More than 40% of the insects around us could become extinct in next few decades. Simultaneously, the population of the adaptable and general species like that of houseflies, cockroaches and fleas is likely to bloom.
Although some species of insects are vectors （带菌者）of serious diseases, or others destroy crop, but a world without insects is inconceivable. Their importance in interconnected ecosystems and food chains can never be undermined. Insects have essential roles in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems as herbivores, carnivores and decomposers.
There are 17 times as many insects as humans, and these numbers are essential for proper functioning of all ecosystems. Insects are responsible for pollinating around 75% of the crops in the world and also serve as food for other creatures. They replenish soils and keep the number of pests in check.
The primary cause of this extinction is loss of habitat. Be it the grasslands or wetlands, everything is vanishing in man's quest towards intensive agriculture and urbanization.
Another cause of this decline is the excessive use of pesticides, fertilizers and introduced invasive species. As if this wasn't enough, climate change and pollution of all sorts have already started worsening their lives. Climate change may also cause emergence of new pests and other vector-borne insects.
The biggest threat of Insect Armageddon comes from Germany, where 75% of insect population have declined in just 30 years and from Puerto Rico, where due to 2 degree rise in temperature, there has been 60 fold decline in invertebrate （无脊椎的）population since the 1970s.
However, the fact that insects getting extinct is a global crisis is undisputed. But the neat thing about insects is, we all can do our bit to save them. We all can maintain pesticide-free kitchen gardens and organic farms. We can plant flowers and trees and invite them to nest again.
Maybe this tragedy would have never arisen in the first place and you would not have to read this article, if the world had stopped using all kinds of pesticides immediately after Rachel Carson had published the Silent Spring. Conserving the insect biodiversity is not our responsibility. It is a necessity because if they go, so will we.
12. Why can't we stand a world without insects?
A. For their parts in global ecology.
B. For their longer history than humans'.
C. For their shockingly large population.
D. For the appearance of new insect species.
13. What does the underlined word '"undisputed" in Paragraph 7 mean?
A. Possible. B. Doubtless C. Exact D. Flexible.
14. Which of the following may best explain the extinction of insect species?
A. Climate change.
B. Human activities.
C. The abuse of chemicals.
D. The agriculture.
15. What is the author's purpose in writing the text?
A. Calling on us to do something to save insects.
B. Introducing the urgent situation insects are facing.
C. Presenting us ways to handle the global crises.
D. Treating differently beneficial and harmful insects.
答案ABBA
Although some species of insects are vectors （带菌者）of serious diseases, or others destroy crop, but a world without insects is inconceivable. Their importance in interconnected ecosystems and food chains can never be undermined. Insects have essential roles in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems as herbivores, carnivores and decomposers.
There are 17 times as many insects as humans, and these numbers are essential for proper functioning of all ecosystems. Insects are responsible for pollinating around 75% of the crops in the world and also serve as food for other creatures. They replenish soils and keep the number of pests in check.
The primary cause of this extinction is loss of habitat. Be it the grasslands or wetlands, everything is vanishing in man's quest towards intensive agriculture and urbanization.
Another cause of this decline is the excessive use of pesticides, fertilizers and introduced invasive species. As if this wasn't enough, climate change and pollution of all sorts have already started worsening their lives. Climate change may also cause emergence of new pests and other vector-borne insects.
The biggest threat of Insect Armageddon comes from Germany, where 75% of insect population have declined in just 30 years and from Puerto Rico, where due to 2 degree rise in temperature, there has been 60 fold decline in invertebrate （无脊椎的）population since the 1970s.
However, the fact that insects getting extinct is a global crisis is undisputed. But the neat thing about insects is, we all can do our bit to save them. We all can maintain pesticide-free kitchen gardens and organic farms. We can plant flowers and trees and invite them to nest again.
Maybe this tragedy would have never arisen in the first place and you would not have to read this article, if the world had stopped using all kinds of pesticides immediately after Rachel Carson had published the Silent Spring. Conserving the insect biodiversity is not our responsibility. It is a necessity because if they go, so will we.
12. Why can't we stand a world without insects?
A. For their parts in global ecology.
B. For their longer history than humans'.
C. For their shockingly large population.
D. For the appearance of new insect species.
13. What does the underlined word '"undisputed" in Paragraph 7 mean?
A. Possible. B. Doubtless C. Exact D. Flexible.
14. Which of the following may best explain the extinction of insect species?
A. Climate change.
B. Human activities.
C. The abuse of chemicals.
D. The agriculture.
15. What is the author's purpose in writing the text?
A. Calling on us to do something to save insects.
B. Introducing the urgent situation insects are facing.
C. Presenting us ways to handle the global crises.
D. Treating differently beneficial and harmful insects.
答案ABBA
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