Nature · Level 3 · 121 words

The Dance of the Honeybee

Original passage © Team AM, written for Hone Literacy.

When a honeybee discovers a rich patch of flowers, it does not simply fly home and rest. Instead, it returns to the hive and performs a curious movement that scientists call the waggle dance. The bee walks in a straight line while shaking its body, then loops back to repeat the pattern. The direction of the straight run, measured against the position of the Sun, tells the other bees which way to fly. The length of the waggle hints at how far away the food lies. Nearby flowers earn a short, quick dance, while distant ones produce a long, vigorous one. Through this silent language, a single scout can send dozens of workers straight to a meal they have never seen.

Comprehension questions

1. The passage is mostly about how honeybees

  • A build their hives
  • B make honey from nectar
  • C communicate the location of food
  • D defend against predators
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C. communicate the location of food
The whole passage describes the waggle dance as a way bees tell others where food is.

2. What does the length of the waggle indicate?

  • A The type of flower
  • B How far away the food is
  • C The time of day
  • D The number of bees needed
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B. How far away the food is
The text states the length of the waggle 'hints at how far away the food lies.'

3. Based on the passage, a very long, vigorous dance most likely means the flowers are

  • A right next to the hive
  • B far from the hive
  • C out of nectar
  • D dangerous to visit
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B. far from the hive
The text contrasts short dances for nearby flowers with long, vigorous dances for distant ones.

Source: Written for Hone Literacy. Original passage © Team AM, written for Hone Literacy.