Where Have Allthe Bees Gone
Scientists who study insects have a real mystery on theirhands.All across the country,honeybees are leaving their hives and neverreturning. Researchers call this phenomenon colony-collapse1 disorder.Accordingto surveys of beekeepers across the country,25 to 40 percent of the honeybeesin the United States have vanished from their hives since last fall.So far,noone can explain why.
Now,a group of scientists andbeekeepers have teamed up to try to figure out whats causing the alarmingcollapse of so many colonies. By sharing their expertise in honeybee behavior,health,and nutrition,team members hope to find out whats contributingto thedecline and to prevent bee disappearance in the future.
Another cause of colony-collapse disorder may be certain chemicalsthat farmers apply to kill unwanted insects on crops,says Jerry Hayes,chief beeinspector for the Florida Department of Agriculture3.Some studies,hesays,suggest that a certain type of insecticide affects the honeybees nervoussystem and memory.It seems tike honeybees are goingout and getting confused about where to go and what to do, he says.
练习:
A Honeybeesare flying all across the country.
C Honeybees are leaving their hives and do not return.
2. Why are researchersseriously concerned with the phenomenon of colony-collapsedisorder?
B Becausehoneybees feed on flowers.
D Both B and C.
A Worsening environment.
C Dwindlingnumber of flowers around.
4. According to the fifth paragraph,which of thefollowing about bees genes istrue?
B Beesgenes help keep them in their hives.
D Beesgenes couldexplain the collapse of some colonies.
A Farmers apply certain chemicals to killunwanted bees.
C The insecticide affects the honeybees memory.