Pollution is reducing the fragrance（芬芳） of plants and thus preventing bees from pollinating(授粉) them—endangering one of the most essential cycles of nature, a new study suggests.
The potentially hugely significant research, funded by US National Science Foundation, has found that gases mainly formed from the emissions（排放） of cars prevent flowers from attracting bees and other insects to pollinate them. And the scientists who have conducted the study fear that insects’ abilities to drive away enemies and attract mates may also be disturbed.
Professor Jose Fuentes, who led the study, said, “Scent molecules(香味分子) produced by flowers in a less polluted environment could travel for roughly 1,000 to 1,200 meters. But today they may travel only 200 to 300 meters. This makes it increasingly difficult for bees and other insects to locate the flowers.”
The researchers, who worked on the molecules of snapdragons(金魚(yú)草),found that the molecules are volatile(易揮發(fā)的) and quickly bond with pollutants, mainly formed from vehicle(車(chē)輛)emissions. This chemically changes the molecules so that they no longer smell like flowers. A harmful cycle is therefore set up where insects struggle to get enough food and the plants do not get pollinated enough to multiply.
Already bees, which pollinate most of the world’s crops, are in such a great decline that has never been known before in Britain and across much of the globe. At least a quarter of America’s 2.5 million honey bee colonies have been mysteriously wiped out by colony collapse disorder(CCD),where hives are found suddenly deserted.
The crisis(危機(jī)) has now spread to Europe. Politicians insist that CCD has not yet been found in Britain, but considering the present number of bees, the agriculture minister Lord Rooker has sent the warning, “The honey bee population could be wiped out in 10 years.”
Although the researchers are not certain whether this is the real cause of CCD, they say that pollution is making life more difficult for bees and other insects in many ways.
小題1: In what way does pollution prevent flowers from attracting bees?
| A．By shortening the distance traveled by the scent molecules of flowers. |
| B．By disturbing the bees’ ability to attract mates. |
| C．By weakening the bees’ ability to fight against enemies. |
| D．By stopping flowers from giving off fragrance. |
小題2: From the passage we can know that
.
| A．Europe is affected greatly by CCD |
| B．CCD has destroyed most of the honey bee colonies in Europe |
| C．no honey bees will be found all over the world in the near future |
| D．European officials have paid much attention to CCD |
小題3: What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Traffic Pollution Puts Bees in Danger |
| B．Traffic Pollution is to Blame for CCD |
| C．Pollution Makes Flowers Lose Their Scent |
| D．Pollution Causes the Decrease in Flowers |
