Ricin is a very strong poison that comes from the castor-oil plant, especially from the beans. A tiny amount can kill if it gets into the body; it is not a kitchen chemical and not something a student should ever handle.

Ricin is a very strong poison that comes from the castor-oil plantRicin是一種很強的毒，來自蓖麻油植物, especially from the beans尤其是它的種子（豆子）。A tiny amount can kill if it gets into the body只要一點點進到體內就能致命; it is not a kitchen chemical and not something a student should ever handle它不是廚房裡的化學物質，學生也絕對不該碰它。

You meet the word in news and crime stories because it has sometimes been used, or planned for use, by terrorists and assassins. It is a scientific, serious word — reports, police, and biology texts use it — not a metaphor people toss around for “something bad.” Though actually, the plant is also grown for ordinary castor oil; the oil and the poison are not the same thing, and the danger sits in the leftover mash of the beans, not in every product with “castor” on the label.

You meet the word in news and crime stories你會在新聞和犯罪故事裡遇到這個字, because it has sometimes been used, or planned for use, by terrorists and assassins因為它有時候真的被恐怖份子和刺客用過，或計畫要用。It is a scientific, serious word這是一個科學、嚴肅的字——reports, police, and biology texts use it報告、警方和生物課本都會用它——not a metaphor people toss around for "something bad."而不是大家隨口用來說「壞東西」的比喻。Though actually不過其實, the plant is also grown for ordinary castor oil這種植物也被種來榨一般的蓖麻油; the oil and the poison are not the same thing油和毒不是同一件事, and the danger sits in the leftover mash of the beans而危險是在種子榨完之後剩下的渣裡, not in every product with "castor" on the label不是每個標籤上寫著「castor」的產品都有危險。