Question

Bat Benefits
Bat Benefits

Environmental concerns and public safety have inspired many organizations to consider new ways to control insect populations. The continued spraying of pesticides in both farming and residential areas has become a serious public health concern. The argument over the public’s safety regarding high exposure to the chemicals found in pesticides is sparking heated debates across the country. The pressure to move toward more environmentally safe practices to control insects has inspired many new alternatives. One of the most interesting is happening in Florida. Bat houses are being erected across the central part of the state in an effort to control mosquitoes without pesticides. This effort was inspired by environmentalists who want to reduce the amount of pesticide sprayed in both residential and farming areas.

Bats feed daily on an enormous number of insects. Most bats eat an average of six hundred insects an hour! Bats are very efficient when it comes to searching for food. Unlike pesticides, bats do not contaminate the water or other wildlife. While the use of bats to eat mosquitoes is certainly more environmentally safe than pesticides, there is an issue of dependability. Having a bat in the backyard doesn’t guarantee fewer mosquitoes because bats eat more than just mosquitoes. In fact, bats prefer larger insects like beetles and will feed on them whenever available. This issue is the most challenging for those in favor of bats versus pesticides.

Bats are not dangerous to the public. There are many misunderstandings about this mammal that have grown into popular lore. The idea that bats are blind and fly about unable to control themselves is false. And while bats do eat blood-sucking pests like mosquitoes, the bats of North America do not drink blood. Perhaps the most common public concern about bats is that they are carriers of rabies. This idea is usually fueled by the fact that bats account for the largest number of rabies transmissions to humans each year. However, this data is wildly misinterpreted. Bats do not attack people or become aggressive when infected with rabies. However, they do become too sick to fly and often end up on the ground. People who find bats on the ground sometimes pick them up out of curiosity or to help the animal. This is how most bites occur that result in the transmission of rabies.

Building a bat house is easy and economical. There are many free building plans for bat houses available on the internet from bat conservatory websites. Finding a good location for erecting a bat house is simple: just look for lots of sun! Bats need the sun to keep the house warm since they are naturally cold-blooded creatures. The houses need to be at least fifteen feet off the ground. Bats prefer houses mounted on poles for the added protection from predators, maximum sun exposure, and easy access. A bat house can also be mounted onto the side of one's own home. This option provides for great observation of these interesting creatures.

The use of bats to control mosquito populations is more environmentally safe than the use of pesticides. The effectiveness, of course, is arguably less than the chemical alternative. Those who argue for their use insist the public cannot possibly measure the full benefits of bats until more communities participate on a larger scale. With increasing evidence of the harmful effects of pesticide use, the desire to explore more natural alternatives to control pests is on the rise. A network of bat houses in areas infested by mosquitoes might prove to be an effective way to combat an environmental problem with a natural solution.

Multiple Choice Question


Which sentence from the passage makes a claim that is supported by insufficient evidence?
A.
Bats feed daily on an enormous number of insects.

B.
There are many misunderstandings about this mammal that have grown into popular lore.
C.
The idea that bats are blind and fly about unable to control themselves is false.

D.
Building a bat house is easy and economical.

Answer 1

The sentence that makes a claim that is supported by insufficient evidence is:

**D. Building a bat house is easy and economical.**

This claim asserts that building a bat house is both simple and cost-effective, but it does not provide specific evidence or examples to support this assertion, such as details about the costs or the level of difficulty involved in the construction process.