小小蠕蟲默默無聞、粘粘乎乎，還扭來扭去，但它們為什么被稱為 “大英雄”？作為蠕蟲的一種，蚯蚓可通過松動和混合土壤來助農耕者一臂之力；人們還發現蠟蟲的唾液中含有可分解塑料的酶；血蟲的口部為建筑師帶來了設計靈感。原來小蟲子真能幫大忙！

詞匯：worms 蠕蟲

Are worms the heroes we didn't know we needed? Silent, slimy and wriggling, you might think that worms are good for nothing except bait on the end of a fishing rod. However, there is more to the humble worm than meets the eye.

The British naturalist Charles Darwin said that no other animal has "played such an important part in the history of the world as these lowly organised creatures". They have lived on Earth for 600 million years and have even survived five mass extinctions. So, what do worms do that is so great?

Earthworms literally move the earth, and this is why farmers love them. As they travel, they aerate the soil by loosening, mixing and oxygenating it, which increases the ground's capacity to hold and drain water. They are effectively a small but very efficient plough. But it's not just earthworms that deserve praise.

In 2022, a group of scientists at the Margarita Salas Center for Biological Research isolated enzymes found in wax worm saliva which are plastic-eating. These can break down polyethylene, a very common plastic that normally degrades over many years. It's hoped that by producing these enzymes on an industry-level scale, we will have a more environmentally friendly way to reduce plastic pollution.

And worms are even inspiring the building industry. Bloodworms are small sea creatures which burrow into the mud of the ocean floor. Scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara have been studying their jaws, which are made up of 10% copper proteins and are so strong that they last the worm's entire five-year lifespan. Because of this research, engineers may start using the jaws as inspiration for the design and manufacture of materials like concrete.

So, next time you see a worm, show it a little respect. They really are changing the world!

詞匯表

worm 蠕蟲
slimy 黏糊糊的
wriggling 蠕動著的，扭動著的
bait （魚）餌
humble 不起眼的，普通的
naturalist 博物學家
lowly 低等的
creature 動物，生物
mass extinction （生物）聚群絕滅
earthworm 蚯蚓
aerate 使（土壤）透氣
soil 土壤
loosen 松動
oxygenate 給…供氧
plough 犁
enzyme 酶
wax worm 蠟蟲
saliva 唾液
plastic-eating 分解塑料的
bloodworm 血蟲
burrow 鉆，打洞
jaws 口部

測驗與練習

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. How long have worms existed on Earth?

2. How do earthworms help farmers?

3. True or False? Wax worms eat plastic.

4. Why might enzymes help to reduce plastic pollution?

5. What makes the jaws of the bloodworm so special?

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. I hate touching animals like slugs and frogs – they're so _______!

lowly                             slimy                              humble                     plastic-eating

2. They are trying to remove the rats – they have _______ into the riverbank.

loosened                       aerated                          burrowed                 oxygenated

3. We often use worms as _______ when we go fishing.  

bait                                enzyme                          jaws                         extinction

4. Only use this in emergencies. It's a blanket that's _______ to fire.

efficient                         resistant                         wriggling                   inspiring

5. This new plant isn't growing. I think it should be in sand, not _______.

saliva                             soil                                naturalist                   creature

答案

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。 

1. How long have worms existed on Earth?

They have lived on Earth for 600 million years.

2. How do earthworms help farmers?

As they travel, they aerate the soil by loosening, mixing and oxygenating it, which increases the ground's capacity to hold and drain water.

3. True or False? Wax worms eat plastic.

False. Enzymes found in wax worm saliva are plastic-eating.

4. Why might enzymes help to reduce plastic pollution?

Because the enzymes can break down polyethylene, a very common plastic that normally degrades over many years.

5. What makes the jaws of the bloodworm so special?

They are made up of 10% copper proteins and are so resistant that they last the worm's entire five-year lifespan.

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. I hate touching animals like slugs and frogs – they're so slimy!

2. They are trying to remove the rats – they have burrowed into the riverbank.

3. We often use worms as bait when we go fishing. 

4. Only use this in emergencies. It's a blanket that's resistant to fire.

5. This new plant isn't growing. I think it should be in sand, not soil.