Academic Reading Sample Task – Table Completion
The Role of Bees in Pollination
The introduction of honeybees to various agricultural regions is a straightforward process: approximately 50,000 bees are released, a few hives at a time, into the fields. The bees immediately start foraging for nectar and pollen, and if they successfully adapt to their new environment, they soon become a permanent, self-sustaining part of the local ecosystem. Over time, they multiply and within one or two seasons, the benefits to the crops are evident.
Honeybees work within a range of a few kilometers from their hives, ensuring they are sheltered from most predators such as birds and insects. Most species construct hives in cavities and hollow trees, creating intricate structures of wax combs to store honey and rear their young. Some species originating from Europe build their hives in above-ground structures, while others from Africa prefer underground nests. The shallowest hives are often found in temperate regions, where bees use abandoned animal burrows to create their nests. In contrast, tropical bees dig narrow tunnels into soft, sandy soil to establish their colonies.
For maximum pollination during spring and summer, farmers need a variety of bee species with overlapping foraging periods. In the cooler climates of northern Europe, the large European honeybee (Apis mellifera), which is about 1.5 cm long, is matched with smaller, hardier bumblebee species. The former are slower to become active in the chilly mornings and typically have a single queen who oversees the colony’s activities. The latter, which are quicker to begin foraging in cooler temperatures, have multiple queens in a single nest and can produce several broods annually.
In the warmer environments of southern Europe and North Africa, the Africanized honeybee, being a tropical species, thrives and remains active throughout most of the year. These bees, which are slightly smaller than their European counterparts, are known for their aggressive defense mechanisms and high productivity. They commonly work alongside native solitary bees, which are essential for pollinating certain types of plants that honeybees do not prefer. In subtropical and tropical regions, many bee species are active year-round, providing continuous pollination services to local agriculture.
Complete the Table Below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet.
| Species | Size | Preferred Climate | Complementary Species | Start of Active Period | Number of Generations per Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European honeybee | 1.5 cm | cooler climates | bumblebee | chilly mornings | single |
| Bumblebee | smaller | 5.__________ | 6.__________ | 7._________ | several |
| Africanized honeybee | slightly smaller | warmer environments | native solitary bees | year-round | high |
| Native solitary bees | varied | subtropical and tropical | Africanized honeybee | year-round | continuous |
Answers:
- 5. cooler climates
- 6. European honeybee
- 7. cooler temperatures
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