Final answer:
Cold-blooded animals like snakes and turtles need to bask in sunshine before moving quickly on a cold day because molecules move faster in warmer temperatures, which aids in nutrient uptake and waste removal through diffusion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Snakes and turtles, being cold-blooded animals, need to bask in sunshine before they can move quickly on a cold day because molecules move faster in warmer temperatures. Diffusion, the process by which cells obtain nutrients and get rid of wastes, relies on the random movement of molecules. As temperature increases, molecules have more energy and move faster, facilitating the diffusion process. Therefore, when snakes and turtles bask in the sunshine, their cellular molecules move faster, allowing for more efficient nutrient uptake and waste removal.
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