2017年GRE句子填空：玉米生物学起源

Despite the abundance and importance of maize, its biological origin has been a long-running mystery. The bright yellow, mouth-watering treat does not grow in the wild anywhere on the planet, so its (i)___ is not at all (ii)___.

Blank (i)

Blank (ii)

A. utility

D. helpful

B. popularity

E. important

C. ancestry

F. obvious

选 CF

翻译：尽管玉米是广泛种植的重要作物，但它的生物学起源长久以来扑朔迷离。这种亮黄色，诱人的好东西并不在地球任何地方野生，所以它的祖先完全不明显。

long-running

【柯林斯高阶】

Something that is long-running has been in existence, or has been performed, for a long time.

...efforts to find a peaceful solution to this long-running war.

...a long-running trade dispute...

He was best-known for his role in the long-running television series.

ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n

mouth-watering 诱人的

【柯林斯高阶】

1.mouth-watering

Mouth-watering food looks or smells extremely nice.

...hundreds of cheeses, in a mouth-watering variety of shapes, textures and tastes.

...more than 150 mouthwatering recipes.

ADJ-GRADED also mouthwatering.

2.mouth-watering

If you describe something as mouth-watering, you are emphasizing that it is very attractive. (JOURNALISM)

Prizes worth a mouth-watering s9.6 million are unclaimed.

ADJ-GRADED also mouthwatering. emphasis

treat 招待，款待，乐趣

【MWC】

1 a : an entertainment given without expense to those invited b : the act of providing another with free food, drink, or entertainment

2 : an especially unexpected source of joy, delight, or amusement

文中把玉米说成一种 treat，显然应该对应第二种理解，玉米给人带来快乐，为了不吓人，意译为 “ 好东西 ” 。

utility 功用，效用

ancestry 血统，世系，列祖列宗