In Brazil, side-by-side comparisons of Africanized honeybees and the

Not clear - can be B or C.

Firstly the question asks us to either find a "strengthen answer" or identify an "out of scope answer". Also it asks to provide atleast one reason to differ from its conclusion that domestic commercial honey production will not decline in the United States if local honeybees are displaced by Africanized honeybees.

A. Weakens the argument. The assumption in the argument is that Brazilian native honey bees and American commercial native honey bees are of similar variety and thus the production output can be compared. This answer clearly weaken the argument by stating that the bees are not of the same variety. So the production can be same, lower or higher than the Brazilian bees. We cant clearly agree with the statement's conclusion

B. Seems out of scope to me. This answer can weaken the argument only if there is any validation to correlate expensive and complicated honey production with the decline in honey production. There is no clear explanation in the premise of the argument to validate this.

C. Seems out of scope to me. Again this answer can weaken the argument only if there is indication that ornamental trees are the key player in US honey production. Also the argument needs to provide validity that "Certain " type of ornamental trees mentioned in the answer play important role in the honey production in US. There is no clarity for the above point in the premise.

D. Weaken the argument. This answer clearly states the impact created by the change from local bees to africanised bees and clearly states that major proportion of honey producers will abandon and thus will reduce the production output

E. Weakens the argument. The assumption in the argument is that habits of Brazilian native honey bees and American commercial native honey bees are of similar nature and thus the production output can be compared. This answer clearly weaken the argument by stating that the habits of the bees are not comparable. So the production can be same, lower or higher than the Brazilian bees. We cant clearly agree with the statement's conclusion

Hence B OR C for me. Please explain?

(A) The honeybees native to Brazil are not of the same variety as those most frequently used in the commercial beekeeping industry in the United States. - This opens the argument to the assumption that the honeybees native to US may be superior producers than native as well as Africanized bees, thus serves as a weakener.

(B) Commercial honey production is far more complicated and expensive with Africanized honeybees than it is with the more docile honeybees common in the United States. - If Africanized honey bees are going to cost more, it is not going to help sustain US honey production, thus this is a weakener.

(C) If Africanized honeybees replace local honeybees, certain types of ornamental trees will be less effectively pollinated. - This is unrelated to the honey production argument and thus does not weaken the argument. -- Correct

(D) In the United States a significant proportion of the commercial honey supply comes from hobby beekeepers, many of whom are likely to abandon beekeeping with the influx of Africanized bees. - Honey produced by Hobby beekeepers will reduce significantly, thus cancelling out any boost in production by Africanized bee introduction.

(E) The area of Brazil where the comparative study was done is far better suited to the foraging habits of the Africanized honeybees than are most areas of the United States. - If Brazil is better suited for Africanized Honey bees, their introduction to US may not have any positive impact, or may have a negative impact. Weakener.

Hello GMATNinjaTwo

I have a query regarding this question.

The answer is straightaway C since it does not affect the argument.

I want to understand how does B affect the argument.

Conclusion: There is no reason to fear that domestic commercial honey production will decline in the United States if local honeybees are displaced by Africanized honeybees.

While B states that: (B) Commercial honey production is far more complicated and expensive with Africanized honeybees than it is with the more docile honeybees common in the United States.


If US does not have the resources or the budget aligned for this project, then definitely it could affect overall honey production. On the other hand, if it can afford the same, then maybe there is a probability that production could increase?

My understanding is that: it draws on incorrect comparison (related to species and operating conditions) to draw a conclusion. How does B help to weaken the argument?

In Brazil, side-by-side comparisons of Africanized honeybees and the native honeybees have shown that the Africanized bees are far superior honey producers. Therefore, there is no reason to fear that domestic commercial honey production will decline in the United States if local honeybees are displaced by Africanized honeybees.

Boil it down - there is no reason to fear that domestic commercial honey production will decline in the United States if local honeybees are displaced by Africanized honeybees.

