Question

"Are Commercial Honeybees Making Wild Bees Sick?" by Berly McCoy All of the honeybee colonies tested by the researchers were positive for both viruses, an unfortunate but common occurrence for commercial colonies. But the number of wild bumblebees carrying viruses varied depending on the proximity to the domesticated hives. There was also variation between the two viruses. More than 90 percent of bumblebees collected close to apiaries carried black queen cell virus. In sites farther from apiaries, and where no honeybees were foraging, just under 40 percent were positive for this virus. When the researchers checked for actual infections, they found that the proximity to an apiary wasn’t telling of whether a bumblebee was infected with black queen cell virus. That means sites near and far from a commercial beehive had the same abundance of black queen cell virus infections. 1 of 2 Question Use the article excerpt to answer the question. What evidence from the text best supports the inference that honeybees—not bumblebees—are responsible for infecting the studied flowers? Select the two correct answers. (1 point) Responses All of the honeybees researchers collected were infected with both viruses. All of the honeybees researchers collected were infected with both viruses. All the infected flowers researchers picked and tested were close to apiaries. All the infected flowers researchers picked and tested were close to apiaries. More than 90 percent of bumblebees collected close to apiaries were infected with black queen cell virus. More than 90 percent of bumblebees collected close to apiaries were infected with black queen cell virus. More bumblebees foraging close to apiaries had viruses on their outsides than had active infections. More bumblebees foraging close to apiaries had viruses on their outsides than had active infections. All of the bumblebees infected with deformed wing virus were close to apiaries.

Answer 1

The two correct answers that best support the inference that honeybees—not bumblebees—are responsible for infecting the studied flowers are:

1. All of the honeybees researchers collected were infected with both viruses.
2. All the infected flowers researchers picked and tested were close to apiaries.

These statements indicate that honeybees, which were found to be infected, are more likely to infect the flowers when they are foraging close to their hives (apiaries).

Answer 2

"Are Commercial Honeybees Making Wild Bees Sick?" by Berly McCoy If human-managed bees and bee-friendly flowers are acting as hotspots for pathogens, keeping more bees and planting more flowers may be contributing to the steep losses in commercial pollinators seen in the U.S. each year, as well as fueling the decline of wild bees. The more that bees are transported and concentrated for larger-scale pollination events, the more opportunities for diseases to spread. And it’s not just a one-way street. “It’s likely the transmission is going both ways,” said Scott McArt, a pollinator ecologist at Cornell University who was not involved in the study. Even if diseases in commercial bees are eliminated, new infections from the wild bee population, which are known to harbor pathogens, could spill back into managed populations, making disease eradication even tougher than it is now. 1 of 3 Question Use the article excerpt to answer the question. What evidence from the text best supports the inference that advice to people who want to help bees will continue to change over time? (1 point) Responses From the urban gardeners to rural farmers, people have been encouraged to plant more bee-friendly flowers. From the urban gardeners to rural farmers, people have been encouraged to plant more bee-friendly flowers. It is likely that disease spread is going both ways, so even if diseases in commercial bees are eliminated wild bees could potentially reinfect them. It is likely that disease spread is going both ways, so even if diseases in commercial bees are eliminated wild bees could potentially reinfect them. Keeping more bees and planting more flowers may be contributing to the spread of diseases among human-managed and wild bees. Keeping more bees and planting more flowers may be contributing to the spread of diseases among human-managed and wild bees. Alger is still investigating whether increasing plant diversity or culling certain plants could help decrease disease transmission.

Answer 3

The evidence from the text that best supports the inference that advice to people who want to help bees will continue to change over time is:

1. Keeping more bees and planting more flowers may be contributing to the spread of diseases among human-managed and wild bees.

This statement suggests that current practices being recommended (such as increasing the number of bees and planting more flowers) could be having unintended negative consequences, indicating that advice might shift in the future as understanding of these dynamics evolves.