The iconic image that comes to most people’s minds when they think of cheese is a pale-yellow wedge with holes of various sizes in it. However, many people don’t know that this image represents a specific type of Swiss cheese called “Emmental.” You might have wondered how this kind of cheese ended up with so many holes. Scientists have also been intrigued by this phenomenon and have come up with a few theories.
About 100 years ago, scientists first theorized that the holes in Emmental cheese — called “eyes” in the cheese industry — were formed by bacteria added to milk during the cheese-making process. __1__ These bubbles get trapped in the cheese as it hardens, forming the famous eyes of Emmental cheese.
However, shoppers have noticed that eyes have been becoming smaller and fewer over the years. __2__ After they researched the topic further, a completely new theory came about.
Photos courtesy of Shutterstock 照片：Shutterstock提供
__3__ They explained that the extremely tiny pieces of hay would often end up in the buckets as cows were getting milked and make small holes that grew bigger as the cheese slowly matured. However, in the modern milking industry, there is less of a chance for hay to fall into milk containers. __4__ Scientists may not have agreed upon what causes the holes in Emmental cheese, but that doesn’t keep people from enjoying its mild savory taste.
大多數人想到起司時，他們腦海中浮現的代表性形象是一個淡黃色的三角狀物體，上頭有各式大小的洞洞。然而很多人並不知道，這個形象所展現的是特定的一種名為「艾曼塔」的瑞士起司。你可能曾感到好奇，這種起司最終怎麼會有這麼多的洞洞。科學家也對這種現象很感興趣，因而想出了幾種理論。
大約一百年前，科學家首先提出理論，艾曼塔起司上的洞洞——其在起司產業中被稱為「eyes」——是由起司製程中，被添加到牛奶中的細菌所形成的。當那些生物以牛奶中的乳酸為食，便會產生二氧化碳氣泡。起司變硬時，這些氣泡便被困在起司中，形成艾曼塔起司著名的洞洞。
然而，顧客注意到，多年來，洞洞變得愈來愈小、愈來愈少。起司外形的變化讓許多科學家質疑原本的理論。他們進一步研究該議題之後，一個全新的理論出現了。
瑞士的專家得出結論，不小心被加進牛奶的乾草微粒是產生起司洞洞的原因。他們解釋道，在擠牛乳時，極小的乾草顆粒通常最終會掉入桶中，產生小孔洞，隨著起司慢慢成熟，小孔洞逐漸擴大。然而，在現代乳業中，乾草比較不會掉進牛奶桶。因此，現今的艾曼塔起司洞洞少很多，有時洞洞也更小。科學家可能對於是什麼造成艾曼塔起司上會有洞洞的意見不一致，但這並不妨礙人們享用其微鹹的滋味。
What Did You Learn?
(A) As a result, current versions of Emmental cheese have far fewer and sometimes smaller eyes.
(B) The change in the cheese’s form led many scientists to question the original theory.
(C) As the organisms feed on the lactic acid in milk, they produce bubbles of carbon dioxide gas.
(D) Experts in Switzerland have concluded that hay particles accidentally added to the milk are what creates the eyes.
答案：
1. (C) 2. (B) 3. (D) 4. (A)
Words in Use
1. various a. 各式各樣的
The store sells clothes in various styles, so everyone can find what they want.
那間商店販售各種風格的衣服，所以大家都能找到想要的。
2. represent vt. 呈現；代表
The statue represents the struggle women have faced over the years.
那座雕像代表了這些年來女性所面臨的掙扎。
3. specific a. 特定的
The file can only be accessed on specific devices.
只有特定的裝置能讀取這個檔案。
4. theorize vt. 提出／建立理論
The man that theorized that the Earth was the center of the universe was wrong.
那個提出理論說地球是宇宙中心的人是錯的。
5. process n. 過程，流程
The manager monitors the production process to ensure high quality of the finished product.
該經理監督生產過程以確保成品的品質良好。
Practical Phrases
1. come to one’s mind 浮現在腦中
Melvin tends to say the first thing that comes to his mind, even if it’s offensive.
馬文常常說出最先浮現在腦海的事，即使很失禮。
2. end up + 介詞片語／現在分詞
最後∕結果／到頭來……
When kids grow up, their childhood toys often end up in the trash.
當小孩長大，他們兒時的玩具最終往往被丟到垃圾堆。
Many people using unhealthy ways to get slim end up putting weight back on.
許多使用不健康的方式變苗條的人最終都會胖回去。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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