vaivish1723 wrote:
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:
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