Each of the following, if true, would weaken the argument EXCEPT:

(A) The honeybees native to Brazil are not of the same variety as those most frequently used in the commercial beekeeping industry in the United States.-- Weakens --The author depends on the assumption that native Brazilian HB are the same as native U.S

(B) Commercial honey production is far more complicated and expensive with Africanized honeybees than it is with the more docile honeybees common in the United States.-- Weakens -- points out a factor other than superior honey production that possibly affects the commercial honey production

(C) If Africanized honeybees replace local honeybees, certain types of ornamental trees will be less effectively pollinated. -- Correct -- certain is too vague -These certain types of trees may only make up 1% of the sources these bees collect from or it may not even be the type these bees use.

(D) In the United States a significant proportion of the commercial honey supply comes from hobby beekeepers, many of whom are likely to abandon beekeeping with the influx of Africanized bees. -- Weakens --

(E) The area of Brazil where the comparative study was done is far better suited to the foraging habits of the Africanized honeybees than are most areas of the United States.-- Weakens -- makes a distinction between the two environments that the author assumes to be similar or overlooks details from the two

Answer C

I know I am very late to contribute in the thread, but here is my understanding-

In Brazil, side-by-side comparisons of Africanized honeybees and the native honeybees have shown that the Africanized bees are far superior honey producers. Therefore, there is no reason to fear that domestic commercial honey production will decline in the United States if local honeybees are displaced by Africanized honeybees.
Each of the following, if true, would weaken the argument EXCEPT:

(A) The honeybees native to Brazil are not of the same variety as those most frequently used in the commercial beekeeping industry in the United States. As the honeybees native to Brazil are not of the same variety as those most frequently used in the commercial beekeeping industry in the United States and we know that in Brazil the comparison is valid, then this choice puts the claim into suspect that there is reason to fear the production will decline -- Weakens- incorrect(as weaken EXCEPT question
(B) Commercial honey production is far more complicated and expensive with Africanized honeybees than it is with the more docile honeybees common in the United States. If commercial honey production is far more complicated then maybe the production will decline -- Weakens- incorrect(as weaken EXCEPT question
(C) If Africanized honeybees replace local honeybees, certain types of ornamental trees will be less effectively pollinated.Ornamental tress will be less effectively pollinated is out of scope and neither strengthens or weakens the argument at hand. SO CORRECT
(D) In the United States a significant proportion of the commercial honey supply comes from hobby beekeepers, many of whom are likely to abandon beekeeping with the influx of Africanized bees.If the hobby beekeepers stops keeping africanized bees, the production may decline as a significant proportion comes from their
production. -- Weakens- incorrect(as weaken EXCEPT question
(E) The area of Brazil where the comparative study was done is far better suited to the foraging habits of the Africanized honeybees than are most areas of the United States.Means the US area is not conducive to africanized honeybees, giving reasons to believe that the production may decline -- Weakens- incorrect(as weaken EXCEPT question

Press kudos if you like the explanation

Argument - In B, A honeybees produce more honey that native honeybees.
Conclusion - Even if honeybees in US are displaced by A honeybees, the honey production will not decline
Assumptions - Native B honeybees are similar to honeybees in US.
The native / US honeybees do not help maintain few plants that A honeybees use to produce honey.

(A) The honeybees native to Brazil are not of the same variety as those most frequently used in the commercial beekeeping industry in the United States.
- If honeybees in B and US are different we cannot be sure whether production will decline
- Weakener

(B) Commercial honey production is far more complicated and expensive with Africanized honeybees than it is with the more docile honeybees common in the United States.
- Thus honey producers will prefer native honeys than A honeybees. Hence, with A honeybees producers will not be able to maintain the production capacity
- Weakener

(C) If Africanized honeybees replace local honeybees, certain types of ornamental trees will be less effectively pollinated.
- Ornamental trees are for display purpose and do not help honeybees produce food.
- Does not impact the argument - Not a weakener - Correct answer

(D) In the United States a significant proportion of the commercial honey supply comes from hobby beekeepers, many of whom are likely to abandon beekeeping with the influx of Africanized bees.
- Less number of producers = decline in production
- Weakener

(E) The area of Brazil where the comparative study was done is far better suited to the foraging habits of the Africanized honeybees than are most areas of the United States.
- The fact is region specific. Hence, the fact stated in the main argument cannot be extended to all areas. Thus the production can decline
- Weakener

In Brazil, side-by-side comparisons of Africanized honeybees and the native honeybees have shown that the Africanized bees are far superior honey producers. Therefore, there is no reason to fear that domestic commercial honey production will decline in the United States if local honeybees are displaced by Africanized honeybees.

