Britannica Student Encyclopedia - 2010

the same kind it allows the flowers to

make seeds and therefore to make new

flowers.

Behavior

Most kinds of bee live in small families.

But some bees live in large, organized

groups that work together. These social

bees include honeybees and some

bumblebees. They are divided into

classes. Most of the females are workers.

They gather pollen, build the nest, and

take care of all the young. Each nest has

one queen. Her eggs develop into

females. The workers’ eggs develop into

males. Male bees, called drones, help the

queen reproduce.

#More to explore

Ant • Insect • Pollen •Wasp

Beet

Beets are vegetables. They come in four

different types. The garden beet, the

sugar beet, Swiss chard, and the mangelwurzel

are all varieties of the same plant.

This plant’s scientific name is Beta vulgaris.

It is related to spinach.

Worker honeybees surround a queen as

she lays eggs.

Garden beets, or beetroots, have red roots

that are often eaten after being cooked or

pickled.

46 Beet BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

 

Beets grow in Europe, Asia, and North

America. The beet plant is a biennial,

which means that it lives for two years.

The root forms in the first year. In garden

beets, the root is thick and usually

round. It measures 1 to 4 inches (2.5 to

10 centimeters) across when fully

grown. The roots of garden beets are

usually red or purplish red. Sugar beets

have white roots. Those of mangelwurzels

are yellowish. Swiss chard does

not have thick roots.

In the second year, a stem grows. It is

tall and leafy. The stem has groups of

small green flowers. These flowers

become brown fruits called seedballs.

The leaves of the garden beet are a good

source of vitamins A and C. Many

people also eat its root. A beet soup

called borscht is popular in eastern

Europe. Swiss chard is grown for its

large leaves, which are used in cooking.

Mangel-wurzels are mostly fed to cattle.

The sugar beet is the most valuable type

of beet. In 1747 a German chemist first

made sugar from beets. Today about one

third of the world’s sugar comes from

sugar beets.

Beethoven,

Ludwig van

The composer Ludwig van Beethoven

created some of the most influential

music in history. He transformed many

traditional forms ofWestern classical

music. For example, he set new standards

for the symphony, creating longer

pieces that expressed important ideas

and deep feelings rather than just serving

as entertainment. His works include

nine symphonies, one opera, and many

pieces for small groups and for piano

and other solo instruments.

Early Life and Career

Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany,

in December 1770. He learned musical

composition from the official organist in

a nobleman’s court. Beethoven became

the assistant organist at age 11 and published

his first musical composition soon

after.

In 1787 Beethoven studied briefly with

the great composer Wolfgang Amadeus

Mozart in Vienna. Five years later

Beethoven settled in Vienna permanently.

There he studied with Joseph

Haydn and other famous composers.

A portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven shows

him writing his music.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Beethoven, Ludwig van 47

 

Growing Fame and Deafness

Beethoven became known as a highly

skilled piano player. Many of Vienna’s

wealthy residents enjoyed his music and

gave him money to live on. In 1800 he

performed some of his works at a large

public concert in Vienna. This event

helped him become widely famous.

In the late 1790s Beethoven began to lose

his hearing. For some time he continued

to compose and perform as before. But

by 1819 Beethoven had become totally

deaf. From then on he no longer

performed much in public, spending

most of his energy composing music.

In his last years Beethoven created

longer and more complicated pieces. In

1824 he conducted the first performance

of his Ninth Symphony with great

success despite being unable to hear the

music. Beethoven died in Vienna on

March 26, 1827. The masterpieces he

created continue to be performed nearly

two centuries after his death.

#More to explore

Classical Music • Mozart,Wolfgang

Amadeus

Beetle

Beetles are insects that have hardened

front wings. These front wings are not

used for flying. Instead, they cover and

protect a second pair of wings. In the

past all beetles could fly. But some kinds

have lost that ability over time.

There are at least 250,000 species, or

types, of beetle. Some beetles are called

by other names, such as weevils, fireflies,

ladybugs, borers, and chafers. Beetles are

found all over the world except Antarctica

and the peaks of the highest mountains.

Most live on land, but some live in

water.

Beetles vary greatly in size. Adult beetles

range in length from about 0.01 inch

(0.025 centimeter) to more than 7

inches (18 centimeters). Many kinds are

colorful. They may be bright orange,

red, yellow, green, or blue. Some kinds

are black or brown.

Adult beetles have two antennas, or feelers,

on the head. These help beetles find

food and recognize other beetles. Like all

insects, they have six legs. A hard covering

protects the body.

Beetles eat a great variety of foods,

including other insects, small animals,

and plants. Some kinds are useful to