Question

    For over a century, native Asian honeybees have been steadily pushed aside by the European species, which were introduced to China by beekeepers because the female workers are more focused on their job and produce more honey, which is also sweeter.

However, the European species also carries a number of deadly diseases that can damage the natural habitat. Some researchers calculate that up to 80 per cent of China's native honeybee population has been lost since the first European bee farm in the country was established in the late 19th century.

The sweeping expansion of Asia's European honeybee population causes an ecological crisis. After more than 70 million years of evolution, native Asian honeybees could pollinate（对……授粉）a wide range of plant species in the region. However, many Asian bee species across the region are now close to extinction, and that's a cause for concern as the flowers of many Asian plants are not recognised by European honeybees, which will cause fundamental changes in the ecological balance.

A solution put forward by bee scientists was to draw a border between European and Asian honeybees. In some parts of China, bee farms are not allowed to use the European species, giving the native bees some breathing space.

After years of decline, the Eastern honeybees are gaining a foothold, especially in mountains and warm, tropical areas. It is because they can deal with the real hardship of life. The Western honeybees. on the contrary, rely very much on the protection and care of humans. Without caretakers, they have little chance to survive in Asia, where hornets（大黄蜂）alone could wipe them out.

The decline of Asian honeybees was alarming because of their important role in the food chain. Fewer bees mean fewer plants, fewer plants less food and less food fewer humans. We must take positive, sustainable steps towards protecting China's Asian honeybees.

1.What made China's native honeybees endangered？

A.Overdevelopment of the land.

B.Introduction of European bees.

C.Pollution from cars and factories.

D.Lack of a variety of plant species.

2.What can be inferred about many Asian plants from the third paragraph？

A.They will not flower.

B.They might grow slowly.

C.They might not be pollinated.

D.They will harm the environment.

3.What is basically typical of China's honeybees？

A.Sociable.

B.Aggressive.

C.Productive.

D.Adaptable.

4.What is the author's purpose in writing this passage？

A.To analyse influence of European bees.

B.To urge protection of native Asian bees.

C.To suggest ways of limiting European bees.

D.To introduce comeback of native Asian bees.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.C

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。本文介绍由于引入欧洲蜜蜂使中国本土蜜蜂濒临灭绝，这也破坏了生态的平衡，需要采取措施来保护亚洲本土蜜蜂。

1.

细节理解题。根据第二段的Some researchers calculate that up to 80 per cent of China's native honeybee population has been lost since the first European bee farm in the country was established in the late 19th century. 一些研究人员估计，自19世纪末在中国建立第一个欧洲养蜂场以来，中国本土蜜蜂的数量已经减少了多达80%。可知，引入欧洲蜜蜂使中国本土蜜蜂濒临灭绝。故选B。

2.

推理判断题。 根据第三段的 that's a cause for concern as the flowers of many Asian plants are not recognised by European honeybees， which will cause fundamental changes in the ecological balance. 这是一个令人担忧的问题，因为许多亚洲植物的花不被欧洲蜜蜂所认可，这将导致生态平衡的根本变化。由此判断出很多亚洲植物可能没有授粉。故选C。

3.

细节理解题。根据第三段的 After more than 70 million years of evolution， native Asian honeybees could pollinate（对……授粉）a wide range of plant species in the region. 经过7000多万年的进化，亚洲本土蜜蜂可以为该地区的多种植物授粉. 可知，中国蜜蜂的典型特征是多产的。故选C项。

4.

推理判断题。 根据最后一段的We must take positive， sustainable steps towards protecting China's Asian honeybees. 我们必须采取积极、可持续的措施来保护中国的亚洲蜜蜂。由此判断出作者写这篇文章的目的是敦促保护亚洲本土蜜蜂。故选B。