The importance of bees – Quiz

1.  Read the text and answer the questions.

1. What do bees do to the fruits and vegetables we eat?
They pollinate them.

2. How much global economic value are pollinating insects thought to have?
A study by the University of Reading in the UK, found bees and other pollinating insects have a global economic value of around £120bn ($150bn).

3. What reasons have contributed to the decline in bee populations?
In recent times, bee populations have been declining due to pesticides, parasites, disease and habitat loss.

4. True or false? Gill Perkins says reconnecting with nature helps improve the mental health of bumblebees.
False. She said people are beginning to realize how their mental health and wellbeing is supported by nature.

5. How many bee species are responsible for pollinating crops like oilseed rape?
Only a small number of bee species are vital for crops such as oilseed rape, apples and strawberries. 

2.  Choose the appropriate words or phrases to complete the following sentences.

1. A rare species of bird has been found in the Amazon rainforest.

2. A conservation project has helped increase the elephant population in Africa.

3. This plant thrives in shady areas so should be perfect for your garden.

4. I was going to dump my boyfriend but decided to give him a second chance .

5. Since the farmer sprayed pesticides on his crops, people nearby have been complaining of breathing difficulties. 

The importance of bees

How do you feel about bees? Do you get irritated when they buzz around you and do you fear their mission is just to sting you? Love them or loathe them, these little insects are extremely important creatures, and without them we might starve.

Bees deserve some respect – they give us honey, and they play their part either pollinating the many vegetables and fruits we eat directly or pollinating the food for the animals that we then consume. In fact, they are the world’s most important pollinators. That’s not all – a study by the University of Reading in the UK, found bees and other pollinating insects have a global economic value of around £120bn ($150bn) and contribute around £690m ($850m) to the UK economy every year.

So, bees are worth protecting, and although a small number of bee species are vital for crops such as oilseed rape, apples and strawberries, experts say we should be taking care of all our bees. Researchers say conservation efforts should be aimed at a wide number of species – even those that currently contribute little to crop pollination – in order to maintain biodiversity and ensure future food security.

Unfortunately, in recent times, bee populations have been declining due to pesticides, parasites, disease and habitat loss. It’s something we should be worried about because, as Gill Perkins, chief executive of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, told BBC Future website: “They provide a whole ecosystem service.” The recent lockdowns caused by the coronavirus pandemic seem to have given bee populations a little boost because they faced less human disturbance, traffic and polluting fumes.

Conservationists hope, going forward, people will appreciate bees more and encourage them to thrive as they reconnect with nature. Gill Perkins says, “They are beginning to realise how their mental health and wellbeing is supported by nature – particularly by bumblebees, which are so iconic and beautiful and buzzy.” So, it really seems time to give bees a second chance.