蛇通过变成黑色来吸收阳光

 In the southern United States, snakes can be vibrant¹ and bright. In the North, they tend to be dark and drab. A dark coat may seem a bit depressing. It may, however, help northern snakes soak up heat from the sun more quickly than their southern kin², a teen finds. And a quick solar heating could prove an advantage in colder climes.

在美国南部，那里的蛇能够发出响声，而且很颜色鲜艳。在北方，这些蛇会倾向于变成黑色或者浅褐色。黑色的蛇皮或会看起来有点了无生气。但是，一名青少年发现，与南方的同类蛇相比，黑色皮肤能帮助北方的蛇更快地吸收太阳的温度。在较为寒冷的气候下，快速吸收太阳的热量，对蛇比较有利。

Gianna Fantell, 15, presented the results of her serpentine³ research, here, at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

15岁的吉安娜·范泰尔，在英特尔国际科学与工程博览会上，展示了自己对蛇纹石的研究结果

Snake fan Gianna Fantell showed that more northerly snakes tend to be darker than those in the South. Darker colors might help snakes soak up the sun’s warmth.

吉安娜·范泰尔对蛇非常感兴趣，她发现蛇所处的地点越是往北，它们的颜色比南方的蛇就越深。更深的颜色或许可以帮助蛇更好地获取太阳的温度。

The freshman⁴ at Colonia High School in New Jersey⁵ has loved snakes for most of her life. “I remember I was trick-or-treating, and this woman came out [of her house] with an albino corn snake,” she recalls. Gianna instantly became fascinated with the creatures.

新泽西州科洛尼亚高中的一名新生在生活中酷爱蛇。她回忆说“我记得有一次我在万圣节捣蛋，一位女士就拿着一条白色的玉米蛇走出了房间。”吉安娜立马对这一生物产生了浓厚的兴趣。

When it came time to design a research project for school, snakes were a natural focus. Flipping⁶ through a field guide, she noticed a pattern. “Farther north, the pigmentation of snakes is darker.”

当学校需要我设计一个研究项目的时候，蛇自然成了我研究的重点。通过研究一份野外工作指南，她发现一个规律。“越是往北，蛇的颜色越深。”

1 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

2 kin   

n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的

参考例句：

• He comes of good kin.他出身好。
• She has gone to live with her husband's kin.她住到丈夫的亲戚家里去了。

3 serpentine   

adj.蜿蜒的，弯曲的

参考例句：

• One part of the Serpentine is kept for swimmers.蜿蜒河的一段划为游泳区。
• Tremolite laths and serpentine minerals are present in places.有的地方出现透闪石板条及蛇纹石。

4 freshman   

n.大学一年级学生(可兼指男女)

参考例句：

• Jack decided to live in during his freshman year at college.杰克决定大一时住校。
• He is a freshman in the show business.他在演艺界是一名新手。

5 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

6 flipping   

讨厌之极的

参考例句：

• I hate this flipping hotel! 我讨厌这个该死的旅馆！
• Don't go flipping your lid. 别发火。