原文视听

Of course, this cannot be done in humans
当然 这个实验不能在人身上进行
but why shouldn't we do it with birds?
但为何不在鸟身上试试呢
Zebra finches are perfect subjects.
珍珠鸟是完美的实验对象
While the females don't sing at all,
虽然雌鸟完全不会鸣叫
the male chicks learn to sing by imitating their fathers,
雄性幼鸟却通过模仿其父来学习鸣叫
just like human children copy their parents.
就像人类幼儿模仿他们的父母一样
To recreate the conditions of the forbidden experiment,
为了再现禁忌实验的情景
Ofer and his team isolated male chicks away from their fathers
奥弗和他的团队在雄性幼鸟学会鸣叫前
before they were taught to sing.
将其与其父隔离开来
Kept in isolation in specially sound-proofed cages,
被关在特制的隔音笼子里
their song developed to no more than a croak.
它们的叫声嘶哑难听
One of these isolated males was added to a group of females
接着他将一只隔离后的雄鸟放入雌鸟群中
to create a new finch colony.
以期造一个新的珍珠鸟群

重点解释

While the females don't sing at all,虽然雌鸟完全不会鸣叫

at all完全； 根本

It's not at all that bad.

这根本没有那么坏。

I'm not at all sure, actually.

实际上我根本不能肯定。

the male chicks learn to sing by imitating their fathers,雄性幼鸟却通过模仿其父来学习鸣叫

learn to学习

I must learn to snatch at every chance to meet him.

我必须学会抓住一切机会同他见面。

A mountaineer must learn to stand the gaff.

一个登山运动员必须学会吃苦。

their song developed to no more than a croak.它们的叫声嘶哑难听

no more than不过； 仅仅

It's no more than a misunderstanding.

这只是个误会。

It is no more than ten minutes' walk from the station.

由车站走到这里只有十分钟的路程。