Year 8 Comprehension Skills

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📖 Part 1: Reading Passage

Read the following passage carefully, then answer the questions below:

The Mystery of the Disappearing Bees

In recent years, scientists have become increasingly concerned about the dramatic decline in bee populations across the UK. This phenomenon, known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), has seen entire hives mysteriously abandoned, with worker bees simply vanishing without a trace. The implications are far more serious than most people realise.

Bees are responsible for pollinating approximately one-third of the food we eat. Without them, crops such as apples, almonds, and even chocolate would become extremely rare and expensive. Dr Sarah Mitchell, a leading entomologist at Cambridge University, explains: "Bees don't just make honey – they're essential for our food security. A world without bees would be a world struggling to feed itself."

Several factors contribute to this crisis. Pesticides used in modern farming can disorientate bees, making it impossible for them to find their way back to the hive. Climate change has also disrupted flowering patterns, leaving bees without adequate food sources at crucial times. Additionally, the loss of wildflower meadows to urban development has reduced the variety of plants bees depend on for nutrition.

However, there is hope. Conservation groups are working with farmers to create "bee corridors" – strips of wildflowers that provide safe passages for bees between different habitats. Some councils have also begun reducing the frequency of grass cutting in parks, allowing dandelions and clover to flourish. Even ordinary citizens can help by planting bee-friendly flowers in their gardens.