原文: Fact or Fiction? 10 of the Most Popular Wives' Tales

1. Cats can steal a baby's breath...

   
   image: leann_b
   
   Just like the story of a black cat being bad luck, this story probably goes back several hundred years ago to a time when cats were associated with witchcraft. Or perhaps it was invented as a possible explanation for crib death. It's actually impossible for a cat or any other animal to steal a baby's breath, but even so pets should always be supervised around small children.

2. Touching a toad will give you warts...
   

   The bumpy growths on a toad do resemble warts, but warts are actually caused by the human papilloma virus. Which is not transmitted by a toad.

3. Cross your eyes and they'll stay that way...

   
   image: thejbird
   
   This one had to be invented by a parent with a bratty child. The worst thing that you could possibly get is a headache.

4. Drinking coffee will stunt your growth...

   False. Coffee has no effect on growth.

5. Reading in dim light will harm your eyes...

   
   image: cayusa
   
   False. The most that you will get is a case of eye strain.

6. If you swallow your chewing gum it will remain inside your body for seven years...

   False. It will pass on through just like any other object you have eaten.

7. Too much loud noise can cause hearing loss...

   
   image: holyholysnappers
   
   True. Constant exposure to extreme noise can result in permanent hearing loss.

8. Stepping on a rusty nail causes tetanus

   Partly true, though it's actually the dirt on the nail and not the rust which causes the problem.

9. Handling a baby bird will cause it to be rejected by it's parent...

   
   image: christina007
   
   False. Birds have a very limited sense of smell.

10. Masturbation causes blindness...

    False. If this one was true there would probably be quite a few blind young & old men.

译文: 真实还是虚构？最富盛行的十大荒诞故事

      1.猫咪会偷走婴儿的呼吸...

      就好比黑猫会带来噩运的故事一样，这一故事大概要追溯到几百年前，当时人们总把猫咪与巫术联系在一起。又或者这是一个对婴儿猝死综合症可能性所虚构出来的解释。事实上，就猫咪或其他动物而言，要偷走婴儿的呼吸是不可能的，不过就算是这样还是要时刻监督小孩周围的一切。

      2.触碰蟾蜍会使你长疣...

      蟾蜍表皮的凹凸不平就像是疣，但事实上疣并不是由蟾蜍传染的，而是由人类的刺瘤细菌所导致产生的。

      3.做了斗鸡眼你眼睛将永远如此...

      这一说法应该是父母用来对付讨厌的小孩所编造出来的。如果你这么做的话，最坏的可能就是你会遭来头痛。

      4.喝咖啡会阻碍你成长...

假的。咖啡对成长没甚影响。

      5.在昏暗的灯下看书会危害你的眼睛...

      假的。最多也就是会导致视觉疲劳。

      6.如果你吞下咀嚼中的口香糖，它会在你体内呆上7年...

      假的。它会像其他你所吃下的东西一样通过你的体内。

7.噪音太大会导致耳听力下降...

      没错。长期曝露在高分贝的噪音下会导致永久性视觉丧失。

      8.磕到生锈的钉子会造成破伤风...

      对了一半，虽然钉子上确实有污垢，不过造成破伤风的并不是因为锈渍。

      9.抓刚出生的小鸟会使它们被其父母遗弃...

      假的。鸟类的嗅觉极为有限。

      10.手淫会导致失明...

      假的，如果这条是事实的话，估计现在会有不少失明的年轻人和老人。