"Are Commercial Honeybees Making Wild Bees Sick?"

Question

by Berly McCoy

Everyone wants to save the bees. But as populations decline every year, we may be saving them to death.

Human efforts to breed more of these insects in artificial beehives and plant more flowers may seem the obvious way to stave off heavy losses.

New research shows the answer is not that clear cut, because viruses may be spilling over from commercial honeybee colonies into wild bee populations, according to a study from the University of Vermont published Wednesday in PLOS One.

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Question
Use the article excerpt below to answer the question.

What evidence from the text best supports the analysis that human actions are related to bumblebee decline?

(1 point)
Responses

the fact that people have tried to breed more bees
the fact that people have tried to breed more bees

the study that shows viruses may be spilling over from commercial hives to wild bees
the study that shows viruses may be spilling over from commercial hives to wild bees

the question about how wild bees pick up viruses if they do not enter managed honeybee colonies
the question about how wild bees pick up viruses if they do not enter managed honeybee colonies

the claim that people may be saving the bees to death
the claim that people may be saving the bees to death

Answer 1

The evidence from the text that best supports the analysis that human actions are related to bumblebee decline is:

the study that shows viruses may be spilling over from commercial hives to wild bees

This suggests a direct link between human management of honeybee populations and the impact on wild bee health, indicating that human actions may contribute to the decline of bumblebees.