Rebecca: and me, Rebecca Byrne. Hi.
Dima: Today we'll be finding out how a small bee has become the cause of a big
problem in the UK - and how an environmental organisation has stepped in to
rectify it. But first of all, Rebecca, do you mind taking us through some of
today's key vocabulary?
Rebecca: Responds (Sure, why not, I think am becoming used to being your language
guide!)
Dima: Excellent - and as you're listening to Rebecca make sure you keep your ears
open, so to speak, because this vocabulary may help you guess the answer to
this week's question. Ready? Over to you Rebecca.
Rebecca: OK. First of all, the expression 'to be on the decline'. I personally wouldn't
often use it in my normal everyday conversations - I'd be more likely to say
something like 'to be falling', or 'dwindling', or simply 'getting smaller', but
essentially they all mean the same.
Dima: So that's 'to be on the decline'.
Rebecca: Yes, that's right. Secondly, the word 'pests'. A pest is an insect or small animal
which is harmful to other species or which damages crops. And another phrase
for you, 'the lack of habitat'. That's when there is not enough land that provides
natural conditions for a species to thrive, or sometimes even to survive.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2009
Page 2 of 4
Dima: OK Rebecca, well explained, and now, as usual, a question for you. Can you
guess what exactly is the problem caused by the bees? Is it
a) that there are too many bees in the UK;
b) that the number of bees is growing slower than expected, or
c) that the number of bees is in fact falling?
Rebecca: Responds.
Dima: We'll check your answer in a minute, after we've listened to the BBC journalist
Lesley Ashmall. She tells us what the problem is using the vocabulary we've
just discussed:
Rebecca: On the decline, pests and the lack of habitat.
Dima: Let's listen:
Clip 1 0'16"
There are 250 species of bee in the UK but nearly all are on the decline. The number of honey
bees has fallen by 10-15% in the last two years. Pests and disease is a common problem, as is
the lack of habitat and food supply.
Rebecca: Lesley Ashmall explains that over the past two years, the number of nearly all
species of bees in the UK has been on the decline… Which means that my
earlier guess was right/wrong… And apparently an environmental organisation
called Natural England is now encouraging people to buy plants that bees like,
and even to consider putting a beehive in their garden, balcony or roof. But
Dima, why should the falling numbers of bees be seen as a big enough problem
to ask a BBC journalist to report on it?
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Page 3 of 4
Dima: Well, according to Tom Tew, the Chief Scientist of Natural England, it's what
bees naturally do that's important. And not only for the preservation of the
environment but, crucially, for the economy.
Rebecca: Correct me if I'm wrong Dima but when you were talking about what bees
naturally do, did you mean they pollinate?
Dima: I did Rebecca, and that's exactly what Tom Tew is saying. He speaks of bees as
'crucial pollinators'.
Rebecca: 'Pollinators', in other words creatures that carry pollen grains and fertilise
plants.
Dima: And 'to fertilise' of course simply means to make a plant grow or produce
crops. OK, let's now listen to Tom Tew's explanation of how bees are
important economically:
Clip 2 0'10"
They are crucial pollinators for strawberries, for apples, for raspberries and for the
commercial crops like oilseed rape. So they are critically economically important.
Rebecca: So, are you tempted to buy a beehive Dima?
Dima: Responds
Rebecca: OK, but if you are, don't forget it could be a risky enterprise. Always seek a
specialist advice.
Dima: Will do. And I think I know where to start - simply follow the links from our
website, bbclearningenglish.com. But wait, don't run away to log on just yet
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2009
Page 4 of 4
because Rebecca looks like she's just about to remind you of some of the
vocabulary we've heard today. Am I right Rebecca?
Rebecca: Responds. OK, we talked about the expression 'to be on the decline', meaning
to get smaller, to shrink. We also talked about some of the reasons why the
number of bees is falling: one was 'pests', and a pest is an insect or small
animal which is harmful to other species or which damages crops; and another
reason is 'the lack of habitat'. That's when there is not enough land that
provides natural conditions for a species to thrive, or sometimes even to
survive.
We also mentioned 'pollinators'. This noun derives from the verb 'to pollinate'
which means to carry pollen grains and fertilise plants. And then you Dima
explained that 'to fertilise' means to make a plant grow or produce crops.
And finally, I mentioned the word 'beehive'. I didn't quite get the chance to
explain what it is, so Dima, maybe you can help?
Dima: Responds
Rebecca: A beehive is a box-like container in which bees are kept so that their honey can
be collected.
Dima: I'm afraid that's all we have time for today. Until next week.
Both: Goodbye! (Rebecca, do you like honey?.. continue chatting)
