【一起听英语】养蜂

 Dima: Hi, welcome to this edition of 6 Minute English with me, Dima Kostenko

Rebecca: and me, Rebecca Byrne. Hi.

Dima: Today we'll be finding out how a small bee has become the cause of a big

problem in the UK - and how an environmental organisation¹ has stepped in to

rectify² it. But first of all, Rebecca, do you mind taking us through some of

today's key vocabulary?

Rebecca: Responds (Sure, why not, I think am becoming used to being your language

guide!)

Dima: Excellent - and as you're listening to Rebecca make sure you keep your ears

open, so to speak, because this vocabulary may help you guess the answer to

this week's question. Ready? Over to you Rebecca.

Rebecca: OK. First of all, the expression 'to be on the decline'. I personally wouldn't

often use it in my normal everyday conversations - I'd be more likely to say

something like 'to be falling', or 'dwindling³', or simply 'getting smaller', but

essentially⁴ they all mean the same.

Dima: So that's 'to be on the decline'.

Rebecca: Yes, that's right. Secondly⁵, the word 'pests'. A pest is an insect or small animal

which is harmful to other species or which damages crops. And another phrase

for you, 'the lack of habitat'. That's when there is not enough land that provides

natural conditions for a species to thrive, or sometimes even to survive. 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2009

Page 2 of 4

Dima: OK Rebecca, well explained, and now, as usual, a question for you. Can you

guess what exactly is the problem caused by the bees? Is it

a) that there are too many bees in the UK;

b) that the number of bees is growing slower than expected, or

c) that the number of bees is in fact falling?

Rebecca: Responds.

Dima: We'll check your answer in a minute, after we've listened to the BBC journalist

Lesley Ashmall. She tells us what the problem is using the vocabulary we've

just discussed:

 

Rebecca: On the decline, pests and the lack of habitat.

Dima: Let's listen:

Clip 1 0'16"

There are 250 species of bee in the UK but nearly all are on the decline. The number of honey

bees has fallen by 10-15% in the last two years. Pests and disease is a common problem, as is

the lack of habitat and food supply.

Rebecca: Lesley Ashmall explains that over the past two years, the number of nearly all

species of bees in the UK has been on the decline… Which means that my

earlier guess was right/wrong… And apparently⁶ an environmental organisation

called Natural England is now encouraging people to buy plants that bees like,

and even to consider putting a beehive in their garden, balcony or roof. But

Dima, why should the falling numbers of bees be seen as a big enough problem

to ask a BBC journalist to report on it? 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2009

Page 3 of 4

Dima: Well, according to Tom Tew, the Chief Scientist of Natural England, it's what

bees naturally do that's important. And not only for the preservation⁷ of the

environment but, crucially, for the economy.

Rebecca: Correct me if I'm wrong Dima but when you were talking about what bees

naturally do, did you mean they pollinate?

Dima: I did Rebecca, and that's exactly what Tom Tew is saying. He speaks of bees as

'crucial pollinators'.

Rebecca: 'Pollinators', in other words creatures that carry pollen⁸ grains and fertilise

plants.

Dima: And 'to fertilise' of course simply means to make a plant grow or produce

crops. OK, let's now listen to Tom Tew's explanation of how bees are

important economically:

 

Clip 2 0'10"

They are crucial pollinators for strawberries, for apples, for raspberries and for the

commercial crops like oilseed rape⁹. So they are critically economically important.

Rebecca: So, are you tempted¹⁰ to buy a beehive Dima?

Dima: Responds

Rebecca: OK, but if you are, don't forget it could be a risky¹¹ enterprise. Always seek a

specialist advice.

Dima: Will do. And I think I know where to start - simply follow the links from our

website, bbclearningenglish.com. But wait, don't run away to log on just yet 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2009

Page 4 of 4

because Rebecca looks like she's just about to remind you of some of the

vocabulary we've heard today. Am I right Rebecca?

Rebecca: Responds. OK, we talked about the expression 'to be on the decline', meaning

to get smaller, to shrink. We also talked about some of the reasons why the

number of bees is falling: one was 'pests', and a pest is an insect or small

animal which is harmful to other species or which damages crops; and another

reason is 'the lack of habitat'. That's when there is not enough land that

provides natural conditions for a species to thrive, or sometimes even to

survive.

We also mentioned 'pollinators'. This noun derives¹² from the verb 'to pollinate'

which means to carry pollen grains and fertilise plants. And then you Dima

explained that 'to fertilise' means to make a plant grow or produce crops.

And finally, I mentioned the word 'beehive'. I didn't quite get the chance to

explain what it is, so Dima, maybe you can help?

Dima: Responds

Rebecca: A beehive is a box-like container in which bees are kept so that their honey can

be collected.

Dima: I'm afraid that's all we have time for today. Until next week.

Both: Goodbye! (Rebecca, do you like honey?.. continue chatting)

1 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

2 rectify   

v.订正，矫正，改正

参考例句：

• The matter will rectify itself in a few days.那件事过几天就会变好。
• You can rectify this fault if you insert a slash.插人一条斜线便可以纠正此错误。

3 dwindling   

adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The number of wild animals on the earth is dwindling. 地球上野生动物的数量正日渐减少。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority. 他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。 来自辞典例句

4 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

5 secondly   

adv.第二，其次

参考例句：

• Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二，动脑筋提出自己的见解。
• Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次，需要确定所作用的载荷。

6 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

7 preservation   

n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持

参考例句：

• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
• The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。

8 pollen   

n.[植]花粉

参考例句：

• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。
• He developed an allergy to pollen.他对花粉过敏。

9 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

10 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

11 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

12 derives   

v.得到( derive的第三人称单数 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取

参考例句：

• English derives in the main from the common Germanic stock. 英语主要源于日耳曼语系。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He derives his income from freelance work. 他以自由职业获取收入。 来自《简明英汉词典》