2015年职称英语理工类AB级阅读理解精选练习(一)

　　Where Have All the Bees Gone?

　　Scientists who study insects have a real mystery on their hands. All across the country, honeybees are leaving their hives and never returning. Researchers call this phenomenon colony-collapse1 disorder. According to surveys of beekeepers across the country, 25 to 40 percent of the honeybees in the United States have vanished from their hives since last fall. So far, no one can explain why.

　　Now, a group of scientists and beekeepers have teamed up to try to figure out whats causing the alarming collapse of so many colonies. By sharing their expertise in honeybee behavior, health, and nutrition, team members hope to find out whats contributing to the decline and to prevent bee disappearances in the future.

　　Another cause of colony-collapse disorder may be certain chemicals that farmers apply to kill unwanted insects on crops, says Jerry Hayes, chief bee inspector for the Florida Department of Agriculture3. Some studies, he says, suggest that a certain type of insecticide affects the honeybees nervous system and memory. It seems like honeybees are going out and getting confused about where to go and what to do, he says.

　　词汇：

　　hive n. 蜂巢; 蜂箱digestive adj. 消化的

　　beekeeper n. 养蜂人insecticide n. 杀虫剂

　　注释：

　　2. the United States Department of Agriculture Bee Research Laboratory：美国农业部蜜蜂研究实验室。

　　练习：

　　A) Honeybees are flying all across the country.

　　C) Honeybees are leaving their hives and do not return.

　　2. Why are researchers seriously concerned with the phenomenon of colony-collapse disorder?

　　B) Because honeybees feed on flowers.

　　D) Both B and C.

　　A) Worsening environment.

　　C) Dwindling number of flowers around.

　　4. According to the fifth paragraph, which of the following about bees genes is true?

　　B) Bees genes help keep them in their hives.

　　D) Bees genes could explain the collapse of some colonies.