Question 153·Hard·Central Ideas and Details
Headlines frequently credit recent improvements in crop yields to the tireless work of honeybees, yet agronomist Lidia Perez argues that such coverage obscures the real story. In her study of small-scale farms in southern Spain, Perez found that yield increases correlated more closely with the presence of diverse native pollinators—solitary bees, hoverflies, even nocturnal moths—than with managed honeybee hives. She adds that honeybees can compete with these indigenous species for pollen, sometimes depressing their numbers, and that certain crops, including tomatoes and almonds, require pollination techniques honeybees cannot perform. Perez does not advocate eliminating honeybee colonies; rather, she says, people should recognize them as only one component of a far more intricate pollination network.
Which claim about honeybees is most strongly suggested by the passage?
For "most strongly suggested" questions, first restate (in your own words) the passage’s main point about the topic, especially any headline-versus-evidence contrast. Then eliminate choices that (1) turn a limited detail into a universal rule, (2) claim a solution the author does not endorse, or (3) introduce a stronger cause-and-effect relationship than the passage states. Pick the option that best matches the passage’s overall takeaway, even if it’s phrased generally.
Hints
Focus on the contrast
Look closely at the contrast between what headlines say about honeybees and what Perez’s study actually found. How do her findings differ from the popular story?
Reread key sentences
Reread the first sentence (about headlines) and the last sentence (about honeybees as one component). What overall message about honeybees’ role in crop yields do those two sentences create together?
Watch out for extreme language
Check each answer for absolute or extreme words like "every," "enough to solve," or "primary cause." Does the passage really go that far, or is it more measured?
Check what Perez does not recommend
Perez explicitly says she does not advocate eliminating honeybee colonies. How does that affect answer choices that depend on removing honeybees from farms?
Step-by-step Explanation
Clarify what the question is asking
The question asks: Which claim about honeybees is most strongly suggested by the passage? That means you must:
- Focus on what Perez actually says or clearly implies about honeybees.
- Choose the statement that best matches her view.
- Reject any answer that adds extra ideas or goes beyond the text.
Identify key points about honeybees in the passage
Go back through the passage and pull out the main ideas about honeybees:
- Headlines credit recent crop yield improvements to honeybees, but Perez says that kind of coverage obscures the real story.
- In her study, yield increases correlated more closely with diverse native pollinators than with managed honeybee hives.
- Honeybees can compete with indigenous species, sometimes lowering their numbers.
- Some crops (tomatoes, almonds) need pollination techniques honeybees cannot perform.
- Perez does not want to eliminate honeybee colonies; she says they are only one component of a larger pollination network.
These points frame honeybees as important but not the whole explanation for yield gains.
Determine what kind of claim would fit Perez’s view
Perez’s overall message is measured:
- She is not arguing that honeybees are useless.
- She is arguing that the media story is too simple and gives honeybees too much credit compared with the role of native pollinators.
So the best answer should reflect overcrediting/oversimplification rather than sweeping claims about efficiency, removal, or being the main cause of declines.
Evaluate each answer choice and choose the best match
Test each option against the passage:
- B) Since some crops require techniques honeybees can’t perform, honeybees are less effective pollinators than solitary bees for every crop Perez studied. The passage gives examples of crops honeybees can’t pollinate in the needed way, but it does not say honeybees are less effective for every crop in Perez’s study, nor does it make a blanket efficiency comparison to solitary bees.
- C) Because honeybees can depress native pollinators’ numbers, removing honeybee colonies would be enough to solve pollination-related yield problems on farms like those Perez studied. Perez explicitly says she does not advocate eliminating honeybee colonies, and the passage never claims that removal alone would solve yield problems.
- D) Perez’s discussion of competition implies that honeybees are the primary cause of recent declines in nocturnal moth populations on farms. The passage mentions competition that can sometimes depress indigenous species, but it does not identify honeybees as the primary cause of moth declines or discuss moth declines specifically.
- A) Their contribution to recent crop yield gains is often overstated in popular media reports. This directly matches the opening contrast (headlines vs. the “real story”) and the conclusion that honeybees are only one part of a complex pollination network.
Therefore, the correct answer is Their contribution to recent crop yield gains is often overstated in popular media reports.