Shimmering is a collective defense behavior that researchers have observed in giant honeybee colonies. When shimmering, different groups of bees...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Shimmering is a collective defense behavior that researchers have observed in giant honeybee colonies. When shimmering, different groups of bees flip their bodies up and down in what looks like waves. This defense is initiated when hornets hover near a colony, serving to deter the hornets from approaching the bees. Researchers hypothesize that this behavior is a specialized defense response to hornets, as it is not observed when other, larger predators approach the colony.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
Researchers are unsure how giant honeybees defend against predators larger than hornets.
Researchers think that shimmering in giant honeybees is a specific defense against hornets.
Hornets are known to be the main predator of giant honeybees.
Several different species of insects use shimmering to defend against hornets.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Shimmering is a collective defense behavior that researchers have observed in giant honeybee colonies.' |
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| 'When shimmering, different groups of bees flip their bodies up and down in what looks like waves.' |
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| 'This defense is initiated when hornets hover near a colony, serving to deter the hornets from approaching the bees.' |
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| 'Researchers hypothesize that this behavior is a specialized defense response to hornets, as it is not observed when other, larger predators approach the colony.' |
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Main Point: Researchers believe that shimmering in giant honeybees is a specialized defense behavior specifically designed to deter hornets.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The main idea of the entire text
What type of answer do we need? A statement that captures the central message or primary focus of the passage
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The main idea should capture that this passage is fundamentally about researchers' understanding of shimmering behavior
- The right answer should focus on what researchers think about shimmering being a specialized defense against hornets specifically
Researchers are unsure how giant honeybees defend against predators larger than hornets.
✗ Incorrect - Claims researchers are "unsure" about defenses against larger predators
- The passage doesn't suggest uncertainty
Researchers think that shimmering in giant honeybees is a specific defense against hornets.
✓ Correct - Directly matches the researchers' hypothesis that shimmering is "a specialized defense response to hornets"
Hornets are known to be the main predator of giant honeybees.
✗ Incorrect - Claims hornets are the "main predator" but the passage never establishes predator hierarchy
Several different species of insects use shimmering to defend against hornets.
✗ Incorrect - Claims "several different species" use shimmering but the passage only discusses giant honeybees