5

Set 1: Command of Evidence

Explanation

Answer: C

PASSAGE

Researchers claim that the honeybee population in a specific valley is declining due to a loss of floral diversity. To support this, they observed that in areas with monoculture farming (single crops), bee colonies were 40% smaller compared to areas with diverse wildflower meadows.

Which finding, if true, would most directly strengthen the researchers' claim?

A. Honeybees are known to travel up to 5 miles to find food.
B. Beekeepers in the valley have essentially stopped using pesticides.
C. Nutritional analysis confirms that bees in monoculture areas suffer from severe malnutrition.✓ Correct
D. The total number of beehives in the valley has remained constant for ten years.

Detailed Explanation

The claim is that *loss of floral diversity* is causing the decline. If bees in monoculture (low diversity) areas are malnourished, it provides a direct biological mechanism linking low diversity to poor health/population decline, thus strengthening the claim.

Key Evidence:

• "loss of floral diversity"

• "monoculture farming"

• "colonies were 40% smaller"

Why others are wrong: A (This simply describes bee behavior and doesn't link diversity to population decline.), B (This would suggest pesticides are NOT the cause, but doesn't prove diversity IS the cause.), D (Constant hive numbers might weaken the claim that the population is declining.).

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