Bees are an essential part of the ecosystem▼ because they pollinate many of the fruits and vegetables that feed the world. In recent years, the problem of colony collapse disorder▼ (CCD) has drastically reduced the bee population. The cause of the problem is still unknown, but hundreds of scientists and researchers are frantically▼ trying to find the cause, and in turn, a solution to save the bees. Failing to do so may have dire▼ consequences for the long-term survival of humanity. However, there has been a major breakthrough in assisting bees, but it hasn’t come from a laboratory; it has come from an idea thought up by the son of an Australian honey farmer. The Anderson family has been keeping bees for several generations. A decade ago, Cedar Anderson suggested a better way to harvest the honey. His father, Stuart, thought the idea was brilliant, and for 10 years, they worked together refining the new beehive. Like many brilliant ideas, it is very simple. Anderson’s beehive provides a method of harvesting the honey using a tap without disturbing the bees. Beekeepers and the honey industry will no longer have to wear protective clothing and use smoke to protect themselves when collecting the honey. This means that anyone with a backyard will be able to have a beehive and produce honey simply. To raise the money to put the Flow Hive into production and introduce it to the marketplace, the Andersons have turned to a public crowdsourcing▼ campaign, which has created quite a buzz. They have already raised a staggering US$12 million… Sweet!
1. Who discovered the cause of colony collapse disorder? (A) Hundreds of scientists and researchers. (B) The son of an Australian honey farmer. (C) The cause is still not known. (D) It came from a laboratory. ————————————————————————————————– 2. How long has the Anderson family been keeping bees? (A) For several generations. (B) About 20 years. (C) A decade or so. (D) In recent years. ————————————————————————————————– 3. What is implied in the article? (A) Keeping bees will be easier in the future. (B) Keeping bees nowadays requires high technology. (C) People don’t keep bees because it is too expensive. (D) People don’t keep bees because of colony collapse disorder. ————————————————————————————————– 4. Who has funded the production of the Flow Hive? (A) The Anderson family. (B) The public. (C) The government. (D) The honey industry.

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