每天分享一篇中英雙語閱讀，對英語口語的練習很有幫助，也是積累英語考試中寫作，翻譯素材的好資料，加油吧!

Kissing is fun. Most of us think so, at least. The fact that we’re deliberately choosing to swap saliva, germs, and whatever may be leftover from our romantic partner’s fettuccine alfredo is one of those uniquely human pastimes that’s gross in premise, but wonderful in practice — most of the time, anyway.

接吻是非常美妙的，大部分人都會這么認為。實際上，接吻的同時我們是在跟對方交換唾液、細菌甚至口內殘余的食物。那么為什么這種在前提上聽起來很惡心的行為，大多時候卻能在實際中給我們帶來美妙的感受呢?

Kissing is a universally recognized part of the gladiator pit single people like to call dating, and an essential part of the courtship ritual. For evidence: Only 10 percent of cultures around the world don’t kiss. And some primates, likes chimps and bonobos, are known to lock lips as well, although with a bit less finesse than their hairless human relatives.

接吻被公認為單身人士在約會中的角斗場，追求儀式中最重要的一部分。研究表明：全世界只有10%的文化中沒有接吻這種行為。一些靈長類動物，例如黑猩猩和倭黑猩猩，也會接吻，雖然和它們的人類近親比起來少些接吻技巧。

Behavioral scientists have floated all kinds of theories for why humans regularly indulge in the awkward act of locking mouths. One of the more prevalent theories suggests kissing helps us assess the long-term genetic potential of future mates and allows us to sniff their pheromones. More obviously: Kissing also helps with arousal, which helps ensure the enduring survival of the human race. And it may even help those in deeply committed relationships stay together in the long run.

行為學家已經用各種理論解釋過人類為什么會頻繁的接吻。其中一個最普遍的理論就是：接吻有助于我們評估未來伴侶的長期遺傳潛力，并讓我們聞到對方的信息素。更明顯的是：接吻能夠幫助我們喚醒進行人類生命延續的使命感，同時也會幫助那些已經在一起的伴侶維持長久的關系。

That last bit may be the most important revelation from a new study from the University of Oxford, which has a bit more canonical evidence for why we kiss each other. "Mate choice and courtship in humans is complex," said Robin Dunbar, a neuroscience researcher and co-author of the study. "It involves a series of periods of assessments where people ask themselves ’shall I carry on deeper into this relationship?’"

來自于牛津大學的最新研究可能是對這一問題的最重要的啟示，這項研究為我們為什么會接吻這一問題提供了更權威的證據。“人類的配偶選擇和求愛行為非常復雜，”神經系統科學家和這項研究的作者之一羅賓·鄧巴說到，“它涉及到一系列的周期性評估，人們在這時會問自己‘我要不要讓這段關系進一步發展?’”。