Monarch without a Kingdom
This November, a hundred million butterflies will drop from the sky over Mexico, like autumn leaves. But for how long? Genetically modified maize could mean extinction for this beautiful butterfly, Rafael Ruiz reports.
In November, millions of Monarchs fall like bright, golden rain onto the forests in the mountains of central Mexico. In the silence of these mountains you can hear a strange flapping of wings, as the Monarchs arrive at their destination. In the mountains, which reach a height of 3,000 metres, the butterflies are safe.
These delicate creatures now face danger of another kind - from scientific progress. In the US, millions of farms grow genetically modified maize which is pure poison for the butterfly. Laboratory experiments have shown that half of the butterflies which feed on the leaves of genetically modified maize die within 48 hours. Not all experts agree that this variety of maize is responsible for the threat to the Monarchs. In spite of these doubts, the European Union has refused to approve new crops of genetically modified maize until further investigations have been carried out.
16 The Monarch butterfly travels 5,000 km each year.
17 The Monarch butterfly looks fragile.
18 The Mexicans like butterflies very much.
19 in bad winters, about 70 per cent of the butterflies can stay alive
20 In early April, the butterflies leave their winter homes flying back north
21 Genetically modified maize isnt poisonous to the butterflies.
22 Genetically modified products are not popular in Mexico
参考答案:16 A 17 A 18 C 19 B20 A 21 B 22 C
英文睡前故事 第91集:The Star Faced Crocodile
英文睡前故事 第93集:Thump Quack Moo
英文睡前故事 第71集:Super Daisy and the Peril of Planet Red Fox
英文睡前故事 第83集:The Fox in the Dark
英文睡前故事 第61集:Polly Jean Pyjama Queen
英文睡前故事 第62集:Princess Smartypants Breaks the Rules
英文睡前故事 第86集:The Little Star Who Wished
英文睡前故事 第80集:The Bog Baby
英文睡前故事 第70集:Stuck in the Mud
英文睡前故事 第85集:The Lamb Who Came for Dinner
英文睡前故事 第87集:The Magic Shoebox Farm
英文睡前故事 第57集:Penguin Post
英文睡前故事 第101集:What Pet to Get
英文睡前故事 第46集:Library Lion
英文睡前故事 第104集:Winnies Amazing Pumpkin
英文睡前故事 第102集:When Lulu Went to the Zoo
英文睡前故事 第69集:Small Mouse Big City
英文睡前故事 第99集:What Does Daddy Do
英文睡前故事 第78集:The Big Dark
英文睡前故事 第100集:What Friends Do Best
英文睡前故事 第94集:Tiddler the Story Telling Fish
英文睡前故事 第82集: The Dragon Festival
英文睡前故事 第79集:The Blackest Hole in Space
英文睡前故事 第48集:Magic Sky
英文睡前故事 第81集:The Cow That Laid an Egg
英文睡前故事 第97集:Twinkles, Arthur and Puss
英文睡前故事 第74集:Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Bed
英文睡前故事 第89集:The Pencil
英文睡前故事 第88集:The Naughtiest Ever Fairy
英文睡前故事 第63集:Ruby Sings the Blues