Beekeeping may reduce stress and depression

Bees are major pollinators(傳粉者)of fruits,vegetables and nuts.Without these helpful buzzing insects,our food supply would be in trouble.But bees can help humans in another way.Researchers say the act of beekeeping may help people with mental health problems such as stress,anxiety and depression.Many call it beekeeping therapy.

One group of people is especially getting help from such therapy:military veterans(退伍軍人).Many soldiers returning from military service have trouble dealing with the experiences of war.They may also have trouble creating a productive life as military veterans.Homelessness,depression and drug abuse can affect some military veterans.

Vince Ylitalo is one such veteran.He served in the military for nearly 40 years,including two tours in Iraq.He suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,or PTSD.To treat his PTSD,Ylitalo is part of a beekeeping program in the state of New Hampshire.

In a recent report,Ylitalo explained how beekeeping calmed his mind.“I'm in this program to help me get out of all those problems that I have.It helps me think about something completely different.I'm just thinking about the bees.”

Another beekeeping program based in the state of Michigan is Heroes to Hives.Adam Ingrao,a military veteran and insect expert,founded the program.“All of these bees will die.These are our summer bees,and they only live 45 to 60 days,”said Adam.He runs it through Michigan State University.The free program provides a nine-month beekeeping course to veterans.

Adam explains that beekeeping serves veterans in many ways.“We're focused on making veterans take control of their own lives by being able to practice mindfulness and slow down by giving them the opportunity to have their own business.This is a place for community and healing.It's also a place for learning how to keep bees.”

閱讀檢測

1.What benefit can people get from beekeeping from paragraph 1?

A.They can be cured of mental diseases.

B.They won't feel homesick any longer.

C.They will be provided with food.

D.They can be helped to reduce pressure.

2.How does beekeeping help Ylitalo according to the text?

A.By calming his mind.

B.By changing his taste.

C.By building up his body.

D.By building up his confidence.

語言學習

寫作推薦

Without...構成的含蓄型虛擬語氣

Without these helpful buzzing insects,our food supply would be in trouble.假如沒有這些嗡嗡叫的益蟲的幫助，我們的食物供應就會遇到麻煩。

句中的Without...構成含蓄型虛擬語氣結構。在英語中，有時假設的條件不通過條件狀語從句表達出來，而是隱含在某些詞或短語中，或隱含在上下文中，這種結構稱為含蓄型虛擬語氣。常用的此類詞或短語有without、 but for、 otherwise,以及or等。

【句式仿寫】沒有他慷慨的幫助，我不可能度過那段困難時光。

背景知識

蜜蜂“全身是寶”

蜜蜂是改善人類環境的重要昆蟲之一，它為農作物、果樹、蔬菜、牧草、油茶作物和中藥植物傳粉，可讓它們的產量增加幾倍至幾十倍。它所生產的蜂蜜有很高的藥用價值和營養價值，是人們常用的醫療保健滋補用品。它所生產的蜂花粉也被人們譽為“微型營養庫”。它所生產的蜂王漿更是人類的高級營養品，不但可增強體質，還可治療神經衰弱、貧血、胃潰瘍等慢性病。它的毒液對風濕、神經炎等均有療效。蜂蠟和蜂膠都是輕工業的原料。所以，蜜蜂是人類生存不可或缺的重要伙伴。