The Buzz on Bees 蜜蜂知多少


People love and hate insects. They scare us, but they are also very important. Bees are extra special because they help many plants grow. They helppollinate the plants to get them to produce fruits and vegetables. Without bees or other insects, we would not have food. That is a big job. It is also why we have the saying, as busy as a bee. Bees work all day long to collect pollen from plants and bring it back to their hive.
The collected pollen is then used to make honey. The honey is food for the bees to eat during the winter. Luckily for us, bees are so good at working that they make enough honey to share. It can be collected and sold for food. It is very healthy and keeps skin and hair looking great. It also improves one's health and can even be put on cuts to help them heal. Unfortunately, bee colonies all over the world are dying, but no one knows exactly why. However, everyone should be worried about it. A lot of research is being done to help save the world's bees.

 

大家對昆蟲又愛又恨。我們很怕這些蟲子,但牠們卻又相當重要。蜜蜂之所以格外特別是因為牠們幫助許多植物生長。牠們幫植物傳授花粉以生產水果或蔬菜。若是沒有蜜蜂或是其他昆蟲,我們很可能沒有食物可吃。這實在是一項大工程。這也是諺語『像蜜蜂一樣忙碌』的由來。蜜蜂成天工作從植物採集花粉,把這些花粉帶回蜂巢。
採集回來的花粉接著便用來製造蜂蜜。對蜜蜂來說,蜂蜜是過冬所需的食物。對我們來說,幸運的是,蜜蜂是那麼有工作效率,因此生產了足夠的蜂蜜來讓人類一同分享。蜂蜜可以採集起來並當作食品來販賣。它有益健康,而且能讓皮膚和頭髮看起來很棒。不僅如此,它還能改善人的健康狀況,甚至可以塗在傷口上幫助痊癒。不幸地是,世界各地的蜜蜂群正逐漸消失,但卻難究其因。然而,每個人都應為此感到擔憂。人類正透過許許多多的研究,試圖拯救世界各地的蜜蜂。
 
  1. insect n. 昆蟲
    Some insects can easily adapt to different environments.
    有些昆蟲能輕易地適應不同環境。
    *adapt to... 適應……
    = get used to...
  2. produce vt. 生產;製造
    Cows that feed on fresh grass produce the highest quality milk.
    以新鮮牧草為食的乳牛能生產最高品質的牛奶。
  3. all day long 整天
    It is not healthy to play video games all day long.
    整天打電動是不健康的。
  4. collect vt. 收集
    Joan collects dolls from all over the world.
    瓊收集了世界各地的洋娃娃。
  5. be good at... 擅長於……
    Steven is good at doing scientific experiments.
    史提夫擅長做科學實驗。
  6. heal vi. 痊癒
    It will take weeks for that deep cut to heal.
    那麼深的傷口得要好幾個星期才能癒合。
  7. unfortunately adv. 遺憾地,不幸地
    Unfortunately, John got hurt in the car accident. 
    很遺憾,約翰在車禍中受傷了。
  8. die vi. 減少;垂死
    Due to the river being polluted, this area is dying.
    由於河川被污染,這個區域正在逐漸消失。
  1. pollinate vt. 給…授花粉
  2. pollen n.花粉
  3. hive n. 蜂巢
  4. colony n. 殖民地
  5. research n. 研究
 

so...that... 如此……以至於……
本文"bees are so good at working that..."中的"so...that..." 表『如此……以至於……』。其中so 為副詞,表『如此那麼地』。故其後須接形容詞或副詞以供修飾,that 則為副詞連接詞,引導的副詞子句修飾其前的 so。其結構為"so + 形容詞 /副詞 + that + 主詞 + 動詞"。例:
He is so mean that he won't help anyone but himself.
(他是這麼地小心眼,因此除了自己以外,他不會幫忙任何人。)
Peter can speak English so well that no one would think he isn't a native speaker.
(彼得的英文說得非常好,因此沒有人會認為他是非母語人士。)

資料來源 長春藤電子報