ALL+互動英語[有聲版]：【進階、應用】聽說讀寫全面升級 1月號/2020第182期 (電子雜誌)

Popcorn: An Oldie but a Goodie
經典不敗的點心：爆米花
－Dick Page
1/16
While many “American” foods, like pizza and hamburgers, have their roots in other countries, popcorn really is native to the American continents. Popcorn from 5,600 years ago has been found in New Mexico, and thousand-year-old popcorn from Chile will even still pop!
Many other grains can also be popped, including rice, wheat, and barley, but popcorn is the most popular. In fact, in the United States each American eats about fifty liters of it every year! And the snack’s special place in our hearts is nothing new. Popcorn, which is actually a special variety of maize, was held in high regard among early peoples of the Americas. Painted 1,700-year-old funeral containers found in Mexico, for example, were decorated with images of the god of maize wearing popcorn accessories.
But how does this esteemed treat work? The kernel’s thick shell is the reason that popcorn pops. As the popcorn is heated, moisture trapped inside turns to steam and presses outward on the hull. When the pressure inside is about nine times the pressure of the air, the hull bursts, and the starch inside expands. The “popcorn cannons”  used in Taiwan rely on this pressure difference to create their explosive treats.

儘管許多「美國的」食物如披薩和漢堡起源於其他國家，但爆米花確實是原產自美洲的食物。在新墨西哥州發現了五千六百年前的爆米花，而智利的千年爆米花甚至還會爆裂！
許多其他的穀物也會爆裂，包括米、小麥和大麥，但爆米花最受歡迎。事實上，在美國每個美國人每年大約吃掉五十公升的爆米花！而這個零食在我們心中的特殊地位並不是什麼新鮮事。爆米花其實是一種特殊的玉米品種，在早期的美洲民族間具有崇高的地位。例如，在墨西哥發現的一千七百年歷史的彩繪骨灰罈裝飾著穿戴爆米花配飾的玉米神的圖像。
但這個備受尊崇的點心是怎麼作用的呢？玉米粒厚實的殼是爆米花爆裂的原因。爆米花受熱時，裡面的水分變成蒸氣然後向外擠壓外殼。當裡面的壓力是空氣壓力的九倍時，外殼就會爆裂，而裡面的澱粉就會膨脹。台灣所使用的「爆米香機」就是靠這個壓力差來製作會爆開的點心。

1/17
We usually think of popcorn as sweet or salty, but popcorn is gaining a new reputation as a health food. It turns out that without all the added salt, butter, and sugar you might get at a movie theater, popcorn alone is pretty good for you. It’s a whole-grain food packed with vitamins and antioxidants and low in fat and calories. It may even help reduce inflammation and reverse the effects of aging.
That being said, popcorn is great with many different added flavorings when you’re in the mood to indulge yourself. Garlic, sesame oil, and soy sauce are tasty topping choices, or you can try adding coconut oil and a little curry powder. For a sweet wintry treat, try mixing in some peppermint and white chocolate. It’s also delicious covered with melted peanut butter and dark chocolate. 
No matter how you enjoy it, there’s no denying that popcorn is a popular and convenient snack. It’s cheap, easy to make, and delicious. Pick some up the next time you’re at a baseball game, a carnival, or the cinema—or make your own while chilling at home. It’s sure to satisfy your craving for something sweet, salty, or healthy!
我們通常認為爆米花是甜的或鹹的，但爆米花正以健康食物而博得新的名聲。原來少了你可能在電影院買到的添加了鹽、奶油和糖，爆米花本身對你而言相當好。它是富含維他命和抗氧化物的全榖食物，而且脂肪和熱量都很低。它甚至可能幫助消炎和逆轉老化的影響。
儘管如此，當你想要犒賞自己時，爆米花非常適合許多不同的添加調味料。大蒜、芝麻油和醬油都是美味的配料選擇，或是你可以試試添加椰子油和一些咖哩粉。想要來點冬季的甜點，試試混入一些薄荷和白巧克力。淋上融化的花生醬和黑巧克力也很可口。
不管你怎麼享用它，不可否認爆米花是一種受歡迎且方便的點心。它便宜、製作簡單又美味。下次你在棒球比賽、嘉年華會或是戲院時買一些吧——或是在家放鬆時自己做做看。它絕對能滿足你對甜的、鹹的或健康的食物的渴望！

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News Report  看新聞學英語
Fires Ravage Amazon Rain Forest
亞馬遜雨林遭大火肆虐

Travel  繞著地球玩
Belgium—A Country for All Moods
比利時——適合各種旅人的國家

Plus Talk  會話百分百
Giving and Receiving Congratulations
給予和接受祝賀
1. Getting a Promotion  獲得升遷
2. Getting Married  結婚
3. Being Accepted to College  錄取大學
4. Winning a School Sports Competition  贏得學校運動比賽

Literature  文學花園
The Gift of the Magi
〈最珍貴的禮物〉

Writing  寫作練習
Translation Practice
翻譯寫作

People  人物側寫
Zendaya: The Sky’s the Limit
不斷挑戰自我的新星：贊達亞 

Environment 自然與城市
London Becomes the World’s First National Park City
倫敦成為世界第一個國家公園城市

Foods  美食饗宴
Popcorn: An Oldie but a Goodie
經典不敗的點心：爆米花

CNN News
Hershey’s Chocolate 
百年好滋味：好時巧克力

Dialogue Focus  情境對話
What’s in Your Luggage?
圖解行李箱
Going Traveling
去旅行

Life  實用生活知識
Signing Off with Style
電子郵件的結尾敬語該怎麼寫？

Mythology  星座神話
Earth Signs—Not So Down to Earth
土象星座的神話故事

Reading Skill  閱讀策略
The Life-Changing Effects of Keeping a Journal
改變人生，從寫日記開始

Animals  動物知識
Giraffes: Long-Necked Mysteries
謎樣的長頸鹿

Topic Writing  主題式寫作
Comparative Essay
比較文的寫作技巧