Explanation
Correct answer: D.
Choice D is the best answer because it presents a finding that, if true, would most directly support the researchers’ conclusion that a lack of crop variety may reduce total pollen collection by A. dorsata. The text explains that the researchers compared two sites: Kampar, which is surrounded by farms all growing the same crop, and Kerinci, which is a forest-agriculture site with multiple crops. If honey samples from Kerinci bee colonies contained significantly higher pollen concentrations than honey samples from Kampar bee colonies did, this finding would suggest that bees in the multiple-crop environment collected more pollen overall, thereby supporting the conclusion that the low crop variety at the Kampar site corresponds with reduced total pollen collection.
Why the other choices are wrong
Choice A
Choice A is incorrect because this finding addresses the diversity of pollen sources—single species at the Kampar site versus multiple species at the Kerinci site—not the total quantity of pollen collected.
Choice B
Choice B is incorrect because this finding compares two colonies within Kerinci rather than comparing the two sites and it concerns whether bees returned with pollen, which doesn’t address the total quantity of pollen collected.
Choice C
Choice C is incorrect because the finding that fewer bees foraged at Kerinci—the higher-variety site—than at Kampar doesn’t address the conclusion about total pollen collected. If anything, a lower number of foraging bees would suggest reduced activity and hence a lower amount of pollen collected in the variety-rich environment, which would undermine rather than support the researchers’ conclusion.
Student discussion
marcosat 0 likes
I flew through this one!