ATI TEAS Science Test Related

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When a certain plant is introduced into an area, and the population of a certain insect species declines, what can be concluded from this?

  • A. The plant is toxic to the insect in question.
  • B. The plant competes with and drives out plants that the insect feeds on.
  • C. The insect population was declining anyway; the fact that it happened when the plant was introduced is a coincidence.
  • D. All of these explanations may be possible; further investigation is necessary to determine which is true.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The given scenario presents multiple possible explanations for the decline in the insect population with the introduction of a particular plant. It could be due to the plant being toxic to the insect (Option A), competing with and driving out plants that the insect feeds on (Option B), or the decline could be coincidental with the plant introduction as the insect population was already decreasing (Option C). Without further investigation and evidence, it is not possible to definitively determine which explanation is correct. Therefore, all of these possibilities may be true, and thorough investigation is necessary to reach a conclusive conclusion.