Each of the following, if true, would weaken the argument EXCEPT:

WEAKEN, EXCEPT QUESTION


In Brazil, side-by-side comparisons of Africanized honeybees and the native honeybees have shown that the Africanized bees are far superior honey producers. Therefore, there is no reason to fear that domestic commercial honey production will decline in the United States if local honeybees are displaced by Africanized honeybees.

Each of the following, if true, would weaken the argument EXCEPT:


(A) The honeybees native to Brazil are not of the same variety as those most frequently used in the commercial beekeeping industry in the United States. ----- Weakens conclusion because it opens to the possibility that the bees in America are superior to those in Brazil and will therefore not be displaced by the African bees.


(B) Commercial honey production is far more complicated and expensive with Africanized honeybees than it is with the more docile honeybees common in the United States. ------------- Weakens because it puts a barrier to the introduction of African bees to the US. Even if African bees are better at producing honey, they might cost too much. Therefore, to maximize profits the beekeepers in the US might prefer to stay with their current breed of bees.


(C) If Africanized honeybees replace local honeybees, certain types of ornamental trees will be less effectively pollinated. ---- CORRECT. This does not relate to the argument at all. Totally out of scope. REMEMBER that, this being a EXCEPT question, we need to choose the one that does not weaken ---- that is, we must either choose one that strengthens or that is unrelated.


(D) In the United States a significant proportion of the commercial honey supply comes from hobby beekeepers, many of whom are likely to abandon beekeeping with the influx of Africanized bees. ------ Weakens because a lot of beekeepers would not accept the change to the African bee.

(E) The area of Brazil where the comparative study was done is far better suited to the foraging habits of the Africanized honeybees than are most areas of the United States. ------- Weakens because it insinuates that the US would not be a good ground to import the African bees. So this wouldn't be a feasible plan.




What do you think about this explanations. Please let me know!!!

In Brazil, side-by-side comparisons of Africanized honeybees and the native honeybees have shown that the Africanized bees are far superior honey producers. Therefore, there is no reason to fear that domestic commercial honey production will decline in the United States if local honeybees are displaced by Africanized honeybees.

Each of the following, if true, would weaken the argument EXCEPT:

(A) The honeybees native to Brazil are not of the same variety as those most frequently used in the commercial beekeeping industry in the United States. - WRONG. If not same then it is not necessary that US industry benefits.

(B) Commercial honey production is far more complicated and expensive with Africanized honeybees than it is with the more docile honeybees common in the United States. - WRONG. So here's a troubling issue for the industry. If it is already difficult then keeping up with Africanized one has more hurdles.

(C) If Africanized honeybees replace local honeybees, certain types of ornamental trees will be less effectively pollinated. - CORRECT. Less effective pollination leads to what..! We don't know how this affects the passage.

(D) In the United States a significant proportion of the commercial honey supply comes from hobby beekeepers, many of whom are likely to abandon beekeeping with the influx of Africanized bees. - WRONG. If abandoned then industry is in trouble.

(E) The area of Brazil where the comparative study was done is far better suited to the foraging habits of the Africanized honeybees than are most areas of the United States. - WRONG. Again weakens since it not necessary that US industry benefits.

Answer C.

C seems to be the appropriate/the best option, though unrelated, to strengthen the notion of Africanized honey bees. ornamental trees are essentially grown for their beauty and bees, while pollinating, damage the trees. C states Africanized trees don't damage ornamental trees. Hence, Option C seemed like the only plus point about the Africanized bees.