常春藤解析英语【53】The Mysterious Honeybee Disappea

The Mysterious Honeybee Disappearance¹　神秘的蜂群消失事件

by Rebecca A. Fratzke

Honeybees are used to help many crops flower and grow. Thus, they play an extremely important _(1)_ in agriculture. However, since 2006, beekeepers in the US have seen a dramatic drop in honeybee numbers. Within five months during that year alone, honeybee populations were _(2)_ by 60%. Europe has also been experiencing drops in honeybee populations. Yet, in all cases, the reasons for the _(3)_ are not perfectly² clear, leaving scientists scrambling³ to find answers.

The true mystery _(4)_ the fact that honeybees are disappearing abruptly⁴, a phenomenon known as Colony Collapse⁵ Disorder⁶ (CCD) (蜂群衰竭失调现象), and many factors are causing it to happen. One is the Israeli acute paralysis⁷ virus (IAPV). IAPV was brought into the US by honeybees _(5)_ from Australia. It causes shaking wings, paralysis, and death. Additionally, changes in the honeybees' behavior have been observed that affect their navigational abilities. This results in honeybees leaving their hive as _(6)_, but then being unable to find their way back. As a consequence, only the queen and a few adolescents are _(7)_ in the hive.

Strangely, honeybees _(8)_ IAPV in Australia do not have these behavioral changes. Experts believe that the varroa mite⁸ (蜂虱), which is prevalent in the US but _(9)_ in Australia, is the reason. Varroa mites⁹ attack whole colonies and weaken the honeybees' immune systems, making them _(10)_ to viruses, bacteria, and fungi¹⁰. Still, scientists are unsure what exactly is causing CCD. With US$15 billion and 11% of food crops at stake in the US, they aren't giving up.

(A) imported　　(B) role　　(C) absent　　(D) lies in　　(E) left behind
(F) reduced　　(G) infected with　　(H) declines　　(I) vulnerable　　(J) usual

原来如此

1.Thus, they play an extremely important role in agriculture.
理由:
a. 空格前有及物动词 play，故可知空格应置入名词 role 作其受词，并形成下列固定用法：
play an important role in...　　在……上扮演重要角色
例: The bad weather here played an important role in my decision to move.
（这里的坏天气是我决定要搬家的重要因素。）
b. 根据上述，(B) 应为正选。

2. Within five months during that year alone, honeybee populations were reduced by 60%.
理由:
a. 空格前是 be 动词 were，空格后是介词词组 by 60%，可知空格应填入过去分词，形成被动用法。
b. 选项中为过去分词的有 (A) imported（被进口）、(E) left behind（被遗留）、(F) reduced（被减少）与 (G) infected with（被感染），然根据语意，此处应是指蜜蜂数量『锐减了』百分之六十，故选 (F)。

3. Yet, in all cases, the reasons for the declines are not perfectly clear,...
理由:
a. 空格前为定冠词 the，可知空格内应置入名词。
b. 选项中仅剩 (H) declines（下降；减少）为名词，置入后亦符合语意，故选之。
c. decline n. 下降；减少

4. The true mystery lies in the fact that honeybees are disappearing abruptly,...
理由:
a. 空格前为第三人称单数主词 The true mystery，空格后为名词 the fact，可知空格应填入第三人称单数的及物动词或及物动词词组。
b. 符合上述条件的仅有 (D) lies in（在于……），置入后亦符合语意，故选之。
c. lie in...　　在于……
例: Her self-confidence lies in the fact that she's pretty.
（她的自信来自于她的美貌。）

5. IAPV was brought into the US by honeybees imported from Australia.
理由:
a. 空格前为完整的句构，可知空格内应置入现在分词或过去分词，和 from Australia 形成分词词组，用以修饰空格前的名词 honeybees。
b. 根据上述，得知可置入 (A) 选项，形成下列固定用法：
be imported from + 地方　　自某地进口
例: She has a set of modern kitchen equipment imported from Germany.
（她有一组从德国进口的现代厨房设备。）
c. 根据上述，故选 (A)。

