Recently, five friends in Zhengzhou shared a meal of raw freshwater fish. Later, all five of them tested positive for liver flukes, a kind of parasite that lives inside the human body. Four of them also had damaged livers. This is the first such outbreak in a low-risk area of China, according to a report from a national health center.
Liver flukes are tiny worms. When people eat raw or half-cooked freshwater fish, the worms can enter their bodies. Once inside, they may stay for 20 to 30 years. During this time, they slowly harm the liver and bile ducts, which may lead to serious diseases. Many people do not feel sick at first, so they do not know they are infected.
Why is this news important? Many people enjoy eating raw fish, especially during hot summer days. However, freshwater fish are much riskier than ocean fish. Fish from the sea is generally safer, but freshwater fish should always be cooked well. Boiling or frying the fish completely can kill the parasites.
The good news is that this disease is easy to prevent. The key is simple: eat cooked food and keep clean habits. When you eat out, choose restaurants that care about food safety. At home, make sure fish is fully cooked before serving.
In short, delicious food should not cost us our health. A few minutes of cooking can save years of trouble. Remember: when it comes to freshwater fish, always cook it thoroughly.
Words to know:
- raw (生的)
- parasite (寄生虫)
- liver fluke (肝吸虫)
- infected (被感染的)
- outbreak (爆发)
- damage (损害)
- prevent (预防)
- thoroughly (彻底地)
长难句拆解 · 同位语与 which 指代整句
① Later, all five of them tested positive for liver flukes, a kind of parasite that lives inside the human body. 主干是 all five of them tested positive for liver flukes（五人全部检出肝吸虫阳性）。tested positive for 是固定搭配，「检出……阳性」；逗号后 a kind of parasite 是 liver flukes 的同位语，起解释作用；that lives inside the human body 是限制性定语从句修饰 parasite，that 在从句中作主语，不可省略。
② During this time, they slowly harm the liver and bile ducts, which may lead to serious diseases. 主干是 they slowly harm the liver and bile ducts（它们慢慢损害肝脏和胆管）。逗号 + which 引导非限制性定语从句，这里的 which 指代前面整个句子（虫子长年损害器官这件事），而不是某个名词；may lead to 表示可能性，lead to 后接名词，作「导致」讲。
同义替换 · 雅思阅读利器
雅思阅读的题干是原文的「同义改写版」。先抓题干信号词，再回原文找它们的变体，答案往往就藏在附近。本文可迁移的替换组：
- tested positive → were found infected（检测结果类通用）
- a kind of parasite → a type of parasite
- enter their bodies → get into their bodies
- lead to serious diseases → result in severe illnesses
- do not feel sick at first → show no early symptoms
- much riskier than → far more dangerous than
- cooked well → cooked thoroughly
阅读自测 · 3 题
- 判断（T / F / NG） — Liver flukes may stay in the human body for up to two or three months.
- 简答（不超过 6 个词） — How many of the five friends had damaged livers?
- 判断（T / F / NG） — Fish from the sea is generally safer than freshwater fish.
参考答案与解析
- F — 原文「they may stay for 20 to 30 years」，题干把「年」偷换成「月」，数字单位偷换是常见陷阱。
- Four. — 首段「Four of them also had damaged livers」，注意不是全部五人，部分与整体要分清。
- T — 原文「Fish from the sea is generally safer」，与题干同义对应，属原文直述。
中文译文
近日，郑州五名朋友共食了一顿生淡水鱼。随后五人全部被检出肝吸虫阳性——那是一种寄生在人体内、会损害肝脏的寄生虫。其中四人肝脏还出现了损伤。据一家国家级卫生机构报告，这是低风险地区首次出现此类疫情。
肝吸虫是微小的蠕虫。人们食用生的或半生不熟的淡水鱼时，虫体便可进入人体，并在体内停留20到30年。其间它们缓慢侵蚀肝脏和胆管，可能诱发严重疾病。许多人起初并无不适，因而并不知道自己已被感染。
这则新闻为何重要？很多人爱吃生鱼，尤其在炎炎夏日。然而淡水鱼的风险远高于海水鱼：海鱼一般更安全，淡水鱼则务必煮熟。彻底煮沸或煎炸可杀死寄生虫。
好消息是，这种病很容易预防。关键很简单：吃熟食、讲卫生。外出就餐时，选择重视食品安全的餐厅；在家则务必确保鱼完全煮熟再上桌。
简言之，美食不应以健康为代价。多花几分钟烹饪，能免去多年烦恼。请记住：面对淡水鱼，务必彻底煮熟。