新奇事物

新奇事物

The IELTS reading passage often introduces some uncommon things to candidates. A characteristic of such topic is the possession of an interesting title. It usually comprises only one word, which means the name of the thing. In the last two years the most popular thing is ambergris. The name ambergris is derived from Spanish. The application of ambergris used to confine to perfumery and pharmacy. Lots of people accounted for its origin. But all of their explanations are ridiculous hypotheses, such as a fungous growth in the ocean resembled to the fungi which form on trees. Eventually, a doctor established that ambergris is a secretion in sperm whale’s intestine as a means of facilitating digestion. When a whale is in a morbid condition or going to die, it will vomit liquid ambergris to the sea. The liquid has a lightweight gravity so it is in a position to flout on the sea. After a long time of chemical action, ambergris hardened in lump. Due to its peculiar chemical constitution, ambergris was used to fragrance industry. The increasing demand for ambergris led to two massive slaughters of sperm whales between 1740 and 1964, which result sperm whales in being at risk. Now people use chemically synthesis to replace ambergris in making