6. This results in honeybees leaving their hive as usual, but then being unable to find their way back.
理由:
a. 本空格测试以下固定用法：
as usual　　一如往常
例: As usual, Tony was late for work this morning.
（如往常一样，东尼今早上班又迟到了。）
b. 根据上述，故选 (J)。

7. As a consequence, only the queen and a few adolescents are left behind in the hive.
理由:
a. 空格前为 be 动词 are，空格后为地方副词 in the hive，得知空格内可置入形容词或分词，来修饰主词 the queen and a few adolescents。
b. 符合上述的有 (C) absent（不在的）、(E) left behind（被遗留的）、(G) infected with（感染）和 (I) vulnerable（易受伤的），然根据语意，本处应指巢中只『留下』女王蜂和一些幼蜂，(E) 置入后符合语意，故选之。
c. be left behind　　被遗留下来
leave...behind　　遗留下……
例: Ron didn't pay attention as he left the party, and he left his wallet behind.
（朗恩离开派对时心不在焉，忘了带走皮夹。）

8. ...honeybees infected with IAPV in Australia do not have these behavioral changes.
理由:
a. 本句的主词是 honeybees，动词是 have，these behavioral changes 是受词，句构完整，故空格应置入现在分词或过去分词，与 IAPV in Australia 构成分词词组，以修饰主词 honeybees。
b. 符合上述的分词词组仅剩 (G) infected with（被感染），置入后语意亦正确，故选之。
c. be infected with + 疾病　　感染（上）……（疾病）
例: Gina was infected with a rare disease after a bat bit her.
（吉娜被蝙蝠咬了之后感染一种罕见疾病。）

9. ...varroa mite, which is prevalent in the US but absent in Australia, is the reason.
理由:
a. 空格前的 but 为对等连接词，用以连接两个对等的单字、词组或子句，空格前为形容词 prevalent，可知空格内应置入形容词。
b. 选项中的形容词有 (C) absent（不存在的）和 (I) vulnerable（易受伤害的），由于连接词 but 前后的语意应该是相反的，故蜂虱在美国虽然很常见，在澳洲却『不存在』，因此 (C) 置入后符合语意，故选之。

10. Varroa mites attack whole colonies..., making them vulnerable to viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
理由:
a. 空格前的 make 为不完全及物动词，加受词后意思并不完全，须接名词或形容词作受词补语。
b. 符合上述仅有 (I) vulnerable（易受伤害的），置入后亦符合语意，故选之。
c. vulnerable a. 易受伤害的（与介词 to 并用）
be vulnerable to...　　易受到……（伤害、影响）
例: Since Al was born weak, he is vulnerable to colds.
（由于艾尔天生体质虚弱，所以容易感冒。）

精解字词词组

1. alone a. 仅仅，只有（用于名词后）
例: I alone am responsible for what happened.
（对于所发生的事全由我一个人负责。）

2. scramble¹¹ to V　　紧急（做）……
例: Susan forgot to do her homework and had to scramble to finish it before class.
（苏珊忘了做功课，所以得赶紧在上课前写完。）

3. result in...　　导致∕造成……
= lead to...
例: Exposure to radiation can result in cancer.
（暴露在辐射线下可能会致癌。）

4. as a consequence　　结果，因此
= consequently
= as a result
例: The teacher caught Jim cheating. As a consequence, he got an F on the test.
（老师抓到吉姆作弊。结果他考试成绩不及格。）

5. at stake　　在危险关头
例: You must do this project well. Your job is at stake.
（你必须做好这项项目，因为你的工作岌岌可危。）

