原文视听

Guangxi province, South West China.
中国西南部的广西省
This farms lies at the centre of an intriguing experiment
这个农场位于一个地震预测
to predict earthquakes...
实验区的中心
.. using snakes.
验证蛇能预测地震
We call this snake Dragon,
在中国 我们称这种蛇为龙
or Earth Dragon, here in China.
或者地龙
In Chinese culture,
在中国的文化里
we think of ourselves as children of the dragon,
我们认为自己是龙的传人
so there is no need to be afraid of snakes.
所以我们没有必要害怕蛇
Jiang Weisong, head of the local earthquake bureau,
江巍松[音]是当地地震局的负责人
has a team monitoring these snakes
他组建了一个小组
24 hours a day using webcams.
通过摄像头24小时监视这些蛇
It's thought that snakes
他们认为
may be able to sense earthquakes in the same way
蛇在捕食时对猎物的感应方式
that they locate their prey.
同样可以用来感知地震
Using their inner ears to pick up vibrations in the ground.
通过它们的内耳感知大地的震动
If a small earthquake
如果在120千米范围内
happens within 120 kilometres of this region,
发生了一次小地震
for example, a magnitude five,
比如 5级地震
then the snakes will come out of their holes
这些蛇就会爬出洞
and crawl along the walls, trying to escape.
顺着墙爬行 试图逃脱
If a major earthquake happens nearer,
如果附近发生了大地震
then the snakes would smash themselves
蛇就会不停地
against the wall continuously,
撞击墙
until they killed themselves.
直到撞死为止
It has a very powerful effect on them.
它们对地震的反应很强烈

重点解释

we think of ourselves as children of the dragon,我们认为自己是龙的传人

think of:认为

What do you think of my new car?

你觉得我的新车怎么样？

so there is no need to be afraid of snakes.所以我们没有必要害怕蛇

be afraid of:害怕

The little girl is afraid of thunder and lightning.

这小女孩害怕雷声和闪电。

用法:afraid 后面可接动名词(其前加of),也可接动词不定式,一般说,这两种说法的意思没有多少区别。例如：

I'm afraid of flying (to fly).

我害怕坐飞机。

I'm afraid of diving (to dive) into the swimming-pool.

我不想在游泳池里跳水。

snakes may be able to sense earthquakes in the same way蛇在捕食时对猎物的感应方式

be able to:会； 能

They appear to be able to handle the problem.

他们似乎可以处理这个问题。

Now no company seems to be able to corner the computer market.

现在似乎没有哪家公司能够垄断电脑市场。