Previous research had determined that skin could absorb water, but couldn't pin down why it didn't fall apart when it expanded.

先前的研究断定皮肤能够吸收水分，但是未能找出皮肤膨胀后不会破裂的确切原因。

youdao

Much like a bowling pin that wobbles back and forth yet does not fall, a penguin 's body is carried forward by kinetic energy.

企鹅的身体非常类似一个来回摇摆却不会倒下的保龄球瓶，被动能带动向前。

youdao

Marjorie was no longer as adept as she had been when she was younger and able to unroll a bolt of cloth and see every seam and dart, every buttonhole and facing, when she could tell, even before putting one pin into the cloth, how it would all fall together.

NEWYORKER: The Visitor