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Difficulty: MediumExplicit Details

In urban environments, some species of leafcutter bees (*Megachile*) have adapted to using synthetic materials for nest construction. Researchers J. MacIvor and A. Moore documented that *Megachile rotundata* collected pieces of polyurethane plastics, such as shopping bags, to build their brood cells. While traditional nests made of leaves allow moisture to escape, the non-porous plastic cells trapped moisture inside. This trapped moisture led to increased mold growth within the nests, which consequently reduced the survival rate of the offspring. However, the plastic-constructed nests also demonstrated a notable benefit: they experienced significantly fewer infestations by parasitic wasps compared to nests constructed from natural leaves.

Based on the text, what is true of the *Megachile rotundata* nests made from polyurethane plastics?

  1. A
    They prevented mold growth by keeping the inside of the brood cells dry.
  2. B
    They are preferred by bees because plastic shopping bags are more durable than natural leaves.
  3. They experienced fewer infestations by parasitic wasps than nests made from natural leaves.Answer
  4. D
    They allow moisture to escape from the brood cells to protect the offspring.

Answer

The correct answer is that plastic-constructed nests experienced fewer infestations by parasitic wasps than nests made from natural leaves.
The passage states that nests constructed from polyurethane plastics experienced significantly fewer infestations by parasitic wasps compared to nests constructed from natural leaves. This directly supports the statement that they had lower rates of parasitic wasp infestations than nests built from leaves.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage for details about the characteristics of Megachile rotundata nests built with polyurethane plastic.
The passage states that plastic nests trap moisture, lead to mold growth, reduce offspring survival, and experience significantly fewer infestations by parasitic wasps than leaf-constructed nests.
To identify which option is directly supported by the text.
2
Evaluate the choices to find the one that directly matches the explicit facts in the passage.
The option stating that they experienced fewer infestations by parasitic wasps than nests made from natural leaves directly corresponds to the statement in the final sentence of the passage.
To select the correct answer without making speculative inferences.

Key Concept

Identifying explicit details in a passage
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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