Kola[1] vs. Ebola
by Josie Glausiusz

可乐树与危险病毒Ebola

Chewing on the seeds of the bitter kola tree, a common pastime[2] among West African men, is rumored[3] to cure sexual dysfunction[4]. That could account for[5] the popularity of the seeds, or maybe it's because gnawing on them is also said to alleviate flu symptoms. The latter clue led researchers at the Bioresources Development and Conservation Programme to investigate whether the seeds of the Garcinia kola tree might ward off [6] viral diseases. In fact, it may do something even more notable.

1． 1． Kola：还能写成cola。翻译成中文叫"可乐"。这是一种梧桐属树木。产于西非和广大热带地区，结可乐果。可乐果咖啡因含量高，具刺激性，西非和西印度群岛人经常嚼食。
2． pastime：这个词与hobby有点相似，不过我们用得不太多耶。它指的是消遣，娱乐。比如在英语聊天室，你可以用到这句话：What's your favourite pastime? 你最喜爱的娱乐是什么？ 如果问到我，我会说：My favourite pastime is reading. 我最喜爱的娱乐是阅读。
3． A common pastime among West African men, is rumored to cure sexual dysfunction. 这句话中的rumour可不是"谣言"的意思，说成"听说"最恰当。It is rumoured that…（传闻……，听说……）这是它最常见的用法。
4． sexual dysfunction：性功能障碍。这是个医用术语
5． account for：这个词组有很多种意思，在这儿指的是"说明"。如果你有什么事情需要向上级说明，最好用到这样的句型：account for sth. to sb. 向某人说明某事。比如：I am supposed to account to you for the mistake I made. 我应该向你说明我所犯的错误。
6． ward off：避免，防止。趋利避害是人的本能，比如：避开攻击（打击、危险）就可以说成：ward off an attack(a blow, a danger)。

In lab tests, the scientists found that extracts of bitter kola halt replication[7] of the Ebola virus, the horrifying African scourge whose victims frequently bleed to death. "Nothing before has been known to arrest the development of this virus," says executive director Maurice Iwu of the nonprofit BDCP, with headquarters in Nsukka, Nigeria. "We are really surprised." Unfortunately, testing in humans will have to await the arrival of the next outbreak-and more money for drug development. "Our limiting factor[8] is funds," says Iwu. "If we have a sponsor, we can do it in no time."

7． replication：它是由replicate（复制）发展而来。当然现在用得更多的是"克隆"（clone）了。
8． limiting factor：限制因素。现实生活中总有许许多多的限制因素(limiting factor)使我们的理想无法实现。

"All the creatures we have brought up are dead, killed by the rapidly changing pressure. "But it does make you wonder how they could have made those drawings so long ago unless they had actually seen them."