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What Would Happen If Bees Went Extinct? — Reading Comprehension

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Grades

Standards

MS-LS2-4
RI.6.3
RI.7.3
RI.8.8

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This passage examines the potential consequences of bee extinction, perfectly aligned with NGSS standard MS-LS2-4 on ecosystem dynamics and functioning. Written specifically for 7th-grade readers, it explains how bees serve as master pollinators for approximately 80% of flowering plants and 75% of human food crops. Students learn that bee extinction would trigger a cascading effect through food chains, causing crop yield declines, food shortages, and significant economic impacts to the agricultural industry ($217 billion annually). The content connects multiple ecosystem components, demonstrating how the loss of one organism can disrupt entire habitats, change landscapes, and reduce biodiversity. By identifying threats to bee populations such as pesticides, habitat loss, and climate change, the passage helps students understand human impacts on natural systems. The accompanying comprehension questions develop critical thinking about cause-effect relationships in ecosystems, encouraging students to consider how their actions affect biological communities and how they might participate in conservation efforts.

CONTENT PREVIEW

What if all the bees in the world suddenly vanished? It might seem nice not to worry about being stung, but losing these buzzing insects would cause a major crisis for our planet and people.

Bees are important pollinators. They help plants make new seeds by moving pollen from flower to flower. They pollinate about 80% of flowering plants and roughly 75% of the fruits, nuts, and veggies we eat. Without bees, we would grow much less food. This would lead to food shortages and much higher prices at grocery stores.

The farming industry would lose about $217 billion each year without bees. Farmers might have to pollinate plants by hand or use machines to do the job. This costs a lot more money and takes more time. Some foods like blueberries and cherries need bees to grow. These fruits might become rare or very expensive.

The natural world would also suffer greatly. Many plants that need bees would start to die off. Animals that eat these plants would have less food, and animals that hunt these plant-eaters would then go hungry too. This chain reaction could cause many species to die out.

Our outdoor spaces would look different too. Fields would have fewer colorful flowers, and forests would become thinner as flowering trees fail to make new trees. Many types of plants would become rare or die out completely without their bee helpers.

Why are bees dying? Scientists blame several things: harmful chemicals used in farming, destroyed habitats, changing climate, bee sicknesses, and tiny mites that attack bees. But there's good news! We can help by planting flowers bees like, not using bug-killing sprays, buying organic food, and teaching others about why bees matter.

Fun fact: One honeybee can visit about 5,000 flowers in just one day! That's a lot of pollination work!

What percentage of flowering plants do bees pollinate?

50%65%80%95%

How would losing bees affect our food?

All food would disappear right awayOnly unusual fruits would be goneWe would grow less food and prices would go upOnly organic foods would cost more

How much money would farming lose each year without bees?

$50 billion$100 billion$217 billion$500 billion

Which food might become hard to find if bees disappeared?

WheatCherriesPotatoesRice

Which problem is NOT mentioned as a result of bees dying out?

Fewer types of plantsOceans rising higherAnimals losing food sourcesChanges to how outdoor places look

What can you guess about how bees and flowering plants work together?

Plants could easily find other insects to help themOnly the plants get something good from the relationshipBoth bees and plants need each other to surviveMost plants could make seeds without any help

Why would food cost more if bees disappeared?

Because farmers would have to pollinate plants in more expensive waysBecause of new government rulesBecause farmers would need to grow totally different foodsTo help pay for saving the remaining bees

What action from the passage would best help bees survive?

Eating less honeyPlanting flowers that bees likeLearning more about insectsBuying food from other countries