听力文摘：大熊可称是落基山脉的旋耕机

Today's Moment of Science "digs up" the story behind one of the grizzly¹ bear's more unusual nicknames: the "Rototiller of the Rockies."

今天科学一刻将会深入"挖掘"灰熊的一个不同寻常的绰号背后的故事，这个绰号就是"落基山脉的旋耕机"。

Grizzly bear claws are huge–usually three to four inches long. This is perfect for an animal who survives by digging around in the landscape, unearthing² tasty treats like ground squirrels and root vegetables.

灰熊熊掌很大，一般有3到4英寸长。这种尺寸对于靠挖食为生的动物来说是极为有利的，它们能够在地里挖掘出美味的食物，如地松鼠、根茎类植物等。

One of the grizzly bear's favorite early season foods is the glacier³ lily, a beautiful yellow flower with a starchy, nutritious⁴ bulb. Bears "till" up the land, turning over chunks⁵ of soil to access those tasty bulbs. And guess what: scientists working in Glacier Park, Montana have learned that this "tilling" has some important side effects. Areas with recent bear diggings have less plant diversity and higher nitrogen levels than undisturbed parts of the landscape.

早春季节，灰熊最喜欢的食物之一就是冰川百合，这是一种非常美丽的黄色花朵，它的球茎内含有大量淀粉和多种营养物质。灰熊会刨开土壤来寻找美味的球茎。你知道吗：在蒙大拿冰川公园的科学家们了解到，灰熊的这种挖掘方式会对土壤产生一些副作用。灰熊挖过的区域会造成植物的多样性减少，并且土壤的含氮量会高于那些没被挖掘过的区域。

Without much competition from other plants, left behind glacier lily bulbs can quickly regenerate⁶, and these new lilies produce twice the usual number of seeds, thanks to the nitrogen rich soil!

由于没有来自其它植物的竞争，冰百合能够迅速繁殖，同时，由于土壤含氮量高，新生的百合能够产出比平常多一倍的种子。

We humans have also gained important culinary knowledge. You see, after digging up glacier lilies, bears often leave the bulbs for a few days to wilt⁷ in the sun.

我们人类从中也了解到很重要的烹调小贴士。你看，灰熊挖出球茎后，通常会将它晒上几天。

This "cooks" them a bit, and makes them sweeter and easier to digest. First Nations lore⁸ shows that early peoples learned to dry and cook glacier lily bulbs by copying the grizzly bear.

晒过之后的球茎会更甜，更容易消化。据原住民记载，早期的人类就是通过模仿灰熊才学会晒干和烹制冰川百合的。

1 grizzly   

adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊

参考例句：

• This grizzly liked people.这只灰熊却喜欢人。
• Grizzly bears are not generally social creatures.一般说来，灰熊不是社交型动物。

2 unearthing   

发掘或挖出某物( unearth的现在分词 )； 搜寻到某事物，发现并披露

参考例句：

• And unearthing the past often means literally and studying the evidence. 通常，探寻往事在字面上即意味着——刨根究底。
• The unearthing of "Peking Man" was a remarkable discovery. “北京人”的出土是个非凡的发现。

3 glacier   

n.冰川，冰河

参考例句：

• The glacier calved a large iceberg.冰河崩解而形成一个大冰山。
• The upper surface of glacier is riven by crevasses.冰川的上表面已裂成冰隙。

4 nutritious   

adj.有营养的，营养价值高的

参考例句：

• Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。

5 chunks   

厚厚的一块( chunk的名词复数 )； （某物）相当大的数量或部分

参考例句：

• a tin of pineapple chunks 一罐菠萝块
• Those chunks of meat are rather large—could you chop them up a bIt'smaller? 这些肉块相当大，还能再切小一点吗？

6 regenerate   

vt.使恢复，使新生；vi.恢复，再生；adj.恢复的

参考例句：

• Their aim is to regenerate British industry.他们的目的是复兴英国的工业。
• Although it is not easy,you have the power to regenerate your life.尽管这不容易，但你有使生活重获新生的能力。

7 wilt   

v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱

参考例句：

• Golden roses do not wilt and will never need to be watered.金色的玫瑰不枯萎绝也不需要浇水。
• Several sleepless nights made him wilt.数个不眠之夜使他憔悴。

8 lore   

n.传说；学问，经验，知识

参考例句：

• I will seek and question him of his lore.我倒要找上他，向他讨教他的渊博的学问。
• Early peoples passed on plant and animal lore through legend.早期人类通过传说传递有关植物和动物的知识。