◎魏国金
Authorities in the South Korean capital are trying to untangle themselves from a slimy row： how many octopus heads is it safe to eat?
南韩首都当局正试图从一个吵嚷泥淖中脱身︰能安全吃多少章鱼头？
Octopus heads are a favorite dish on the peninsula -- for their apparent aphrodisiac qualities.
章鱼头是这座半岛上一道最被喜爱的菜肴—因其明显的壮阳特质。
In September, the Seoul city government enraged restaurateurs and the fishing industry when it announced octopus heads contained hazardous amounts of cadmium, a carcinogen that poisons the liver and kidneys.
九月间，首尔市政府因宣布章鱼头含有危害健康数量的镉，而令餐厅与捕鱼业者大为光火；镉是一种毒害肝肾的致癌物。
It advised against eating more than two heads a day.
当局建议，一天不要吃超过两个章鱼头。
Enraged fishermen threatened to sue the government and their cause caught the imagination of the public when lawmakers representing their constituents took an octopus into a national assembly session, causing laughter as it tried to escape the jar.
恼怒的渔民威胁控告市府，同时，当代表他们选民的国会议员将一只章鱼带进国民大会会议，而章鱼试图逃出罐子，结果引起哄堂大笑时，他们的诉求吸引到大众的注意。
Lee Wan-beom, a fisherman from the county of Muan, told the Korea JoongAng daily that prices for octopus had halved since the government’s warning.
来自务安郡的渔民李莞泛（译音）告诉韩国中央日报说，自政府发布警讯以来，章鱼价格已惨跌一半。
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[b]新闻辞典
squirm︰动词，蠕动、扭动、局促不安。例句︰He squirmed with shame.（他羞愧得坐立不安。）
untangle︰动词，解开……纠结、整顿、使不再紊乱。例句︰The experts are searching the way to untangle the city’s traffic jams.（专家们在寻找整顿这座城市交通阻塞的方法。）
enrage︰动词，激怒、使狂怒。例句︰His harsh remarks enraged her.（他的刺耳言论令她大为愤怒。）[/b][/color]
