English for academic and scientific purpose. Г. А. Краснощекова

the Pooh

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      “The bee is more honored than other animals, not because she labors, but because she labors for others”

Saint John Chrysostom (archbishop of Constantinople, 347-407)

      Do you run away when you hear a bee buzzing? Many people do. A bee sting hurts and some people are allergic to bee venom. However, did you know that bees are very important to humans? Honeybees do more than just make honey. They fly around and pollinate flowers, plants, and trees. Our fruits, nuts, and vegetables rely on these pollinators. The honeybee pollinates One third of America’s food supply.

      Have you seen or heard a honeybee lately? Bees are mysteriously disappearing in many parts of the world. Most people do not know about this problem. It is called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Some North American beekeepers lost 80% of their hives from 2006-2008. Bees in Italy and Australia are disappearing too.

      The disappearance of the honeybee is a serious problem. Can you imagine never eating another blueberry? What about almonds and cherries? Without honeybees, food prices will skyrocket. The poorest people always suffer the worst when there is a lack of food.

      This problem affects other foods besides fresh produce. Imagine losing your favorite ice cream! Haagen Daaz is a famous ice cream company. Many of their flavors rely on the hard working honeybee. In 2008, Haagen Daaz began raising money for CCD. They also funded a garden at the University of California called The Haven. This garden helps raise awareness about the disappearing honeybee and teaches visitors how to plant for pollinators.

      Donating money to research is the most important thing humans can do to save the honeybees. Scientists need money to investigate the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder. Some scientists blame CCD on climate change. Others think pesticides are killing the bees. Commercial bee migration may also cause CCD. Beekeepers transport their hives from place to place in order to pollinate plants year round.

      Not everyone has money to donate regularly. There are other ways to help the honeybee. (7)

      Task 19

      Match the following words with their definitions.

      Task 20

      Reading Comprehension Quiz.

      1. According to the text, the disappearance of honeybees is called ______.

      2. Humans rely on honeybees to ______.

      3. According to the article, which famous company is very worried about CCD? ______

      4. What is the most important thing people can do to help honeybees? ______.

      5. Moving honeybees from place to place is called ______.

      Task 21

      Fill in the gaps.

      1. When something collapses it _______.

      2. The place where honeybees live is called ______.

      3. Another word for “rely on” is ______.

      4. We need bees to ______ the plants that we eat.

      5. There is ______ of honeybees in North America.

      Task 22

      Complete each sentence with the most suitable ending.

      Task 23

      Recognize facts and opinions in the text.

      Task 24

      Find the most important sentence in each paragraph and present your summary of the text.

      Task 25

      Answer the questions.

      1. Why is the honeybee so important to humans?

      2. Do you think humans can survive without honeybees?

      3. Do you think scientists will invent mechanical pollinators that work as hard as honeybees?

      4. Which companies need to worry about CCD the most?

      5. Scientists fear that the disappearing honeybee will have a "ripple effect". What does this mean?

      Task 26

      Read the text, try to catch its essentials and be ready to do the tasks.

Polar Bear Makes the List

      Majestic creature of the far north, the polar bear is the world's largest terrestrial carnivore. Its Latin name, Ursusmaritimus, means 'sea bear', an apt name for this amazing species which spends much of its life in, around, or on the water – predominantly on the sea ice.

      In spring 2008, the polar bear was placed on the endangered species list. According to the Endangered Species Act, an endangered species is an animal that is likely to face extinction in its natural habitat. Polar bears have been categorized as a "threatened" species. The ESA defines a threatened species as one that is likely to become "endangered" in the foreseeable future.

      The polar bear is the first animal that has been classified as endangered due primarily to global warming. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that become trapped in the atmosphere cause global warming. Heating homes, driving cars, and burning garbage all require fossil fuels that lead to global warming.

      The polar bear's habitat is more vulnerable to global warming than many other species. Polar bears live mainly on the sea ice in the Arctic. This is where they hunt for fish and build up fat reserves. When the ice melts, many polar bears move to land and live off their stored fat. In the Arctic, global warming is causing the ice to melt slightly earlier and form slightly later. This results in a shorter feeding season for the polar bear. Some risk their lives to find ice. If they have to swim too far they will drown from exhaustion and hunger. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that 25% of the Arctic sea ice has disappeared in the past 30 years.

      It is not only the polar bear that is at risk in the Arctic. Every species of plant, animal, and insect there is threatened by global warming. Nevertheless, environmentalist groups such as the World Wildlife Fund often study large carnivores in order to assess the health of an ecosystem. The Arctic food chain relies on the polar bear. In addition, donations are more commonly offered for the protection of large animals such as bears or elephants. People in general are less interested in conservation efforts that protect small wildlife, such as plants or insects. However, by using donor money to protect the habitat of the larger animals (ex. reforestation programs), entire ecosystems can be protected.

      It is important that animals such as the polar bear make it onto the endangered species list. Once they are on the list, there are laws that protect these animals from being hunted for food or sport. Agencies also receive money and tools to protect the habitat and recover the species. The goal of removing the animal from the list is often achievable. Since the Endangered Species Act was introduced in the US in 1973, many species have been taken off the list due to increased populations. In fact, it is rare for a species to go extinct after they make the list. Sadly, many species do go extinct while waiting for consideration. (8)