Scientists warn 'insect apocalypse' is coming

Scientists say global warming isn't the

only threat to humans. Another big
threat is the falling numbers of insects.
Scientists say half of all insects
worldwide have been declining since
the 1970s. They warn that over 40 per
cent of insect species could die out in
our lifetime. The number of insects is
decreasing by 2.5 per cent every year. Scientists are calling it an "insect
apocalypse". Many species of butterflies, bees and other bugs are now extinct. The
scientists say the apocalypse could trigger, "a catastrophic collapse of Earth's
ecosystems".

A professor said pesticides used for farming and gardening are killing insects. He
said fewer insects mean we cannot feed people. He told reporters: "Three quarters
of our crops depend on insects....Crops will begin to fail. We won't
have...strawberries. We can't feed 7.5 billion people without insects." A worrying
trend is the decline of honeybees. In the USA, the number of honeybee groups
dropped from six million in 1947 to 2.5 million in 2014. The professor warned
people that: "We can't wait another 25 years before we do anything because it will
be too late."

MATCH PARAGRAPH 1
1. Global warming isn't the __g__ a. is decreasing
2. Half of all insects __c___ b. bugs are now extinct
3. insect species could die __e___ c. worldwide
4. The number of insects __a___ d. ecosystems
5. Many species __h___ e. in our lifetime
6. bees and other __b___ f. collapse
7. a catastrophic __f___ g. only danger
8. Earth's ___d__ h. of butterflies

MATCH PARAGRAPH 2
1. Pesticides used on farms __f____ a. another 25 years
2. our crops depend __d____ b. without insects
3. We can't feed 7.5 billion people ___b____ c. late
4. A big worry is the decline __e____ d. on insects
5. the number of honeybee __h____ e. of honeybees
6. dropped from six million in 1947 ___g____ f. and gardens
7. We can't wait ___a___ g. to 2.5 million in 2014
8. it will be too ___c____ h. groups

READ THE MEANINGS AND WRITE THE CORRECT WORD

LEA LOS SIGNIFICADOS Y ESCRIBA LA PALABRA CORRECTA

PESTICIDE - FARMING - FEED - CROPS - DEPEND ON - TREND -

COLONY
1. TREND: A general direction in which something is developing or changing.
2._DEPEND ON_: Controlled by another thing or action.
3. CROPS__: Plants that are grown as food, especially a grain, fruit, or vegetable.
4. PESTICIDE: A liquid or powder used to destroy insects or other things that are
harmful to plants or to animals.
5. COLONY__: A group of animals or insects living in the same community or
place.
6. FARMING___: The activity or business of growing crops and raising animals.
7. FEED__: Give food to.