Bees on the Rooftops

C1 Advanced · Open Cloze · Cambridge Ready original exercise

For questions 1–8, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning.

(0) ___ recently, keeping bees was regarded as a hobby for people who lived in the countryside. Now hives can be found on the roofs of offices, hotels and even (1) ___ occasional supermarket. Supporters argue that city bees actually fare better than their rural counterparts. Parks and gardens offer a far greater variety of flowers than fields sprayed (2) ___ pesticides, and the honey produced in cities often wins prizes. Not (3) ___ is convinced, however. Some ecologists warn that the craze has gone too far: in certain cities there are now (4) ___ many hives that honeybees are competing with wild bees for a limited supply of food. And it is wild species, rather (5) ___ the honeybee, that are genuinely under threat. (6) ___ from helping nature, they argue, well-meaning amateurs may be doing it harm. Beekeeping associations have responded (7) ___ urging members to plant flowers before they think about installing a hive. The message is clear: a hive should be the last thing a would-be beekeeper buys, not the (8) ___ .

Bees on the Rooftops

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