【英语时差8,16】绿色植物能预知未来？（上）

Gardeners and botanists¹ have known for a long time that when a green plant is shaded by neighboring plants it will often react by elongating² its stem. This so-called shade-avoidance reaction raises the plant’s leaves out of the shade, toward the light. Now three scientists at the University of Buenos Aires have found evidence that plants can sense the presence of neighbors that might cast shadows on them at some future time. The scientists transferred seedlings³ of white mustard into soil already occupied by similar seedlings of the same height. Within three days, the stems of the newly transferred seedlings began growing faster than before, even though the neighboring plants were too far away and still too short to cast shade on them.

1 botanists   

n.植物学家，研究植物的人( botanist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Botanists had some difficulty categorizing the newly found plant. 植物学家们不大容易确定这种新发现的植物的种类。 来自辞典例句
• Botanists refer this flower to the rose family. 植物学家将这花归入蔷薇科。 来自辞典例句

2 elongating   

v.延长，加长( elongate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The original structure of three-rolls piercing-elongating mill is improved. And good results have been achieved. 对原有三辊联合穿轧机结构上存在的问题进行了改进设计，并取得良好效果。 来自互联网
• The torch can bring higher arc voltage with lower fluctuation by elongating the arc. 该喷枪能够提高电弧电压并减小电弧电压波动。 来自互联网

3 seedlings   

n.刚出芽的幼苗( seedling的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Ninety-five per cent of the new seedlings have survived. 新栽的树苗95%都已成活。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• In such wet weather we must prevent the seedlings from rotting. 这样的阴雨天要防止烂秧。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》