Scientists have long questioned how far bees travel to collect food. They believe that bees can fly as far as 10 kilometers if necessary, though most of the time, bees don’t go that far.

To find out the answer, some scientists used small codes called “April Tags” to track bees. These codes are similar to QR codes (二维码). They are easy for cameras to follow, even without enough light, and they don’t hurt the bees.

The scientists put the sensors (传感器) on 600 young bees every two weeks. Over the spring and summer, they followed more than 32,000 bees in six hives (蜂房). By putting a camera and a small computer on each hive, the scientists could tell when the bees with sensors left and returned.

The scientists found that most bee trips outside the hive took just one to four minutes—probably for quick jobs like checking the weather. Longer trips were usually under 20 minutes. But about one third of the bees took trips over two hours. This might mean the bees were making longer trips to collect food. The scientists also found that it took the bees more time to collect food when there were not enough flowers around.

Bees use special “dances” to communicate with each other about where to collect food. Now the scientists want to know the relationship between their new tracking information and these special “dances”. They plan to teach beekeepers and other scientists how to use this new tracking way.

1.1．How far can bees fly if necessary?

A 5 kilometers.

B 10 kilometers.

C 15 kilometers.

D 20 kilometers.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据文章第一段 “They believe that bees can fly as far as 10 kilometers if necessary” 可知，必要时蜜蜂可以飞行 10 公里，答案选 B。

2.2．What does the underlined word “track” probably mean in Chinese?

A 追踪

B 喂养

C 保护

D 增加

解析：选A。词义猜测题。根据第二段 “To find out the answer, some scientists used small codes called ‘April Tags’ to track bees.”，结合后文介绍科学家通过安装传感器、摄像头等方式监测蜜蜂离开和返回时间等内容，可推测出 “track” 意为 “追踪”，答案选 A。

3.3．What can we learn from the passage?

A These codes are dangerous to the bees.

B Scientists studied the bees very carefully.

C All the bees took trips longer than two hours.

D Beekeepers have used this new tracking way.

解析：选B。推理判断题。根据文章第三段 “The scientists put the sensors on 600 young bees every two weeks...they followed more than 32,000 bees in six hives.” 可知，科学家每两周给 600 只幼蜂装传感器，追踪了 6 个蜂房超 32000 只蜜蜂，还通过摄像头和计算机监测蜜蜂活动，由此可推断出科学家非常仔细地研究蜜蜂，B 选项正确。根据第二段 “they don’t hurt the bees” 可知 A 选项错误；根据第四段 “But about one third of the bees took trips over two hours.” 可知 C 选项错误；根据最后一段 “They plan to teach beekeepers and other scientists how to use this new tracking way.” 可知，养蜂人还未使用这种追踪方法，D 选项错误。

4.4．Who might find this passage most helpful?

A Students good at math.

B Students interested in the Internet.

C Students good at dancing.

D Students interested in natural science.

解析：选D。推理判断题。文章主要讲述了科学家对蜜蜂觅食飞行距离的研究，属于自然科学范畴，所以对自然科学感兴趣的学生可能会觉得这篇文章最有帮助，答案选 D。