

4. 假装；做作

【例】She affected a calmness she did not feel.

她强装镇静。

【辨析】effect n. 影响；效果 v. 使发生；实现

课后练习

What did the pandemic reveal?
A. There is a bias against senses in modern culture.
B. Human senses are easily affected by viruses.
C. Sense of vision is more important than sense of smell.
D. People pay little attention to their sense of smell.
The survey in 2011 indicates that ____.
A. Darwin’s comment about sense of smell is reasonable
B. sense of smell can be replaced by advanced technology
C. sense of smell is believed to have little value to human
D. the loss of a human sense can be compensated by entertainment
Which of the following statements is true about anosmia sufferers?
A. They are likely to lose weight for they eat less.
B. They attach greater importance to healthy diet.
C. They are deprived of a lot of enjoyment in life.
D. They start to take an interest in food and cooking.
The author practically cried when zesting a lemon because ____.
A. he was thrilled to regain his sense of smell
B. he felt sad about the consequences of Covid-19
C. he was surprised by the acuteness of his senses
D. he felt thankful for the delight of cooking