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 the infected flowers researchers picked and tested were close to apiaries.
All the infected flowers researchers picked and tested were close to apiaries.

All of the honeybees researchers collected were infected with both viruses.
All of the honeybees researchers collected were infected with both viruses.

All of the bumblebees infected with deformed wing virus were close to apiaries.
All of the bumblebees infected with deformed wing virus were close to apiaries.

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.

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.

1 answer

The two pieces of evidence that best support the inference that honeybees—not bumblebees—are responsible for infecting the studied flowers are:

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

These pieces of evidence suggest a strong link between honeybees and the infection of the flowers, while also indicating that the presence of infected honeybees in close proximity to the flowers is likely a contributing factor to the observed infections.