Pollinator genusSeconds per intact pin flowerSeconds per damaged pin flowerSeconds per intact thrum flowerSeconds per damaged thrum flowerHabropoda2.7...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
| Pollinator genus | Seconds per intact pin flower | Seconds per damaged pin flower | Seconds per intact thrum flower | Seconds per damaged thrum flower |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habropoda | 2.7 | 5.4 | 4.1 | 9.5 |
| Osmia | 5.2 | 8.2 | 7.1 | 8.3 |
| Pierid | 2.6 | 4.0 | 2.4 | 1.9 |
| Xylocopa | 2.3 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.2 |
To study how floral damage affects the behavior of pollinators, such as bees, a team of researchers punched holes in the floral tissue of flowers from the vine yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens), a plant that produces flowers that have either a long pistil and a short stamen (pin morphs) or a short pistil and a long stamen (thrum morphs). The researchers then compared the time different insect pollinators spent visiting intact pin and thrum flowers to the time such pollinators spent visiting the artificially damaged pin and thrum flowers. The researchers concluded that the effect of floral damage on time spent per flower varied by both floral morph and the genus of the pollinator.
Which choice best describes data from the table that support the researchers' conclusion?
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'To study how floral damage affects the behavior of pollinators, such as bees, a team of researchers punched holes in the floral tissue of flowers from the vine yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)' |
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| 'a plant that produces flowers that have either a long pistil and a short stamen (pin morphs) or a short pistil and a long stamen (thrum morphs)' |
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| 'The researchers then compared the time different insect pollinators spent visiting intact pin and thrum flowers to the time such pollinators spent visiting the artificially damaged pin and thrum flowers.' |
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| 'The researchers concluded that the effect of floral damage on time spent per flower varied by both floral morph and the genus of the pollinator.' |
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Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Researchers found that floral damage affects pollinator visit times differently depending on both the type of flower (pin vs thrum) and the species of pollinator.
Argument Flow: The researchers set up an experiment to test how flower damage affects pollinator behavior, using a plant with two distinct flower types. They measured and compared visit times between intact and damaged flowers, ultimately concluding that the damage effects depend on multiple factors working together.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which data from the table best supports the researchers' conclusion about variable damage effects.
What type of answer do we need? Evidence from the table that demonstrates how floral damage effects vary by both flower morph (pin vs thrum) AND pollinator genus.
Any limiting keywords? 'best describes data from the table' - we need to find the choice that most accurately captures the supporting evidence.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The researchers concluded that damage effects vary by BOTH flower morph AND pollinator genus. So we need data showing:
- Different patterns for pin flowers vs thrum flowers
- Different responses among the pollinator genera
- Evidence that it's not just one factor but the combination of both
- Looking at the table, for pin flowers, damage consistently increases visit times across all genera. But for thrum flowers, the pattern is mixed - some genera show increases while others show decreases.
- So the right answer should highlight how pin and thrum flowers show different overall patterns, and how different pollinator genera respond differently within each flower type.
- Accurately captures the key pattern: pin flowers show consistent increases across all genera, while thrum flowers show increases only in some genera (Habropoda and Osmia)
- Demonstrates both aspects of the conclusion - variation by morph type AND by genus
- Directly supported by the table data
- Focuses only on comparing two specific genera rather than showing the overall pattern
- Doesn't demonstrate how effects vary by flower morph, only by genus
- Students might focus on specific comparisons rather than the broader pattern needed to support the conclusion
- Only discusses thrum flowers, ignoring pin flowers entirely
- Fails to show variation by flower morph, which is half of what the conclusion claims
- Students might think supporting evidence needs to address only part of a conclusion rather than all components
- Simply states specific data points without showing any pattern or variation
- Doesn't demonstrate how damage effects vary by either factor mentioned in the conclusion
- Provides raw data but no analysis of the relationships the researchers claimed to find