Question

【题目】Humans aren’t the only ones getting a buzz from coffee．Caffeine can improve memory among honeybees and lead to better pollination(授粉)．According to a recent study published in the journal Science．

The study was conducted by a team of researchers at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom．They found that the nectar(花蜜)of some flowers，such as those from grapefruit and lemon plants，as well as certain coffee flowers，contains low doses of caffeine．To get bees to feed on these flowers，the team trained the insects to associate food with the smell of the flowers．They also trained another group of bees to feed on nectar from flowers that were sweetened with a sugar, but did not contain caffeine．After 24 hours，the bees trained on caffeinated flowers returned to these plants three times as often as those trained on the sweetened flowers returned to the uncaffeinated plants．

Professor Geraldine Wright led the researchers．“Remembering floral traits(花部特征)is difficult for bees to perform at a fast pace as they fly from flower to flower and we found that caffeine helps the bee remember where the flowers are，”Wright said in a statement．

Improved memory led to the better pollination．That’s because once bees sip the caffeine nectar, they continue to look for more coffee plants to pollinate．This also suggests that caffeine plays a role in improving the bees’ability to search for food．

Researchers found that caffeine’s effect on the bee brain is similar to its effect on mammals．“The change is similar to that produced by caffeine in neurons(神经元)associated with learning and memory in the rat brain，”Wright said．

span>Bee populations have declining since 2007．The dramatic drop in the insects’numbers has serious effects for ecosystems and the farming industry．Bees are needed in the reproduction of crops and spreading wild flower species．Understanding what keeps bees buzzing could help to make sure that the insects are able to remember and pollinate their favorite flowers．

【1】Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?

A．Caffeine has no effect on the rat brain．

B. Bee population has been increasing．

C．The nectar of lemon plants contains caffeine．

D．Bees dislike nectar from sweetened flowers．

【2】After reading the passage，John，who works in the farming industry, will probably feel________.

A．annoyed B．angry C．nervous D．excited

【3】Which of the following relationship is correct according to the passage?

A．improved memory—caffeine nectar—better pollination

B．caffeine nectar—improved memory—better pollination

C．improved memory—better pollination—caffeine nectar

D．caffeine nectar—better pollination—improved memory

【4】What section of a newspaper may this passage be taken from?

A．Science B．Education

C．Culture D．Sports

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】D

【3】B

【4】A

【解析】

试题分析:一项研究显示咖啡因可以提高蜜蜂的技记忆能力，进而产生更好的授粉效果。这一研究结果对于农业的发展也能起到很大的帮助。

【1】细节理解题。排除法。选项A，从文中第五段The change is similar to that produced by caffeine in neurons(神经元)associated with learning and memory in the rat brain，这种变化是类似于由咖啡因在神经元中产生的与老鼠脑中的学习和记忆相关的。故可知咖啡因对老鼠大脑有影响。故A错误；选项B，从文中第六段Bee populations have declining since 2007．蜜蜂数量自2007年以来一直减少。故B错误；选项D，从文中第二段the bees trained on caffeinated flowers returned to these plants three times as often as those trained on the sweetened flowers returned to the uncaffeinated plants．用咖啡因花培养过的蜜蜂返回到这些植物的次数是用甜的花朵培养的蜜蜂返回到非咖啡因植物的三倍。故可知未提到说蜜蜂不喜欢甜花的花粉。故D错误。而选项C，从文中第二段such as those from grapefruit and lemon plants，as well as certain coffee flowers，contains low doses of caffeine．如从葡萄柚和柠檬的植物，以及某些咖啡花，含有低剂量的咖啡因。故C正确。故选C。

【2】细节分析题。从本文最后一段，The dramatic drop in the insects’numbers has serious effects for ecosystems and the farming industry．昆虫数量的急剧下滑对生态系统和农业造成了严峻的影响，以及Understanding what keeps bees buzzing could help to make sure that the insects are able to remember and pollinate their favorite flowers．了解是什么让蜜蜂嗡嗡可以帮助确保这种昆虫能够记得并对他们最喜欢的花授粉。故选D。

【3】细节分析题。从第三段we found that caffeine helps the bee remember where the flowers are我们发现咖啡因可以帮助蜜蜂记得花在哪里，和第四段Improved memory led to the better pollination．提高的记忆能导致更好的授粉。故可知caffeine nectar与improved memory与better pollination的关系，故选B。

【4】细节理解题。从文中第一段According to a recent study published in the journal Science．根据最近一项发表在科学杂志上的研究。故可知这篇研究是在报纸的科学部分。

可知选A。