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Deep in the southern United States
在南美腹地深处
lies a strange menagerie.
生活着一些异兽
Alligators, tarantulas, geckos...
短吻鳄 狼蛛 壁虎...
Each are playing a role in the exploration of our biology.
它们对我们的生物研究起着巨大作用
But for now, Doctor Stephen Secor of Alabama University
目前 阿拉巴马大学的史蒂芬·塞科博士
is working with Burmese pythons.
正在研究缅甸蟒
He wants to find out whether they use up more energy
他想弄清消化生食和熟食
digesting cooked or raw meat.
哪种更消耗能量
Snakes, being mainly a head and a stomach,
蛇类主要由头部和腹部组成
make good subjects for this experiment.
因此是很好的实验对象
They eat their prey whole
它们把自己的猎物整个吞下
and stay still for up to a week.
一个星期内都静止不动
The only energy expended is in digesting their food.
它们只须要消耗能量去消化食物
We're trying to see
我们想要弄清
if we can find any difference
在消化熟食
in the course of digestion between
和生食的过程中
a cooked meal and a raw meal.
到底有什么区别

重点解释

Each are playing a role in the exploration of our biology.它们对我们的生物研究起着巨大作用

play a role起作用；扮演角色

In a way they played a vanguard role.

在某种意义上说，他们起了先锋的作用。

She played a minor role in the opera.

她在那出歌剧里扮演了一个小角色。

He wants to find out whether they use up more energy digesting cooked or raw meat.他想弄清消化生食和熟食哪种更消耗能量

find out发现；找出来；揭发

We must find out the customs of other countries, so that they will not think us ill mannered.

我们必须知道别的国家的习俗，免得他们会认为我们是没有礼貌的。

Find out what the conditions of the contract are.

弄清楚合同的条件是什么。

use up用完；耗尽

Don't use up all the soap. Leave me some to wash with.

不要把肥皂用尽，留一些给我洗。