Time is like spring, can shorten, can also be stretched.

时间象弹簧，可以缩短，也可以拉长。

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When the worm is prodded, stretching the structural proteins in muscle fibers, the linking spring is stretched, and the worm fluoresces in a different color.

蠕虫受刺激时，肌纤维结构蛋白被拉伸，其连接弹簧也被拉伸，蠕虫的荧光颜色发生改变。

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The horses, feeling slack reins, stretched down their necks to crop the tender spring grass .

那几匹马觉得缰绳放松了，便都低下头去嚼那柔嫩的春草。

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But, according to a U.S. official familiar with troop assignments, the most the United States could send to Afghanistan is two combat brigades by spring 2009, because the Army and Marines are stretched.

CNN: Analysis: U.S. reviewing Afghanistan policy