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4. Pizza, please!
來份披薩吧！
One of the world's most popular foods along with the hamburger, fried chicken, and milk shakes is pizza.
和漢堡包、炸雞以及奶昔一樣，比薩是世界上最受歡迎的食物之一。
Although the origin of the first three foods is well understood, that of pizza —— until recently, anyway —— was for a long time an international controversy.
雖然前面三種食物的起源甚為明了，比薩的起源長――總之一直到最近――長久以來在國際間一直引發爭議。
The word pizza has always been known to mean pie or cake, and is an Italian word.
比薩這個字向來被認為是派或蛋糕的意思，而且它是意大利文，
This fact alone might suggest pizza's origins.
光是這一點也許就暗示了比薩的起源。
However, some years ago in New York City, a Chinese restaurateur challenged the Italian ethnicity of pizza by declaring that pizza was originally a Chinese food,
然而幾年前紐約市有一家中國餐館的老板對比薩的意大利“血統”提出質疑，他宣稱比薩原本是中國食物，
but was then taken along with pasta by Marco Polo back to Italy.
但后來和面食一起被馬可波羅帶回意大利。
It seemed the question would never be solved.
當時這個問題似乎永遠也解決不了。
The case actually made itself into court (only in America!).
實際上，這場官司還鬧上了法庭（也只有在美國才會！）。
Italian restaurateurs challenged the Chinese businessman's view, but when all the evidence was in, the result was announced by a judge:
意大利餐館的老板們質疑那位中國商人的看法，不過在取得所有證據時，法官宣布了以下的結果：
as early as the Roman Empire, pizza was baked in ovens there and eaten.
早在羅馬帝國時代，比薩就被放在火爐上烘烤來吃。
Chinese normally steam or fry their foods, not bake them.
中國人通常把食物拿來蒸或炒，而不用烘烤的。
Bread and other baked goods to which pizza belongs were developed from India through Europe where they are still enjoyed today.
面包和比薩所屬的烘焙食品早先在印度發展而后傳到歐洲，至今在當地仍廣受喜愛。
Besides, cheese is an essential element of pizza, and the Chinese traditionally did not produce cheese.
此外，奶酪是做比薩不可或缺的材料，而傳統上中國人并沒有生產奶酪。
The case was closed, and pizza's paternity has now been established.
本案終結，比薩的法定身分如今已然建立。
For pizza lovers, of course, their favorite food might have been invented in Argentina or Indonesia. Who cares?
當然，對比薩愛好者而言，他們最喜愛的比薩或許是從阿根廷、或許是從印度尼西亞發展出來的，誰在乎呢？
Indeed, pizza has changed as it has spread around the globe,
的確，比薩流傳到全球各地時已經有了改變，
so that when ordering a pizza in Honolulu, New York, Paris, Istanbul, New Delhi, or Tokyo, you are sure to receive a slightly different version in each city or country.
因此當你在檀香山、紐約、巴黎、伊斯坦布爾、新德里或東京點比薩時，每一個城市或國家的比薩做法一定都會有些許不同。
Pizza known to Italians and New Yorkers (where pizza was first introduced into the United States by the many Italian Americans living there) is a round, thin-crusted baked dish covered with tomato sauce and cheese.
意大利人和紐約客所熟知的比薩(住在紐約的許多意裔美國人首先將比薩引進美國)是一種圓形的烘烤薄片，上面撒滿蕃茄醬和奶酪。
To improve the taste, pieces of Italian sausages such as pepperoni and salami, and vegetables like onions, green peppers and olives are added.
為了增加美味，可加上幾片美式臘腸和薩拉米香腸等意大利香腸，以及像洋蔥、青椒和橄欖等蔬菜。
Occasionally, anchovies, small, salty fish, are also used.
有時候也會添加鳀魚，一種很咸的小魚。
However, Asians enjoy pizza with corn, cucumbers, and other vegetables, not to mention assorted seafood.
然而，亞洲人喜歡吃加上玉米、小黃瓜和其它蔬菜的比薩，什錦海鮮更是不用說。
Hawaiians, perhaps predictably, developed a pizza with a pineapple and ham topping.
夏威夷人，或許一想就知道，發展出一種上面覆著菠蘿和火腿的比薩。
Today, nearly every country has its favorite local variety of pizza.
如今幾乎每個國家都有當地最受歡迎的比薩口味。
Worldwide, there must be more than 1,000 varieties of pizza.
而全世界必定已有超過1000種的比薩了。
Some people are not so fond of pizza.
有些人不喜歡吃比薩，
They classify it as a junk food, along with greasy French fries, potato chips, and hamburgers.
他們把它歸類為一種垃圾食物，和油膩的薯條、洋芋片以及漢堡包一樣。
On the contrary, say defenders of pizza, it is indeed a healthful food.
相反地，為比薩辯護的人則說它確實是一種健康食品。
Carefully chosen fresh ingredients can ensure the quality of any food we eat, and pizza is no exception.
慎選新鮮的配料可確保我們所吃的食物質量，而比薩也不例外。
Others protest that pizza is too fattening to be eaten regularly.
其它反對的人則說比薩太油膩，不能常吃。
Not true, respond those enamored of pizza's charms.
迷戀比薩魅力的人回答說不對，
It all depends on the ingredients and how well they are prepared.
那完全要看配料以及準備功夫的程度而定。
For example, the meats which are used as toppings on pizza are often first fried to remove excess fat.
例如，用來放在比薩上面的肉類通常會先炒過以去除多余的油脂。
The cheeses used can be selected for their high protein but low milk fat.
所使用的奶酪可以選擇高蛋白但低奶油的；
Sparse rather than generous addition of spices such as salt ensure that pizza need not be considered junk food.
添加少許而非大量像鹽巴之類的調味料便可確保比薩不被視為垃圾食物。
A well-made pizza not only looks, smells, and tastes great, but it is a wise choice for everyone as a regular food source.
制作精巧的比薩不僅色、香、味俱佳，而且是大家日常食物來源的一個聰明選擇。
Indeed, it seems the only disadvantage to pizza is that when dropped, it causes a mess!
的確，比薩似乎只有一項缺點，那就是當它掉到地上時會搞得一團糟！
Children enjoy pizza because it's fun to eat and delicious.
兒童喜歡吃比薩，因為它吃起來好玩又美味可口。
Workers enjoy it because it is inexpensive and quick to order, too.
工人喜歡吃，因為它不貴而且訂購快速。
Families enjoy the convenience of carrying home a whole meal from the many vendors of this world-famous food.
家庭則享受從許多食品店把這舉世聞名的食物帶回家當作一餐的便利。
With its many advantages, no one needs to resist the allure of one of the world's most popular foods.
因為有許多好處，任何人都不必抗拒這種全世界最受歡迎食物之一的誘惑。
Come to think of it, let's have pizza for dinner tonight!
現在想一想，不如咱們今天晚餐就吃比薩吧！
