PTE Academic Reading Test 8

The decline of bee populations has emerged as a pressing environmental concern, and for good reason. Bees are among the world's most important pollinators, transferring pollen between flowers as they forage for nectar. This service is indispensable to a large proportion of the crops humans rely on, from apples and almonds to coffee and cucumbers. Without adequate pollination, yields of these crops would fall sharply, threatening both food security and agricultural economies. Yet in many regions, bee numbers have dropped alarmingly. Scientists attribute this decline to a combination of factors rather than any single cause. The widespread use of certain pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, has been shown to impair bees' ability to navigate and reproduce. The loss of wildflower habitat to intensive monoculture farming has reduced the variety of food available to them. Parasites such as the varroa mite spread devastating diseases through colonies, while a warming climate disrupts the delicate timing between flowering plants and the insects that pollinate them. Addressing the problem therefore demands action on multiple fronts. Some countries have restricted the most harmful pesticides, and farmers are increasingly encouraged to plant flowering margins around their fields. Urban beekeeping has also grown in popularity, though experts caution that it is no substitute for protecting wild populations. Ultimately, the fate of bees illustrates how tightly human prosperity is bound to the health of the natural systems we so often take for granted.

According to the passage, why is the decline of bees considered a serious problem?

1. A.Because bees are the only insects capable of producing honey for human consumption.
2. B.Because bees pollinate many crops that humans depend on, so their decline threatens food supplies.
3. C.Because urban beekeeping has become too popular in recent years.
4. D.Because the varroa mite is the single cause of all bee population losses.

The correct answer is shown in your review when you finish the test.