Instead of sticking to the trees, some climbers use sharp claws.有些植物不会紧黏在树干上而是伸出利爪

instead of代替；而不是 ...

The economy is shrinking instead of growing.

经济正在萎缩而不是在增长中。

Instead of pressing forward, then drew back.

他们不仅没有前进，反而后退了。

This tendril of a passion flower seems to flail aimlessly in mid-air,这株西番莲的卷须，看似漫无目的地在半空中乱挥

seem to似乎 ...

She didn't seem to be perturbed by the setback.

她似乎并不为这次挫折感到不安。

I seem to have been on the go all day.

我似乎整天一直忙忙碌碌。

but in fact it's searching for an anchor point.其实它在找一个着力点

in fact其实； 事实上；实际上

In fact we were innocent of the crime.

事实上，我们是无辜的。

In a matter of just days, these climbers make it to the canopy.短短几天光景这些攀缘植物就到了树冠层

in a matter of days数日之内；数日之内

This explains why so many protection schemes get hacked in a matter of days.

这也是为什么那么多保护措施在几天之内就会被黑客搞垮。

The revolt was suppressed in a matter of days.

叛乱在几天之内就镇压下去了。