#13 - Though many insects die soon after reproducing for the

[nutcracker]

Hello,

For this question, I am not sure sure what exactly makes (C) wrong.

I feel that the language is more definitive than what the stimulus permits: the stimulus says "some MAY live for years..." while (C) says "most bees live well beyond..." as if it were true 100% of the time. But is that the only flaw in (C)?

I ask this because (D) makes me feel that the entire first sentence in the stimulus only applies to insects that reproduce, but I personally think that the second half of that sentence "some may live for years..." applies to all insects, whether or not they reproduce (tricky, since some bees don't reproduce!)... More specifically, if (D) said "bees do not always die ..." instead, would it still be a valid answer choice?

Let me know if I'm talking nonsense/overthinking here. Thanks in advance for your help!

[Jennifer Janowsky]

You are correct that the main flaw in (C) is the term "most," as it only implies bees as a species and not how many of the bees. However, the fact that bees which reproduce "do not always die" is much more of a given.

Additionally, the stimulus does seem to be referring to bees which reproduce for the first time, as given in the first sentence. If you reread, that is what "some" is referring to in the sentences that follow.

I hope this helps!

[collegen98]

Is another reason why (C) is incorrect is because of the phrase "onset of the generation that follows them?" I took this as meaning something different from what the stimulus refers to as "the survival of the next generation has been secured."

Maybe the next generation only survives at the ONSET of their generation, but then dies soon after, so their survival is not secured?

I do see why the main flaw in (C) is that we don't know whether MOST bees reproduce, but my initial reaction to this answer choice was about the "onset" part...

[fortunateking]

It's given that bees live for YEARS after the survival of the next generation, which per se beyond the onset of the next generation. So the flaw would be MOST, which came from nowhere.

[katehos]

Hi collegen98 and fortunateking!

Great discussion I tend to agree with fortunateking here, since the stimulus provides that some insects can live for years after the next generation is secured (which would take place after the initial onset of the generation). The best reason to eliminate this answer choice is because of the word "most", which is strong language that is not inherently supported by the use of "some" in the stimulus!

Keep up the good work!
Kate