A Beekeeper Lets Bees Cover His Face

A beekeeper in New Mexico let hundreds of bees cover his face for a photograph. The beekeeper, named Les, works with bees without gloves or a protective suit. He says he needs to feel the bees with his bare hands so he does not crush them.

so he does not crush them= shows purpose: in order to avoid accidentally hurting or killing the bees

Photographer Holly Lynton spent three days taking pictures of Les as he worked. On the third day, Les held a small cage with the queen bee. Other bees always follow their queen in a large group, called a swarm. When the queen was placed into his hand, the swarm quickly covered his bare skin.

spent three days taking pictures= used three days of time to photograph (spend + time + -ing)

Les asked the photographer if he should put the bees on his face. He moved his hands up very slowly, and the bees walked across his cheeks. The insects stayed away from his beard and head because bees dislike hair. Les closed his eyes and stood quietly while Lynton took the picture.

stayed away from= did not go near or kept a distance from

Les said he could hear nothing except the loud buzzing of the bees. Lynton also moved slowly to stay safe, and bees even landed on her hands while she used her camera. Neither the beekeeper nor the photographer was stung.

Neither the beekeeper nor the photographer was stung= not the beekeeper and not the photographer (neither ... nor ... connects two negative statements)

Word	Meaning
swarm	a moving crowd
cage	an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
stung	a kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung

A Beekeeper Lets Bees Cover His Face

Learning Notes

Grammar Patterns

Vocabulary

Language Insights

Practice

Pattern	Meaning
so he does not crush them	shows purpose: in order to avoid accidentally hurting or killing the bees
spent three days taking pictures	used three days of time to photograph (spend + time + -ing)
stayed away from	did not go near or kept a distance from
Neither the beekeeper nor the photographer was stung	not the beekeeper and not the photographer (neither ... nor ... connects two negative statements)