单字小铺

1. mysterious a. 神秘的
2. crop n. 作物
3. agriculture n. 农业
4. dramatic a. 显著的，重大的；戏剧性的
5. population n.（动植物的）总数；人口
6. perfectly adv. 完全地
7. abruptly adv. 突然地
8. collapse n. 暴跌；倒塌
9. acute a. 急性的
10. paralysis n. 麻痹，瘫痪
11. additionally adv. 此外
12. navigational a. 飞行的，航行的
13. hive n. 蜂巢
14. adolescent n. 青少年（本文指幼蜂）
15. behavioral a. 行为的
16. varroa mite n. 蜂虱（蜜蜂身上的寄生虫）
17. prevalent a. 流行的；盛行的
18. immune system n. 免疫系统
19. fungi n. 真菌（复数形）
fungus¹² n. 真菌（单数形）

词组小铺

＊ be used to V　　被用来做……
be used to + N/V-ing　　习惯……

中文翻译＆标准答案

蜜蜂被用来帮忙许多作物开花、生长。因此，牠们在农业上扮演极重要的角色。然而，自 2006 年起，美国的蜂农目睹蜜蜂数量显著下降。该年光是五个月内蜜蜂数量就锐减了百分之六十。欧洲也同样发生蜜蜂数量减少的现象。然而，在所有的案例中，造成数量下降的原因并不全然清楚，让科学家急忙寻找答案。

谜底在于蜜蜂突然间大量消失，这现象称为『蜂群衰竭失调现象』（CCD）。造成此现象的因素有很多，其中之一是以色列急性瘫痪病毒（IAPV）。这种病毒是由澳洲进口的蜜蜂带进美国的，会造成蜜蜂翅膀颤抖、瘫痪后死亡。此外，还观察到影响蜜蜂导航能力的行为变异，导致蜜蜂如往常离巢后却找不到回家的路。结果，巢中只留下女王蜂和一些幼蜂。

奇怪的是，在澳洲感染 IAPV 的蜜蜂不会发生这种行为失序。专家相信这是因为美国蜂虱横行，而澳洲没有蜂虱所造成的。蜂虱会攻击蜂群，并削弱蜜蜂的免疫系统，使牠们对病毒、细菌和真菌失去抵抗力。虽然还不确定造成 CCD 现象真正的主因为何，但因为牵涉到美国面临一百五十亿美元的损失和百分之十一的粮食作物短缺，科学家还在努力寻找原因。

标准答案:1. (B)　2. (F)　3. (H)　4. (D)　5. (A) 　6. (J)　7. (E)　8. (G)　9. (C)　10. (I)
 

1 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。

2 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

3 scrambling   

v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞

参考例句：

• Scrambling up her hair, she darted out of the house. 她匆忙扎起头发，冲出房去。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• She is scrambling eggs. 她正在炒蛋。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

5 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

6 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

7 paralysis   

n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症)

参考例句：

• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。

8 mite   

n.极小的东西；小铜币

参考例句：

• The poor mite was so ill.可怜的孩子病得这么重。
• He is a mite taller than I.他比我高一点点。

9 mites   

n.（尤指令人怜悯的）小孩( mite的名词复数 )；一点点；一文钱；螨

参考例句：

• The only discovered animals are water bears, mites, microscopic rotifers. 能够发现的动物只有海蜘蛛、螨和微小的轮虫。 来自辞典例句
• Mites are frequently found on eggs. 螨会经常出现在蛋上。 来自辞典例句

10 fungi   

n.真菌，霉菌

参考例句：

• Students practice to apply the study of genetics to multicellular plants and fungi.学生们练习把基因学应用到多细胞植物和真菌中。
• The lawn was covered with fungi.草地上到处都是蘑菇。

11 scramble   

v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料

参考例句：

• He broke his leg in his scramble down the wall.他爬墙摔断了腿。
• It was a long scramble to the top of the hill.到山顶须要爬登一段长路。

12 fungus   

n.真菌，真菌类植物

参考例句：

• Mushrooms are a type of fungus.蘑菇是一种真菌。
• This fungus can just be detected by the unaided eye.这种真菌只用肉眼就能检查出。