Question

    While bees hopping from one flower to another is vivid to watch, having bees disturbing a backyard barbecue certainly isn’t. They may seem like pesky creatures to get rid of, but there are quite a few things you may not know about bees, especially the impact they have on our livelihood.

The main purpose of bees, particularly honey bees, is to help pollinate the plants around them. According to the Department of Entomology at Pennsylvania State University, pollinators (such as bees) help to fertilize plants, which results in “the formation of seeds and the fruit surrounding seeds”. Pollinators are necessary for three-quarters of our major food crops, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts. An estimated 300,000 species of plants need pollinators. That’s around 80 to 95 percent of plant species. Without pollinators, the number of crops we have will take a serious hit.

Other pollinators can help out with this process including butterflies, beetles, and flies. Even some birds and bats can be pollinators. However, bees of various species are known for being natural pollinators for plants.

Unfortunately, for years there has been an alarming decline of bees around the globe. The University of Vermont published a study stating that 23 percent of the wild bee population declined between 2008 and 2013. 139 counties in parts of California, the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, west Texas and the Mississippi River valley have taken the worst hit in wild bee declines. Since 39 percent of U.S. croplands rely on pollinators for their crop including those beloved apple orchards and pumpkin patches in the fall, we are facing a serious threat.

By taking care of the bees, our world is able to benefit in terms of agricultural income and nutritious food supply. You may not be able to make a huge change on an industrial level, but as someone with a landscape of your own, why not help save the bees?

1.What is the best title for the passage?

A.Bees Is Disappearing?

B.How You Can Save Bees?

C.How Bees Help Pollinate the Plants?

D.Why You Shouldn’t Kill Bees in Your Yard?

2.What is the main purpose of bees?

A.To provide delicious honey.

B.To disturb backyard barbecue.

C.To get rid of some pesky creatures.

D.To help pollinate the plants around them.

3.Why does the author list the numbers in Paragraph 2?

A.To show the diversity of plant species.

B.To show how we depend on plants.

C.To prove the importance of pollinators such as bees.

D.To make a comparison between plants which need pollinators and which don’t.

4.Why does the author say “we are facing a serious threat”?

A.Because the bee population has decreased sharply.

B.Because lots of wild bees have been hit by people.

C.Because many people are attacked by wild bees.

D.Because the croplands have produced less crops in the fall.

Answer

1.D

2.D

3.C

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了看起来似乎是讨厌的生物，但在植物授粉方面，蜜蜂发挥着重要作用，从而使人类能够在农业收入和营养食物供应方面获益。因此，作者在文章中呼吁帮助拯救数量正在急剧下降的蜜蜂。

1.

主旨大意题。文章结构为总分总结构，首尾段落相呼应。文章首段出现了“but”句，说明此句应是本文的中心话题句。分析该句“They may seem like pesky creatures to get rid of, but there are quite a few things you may not know about bees, especially the impact they have on our livelihood.( 它们看起来似乎是讨厌的生物，但你可能不知道关于蜜蜂的很多事情，尤其是它们对我们生活的影响。)”且结合文章末尾内容“By taking care of the bees, our world is able to benefit in terms of agricultural income and nutritious food supply. You may not be able to make a huge change on an industrial level, but as someone with a landscape of your own, why not help save the bees?( 通过照顾蜜蜂，我们的世界能够在农业收入和营养食物供应方面获益。你可能无法在工业层面上做出巨大的改变，但作为一个拥有自己风景的人，为什么不帮助拯救蜜蜂呢?)”可知，本文的主题是陈述蜜蜂的重要性以及呼吁我们不要杀死蜜蜂。D项“Why You Shouldn’t Kill Bees in Your Yard?( 为什么你不应该杀死你院子里的蜜蜂?)”贴合主旨要义，可作最佳标题。故选D项。

2.

细节理解题。根据文章第二段第1句内容“The main purpose of bees, particularly honey bees, is to help pollinate the plants around them.”可知蜜蜂的主要作用是帮助它们周围的植物授粉。故选D项。

3.

推理判断题。根据第二段中，列举数字之后的总结句“Without pollinators, the number of crops we have will take a serious hit.”可知，没有传粉者，我们的农作物数量将受到严重打击。因此可推知作者列举这些数字目的就是为了说明像蜜蜂这样的授粉者的重要性。故选C项。

4.

推理判断题。根据第四段第1句内容“Unfortunately, for years there has been an alarming decline of bees around the globe.”可知，多年来全球蜜蜂数量急剧下降，并在后文中进行了详细的阐述，且该段末尾内容“Since 39 percent of U.S. croplands rely on pollinators for their crop including those beloved apple orchards and pumpkin patches in the fall, we are facing a serious threat.”提到39%的美国农田依靠传粉者来授粉才会有所收成，而蜜蜂是在授粉方面发挥重要作用。由此可推知作者之所以说我们正面临威胁是因为全球蜜蜂数量急剧减少，会导致许多农产品产量下降。故选A项。