20090816 -- The Life of Bees (1)

The Life of Bees

Bees do more than make your life sweeter
If the bee disappears, people will soon follow. Though this statement might be somewhat exaggerated, the world has recently been reminded of how important bees really are. A strange phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is making bees disappear in various places around the globe. In some cases, entire colonies have disappeared. The Western honeybee, one of the most well-known bee species, has been particularly affected. And, according to some studies, CCD has the potential to cause billions of dollars in losses.

Why are these small, fuzzy insects so vital to the world? Bees do something that no other insect can do - they make honey. Honey contains everything needed to sustain life - including water! But this sweet substance is just one of the many products given to us by bees. Most bee species also produce beeswax, which is found in hundreds of products such as candles, soaps and some skin creams.


ex-向外
exaggerate v. 誇張/言過其實
eg: Kimmy often exaggerates her stories so that people think she is more interesting.
eg: The side-effect of teh treatment has been greatly exaggerated.!
eg: I'm not exaggerating; tonight's dessert is the best I've ever had!

phenomenon n. 現象/特殊的事物
複數型: phenomena
=> event/strange thing that happens offten in the nature
eg: John experienced natural phenomenon in his village when it snowed for the first time in 50 years.
eg: Racism(種族主義) is not a recent phenomenon.
eg: The lining-up of the major planets of the solar system is a rare phenomenon.

vital adj. 重要的/絕對不可缺少的
=> important
eg: Joseph is a vital part of our company. We can't afford to lose him.
eg: The sales department plays a vital role in our company.
eg: It is vital to get clean water and food supplies to this flooded area immediately.

sustain v. 維持/供養/支援
=> maintain/continue
eg: We need lots of water to sustain us on our hike across the desert.

If the bee disappears, people will soon follow.
=> If the bee disappears, so do people.

colony n. 【生】集群/群體/菌落

beeswax n. 蜜蠟

puzzle:
1. What kind of bee is good for your health?
=> vitamin B

2. What do you call a bee born in may?
=> maybe

3. What did the mother bee say to another little bee
=> behind yourself


//== Chat room ==//

If the bee disappears, people will soon follow.
=> here the bee refers to all bees
= If bees disappears, people will soon follow.

the
=> 定冠詞的代表用法：
=> 將定冠詞加在單數普通名詞前面，表示那個名詞所代表的種類
=> to indicate a whole class of something, often used in animal,
=> but can used in another noun as well. Especially invention or instrument

eg: The shark is a dangerous animal.
=> Here the shark refers to that all sharks in genearal

eg: The computer has changed the way students do shoolwork.
eg: The violin is difficult to play.
eg: Tha cat is a very independent animal.
= All cats are very independent animal.
eg: I can play the piano. (the piano 指任何一台鋼琴)

man
=> mean all people

//== Did you know ==//

Honey is actually the product of nectar being regurgitated and dehydrafted by the bees several times, which gives it its thick consistency.
- Bees are the only species that produces human food.
- Honey is the only food that contains every nutrient that a human need to survive; it even contains water.
- One teaspoon of honey packs enough energy for a single bee to fly around the world!