15世紀時開始吹蠟燭
From birthdays to weddings to everyday treats, one confection really takes the cake as a favorite treat worldwide—cake.
從生日、婚禮到日常甜點，有一種甜點最受到全世界喜愛──蛋糕。
confection (n.)精緻的糕點或甜點confectioner (n.)甜點師傅、甜點店take the cake 得第一、最好的、最糟的
Throughout history, one continent—Europe—has contributed greatly to the evolution of this popular dessert.
在歷史上，歐洲為這個受歡迎甜點的演進貢獻良多。
continent (n.)洲state (n.)州contribute to sth. 促成、導致
Starting with the name, “cake” comes from the Old Norse word “kaka,” giving it a firm root in Scandinavian traditions.
從名字開始說起，蛋糕的英文「cake」來自古北歐文字「kaka」，因此它與斯堪的納維亞傳統淵源頗深。
root (n.)根、根源
Elsewhere, the ancient Greeks “had an early form of cheesecake, while the Romans developed versions of fruitcakes with raisins, nuts and other fruits.”
在其它地方，古希臘人「有一種早期的起司蛋糕，而羅馬人發展出各種有葡萄乾、堅果和其它水果的水果蛋糕。」
version (n.)版本
English cakes and sponge cakes were two other kinds of early European cakes.
英式蛋糕和海綿蛋糕是另外兩種歐洲早期蛋糕。
English cakes resembled bread but were rounder and flatter, while sponge cakes, which were possibly first made in Spain during the Renaissance period, contained beaten eggs.
英式蛋糕看起來像是麵包，但形狀較圓且扁平，海綿蛋糕可能是在文藝復興時期首次於西班牙製作，裡面含有蛋液。
resemble(v.)像、與……相似
Of all the types of cakes that originated in Europe, there is one that many people make a yearly habit of enjoying—the birthday cake.
所有源自歐洲的蛋糕中，有一種蛋糕讓大家養成習慣每年都會享用──生日蛋糕。
originate (v.)起源於origin (n.)起源habit (n.)習慣make a habit of sth. 養成……習慣
Thought to have evolved from the ancient Greek practice of eating a round cake decorated with candles when celebrating the birth of the goddess Artemis, the tradition of having a birthday cake with candles rose to popularity around the 15th century as part of the German celebration of children’s birthdays, known as “kinderfest.”
生日蛋糕據說源自古希臘的習俗，他們會吃用蠟燭裝飾的圓形蛋糕，來慶祝女神阿提米絲的誕辰，吃插有蠟燭的生日蛋糕傳統大約在15世紀時開始流行，這是德國人慶祝小孩生日的一環，稱為「kinderfest」。
practice (n.)習俗
Other notable European advancements in cakes happened around the mid-17th century, thanks to new technologies, like more reliable ovens and baking molds, as well as the growing availability of refined sugar.
其它值得注意的歐洲蛋糕發展大約發生在17世紀中期，這是拜新科技所賜，像是較可靠的烤箱和烤模，以及精製糖的逐漸普及。
advancement (n.)發展、改善thanks to 多虧、由於=owing to=due tomold (n.)模具availability (n.)可得性
These advances directly led to the creation of modern cakes, “which were round and topped with icing” made from sugar, eggs and sometimes additional ingredients to create new flavors of the confection.
這些都直接促成現代蛋糕的產生，也就是「圓形且淋上糖霜」的蛋糕，用糖、雞蛋製作而成，有時添加額外食材為該甜點創造新風味。
advance (n.)(v.)進步、發展be topped with sth. （在食物上）淋上……、加上……（做為裝飾）
As cakes have continued to change, these early European confectionary developments helped create lasting, delicious cake-related traditions, some of which are still enjoyed around the world today.
隨著蛋糕持續變化，這些歐洲早期甜點發展幫助創造持久、美味的蛋糕相關傳統，有些至今仍在世界各地為人們所享用。
lasting (adj.)持續的、持久的last (v.)持續