Which of the following statements isfalse?
2023
Which of the following statements isfalse?
Answer: D. More than one of the above — ConceptHoneybee colonies contain reproductive and non-reproductive castes. Their sex follows haplodiploidy: fertilized diploid eggs develop as females, while…
- A.
Every honeybee colony comprises a single queen.
- B.
The drone bees are female and do not have a sting.
- C.
Both workers and drones develop from unfertilized eggs.
- D.
More than one of the above
- E.
None of the above
Attempted by 7 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept
Honeybee colonies contain reproductive and non-reproductive castes. Their sex follows haplodiploidy: fertilized diploid eggs develop as females, while unfertilized haploid eggs develop as males.
Queens and workers are female castes; drones are male. An established colony is ordinarily organized around one functional queen, and the sting is a modified ovipositor, so drones do not possess one.
Application
The word every is broader than the textbook description. An established colony ordinarily has one functional queen, but queenless transition states or brief queen overlap can occur; under a strict literal reading, the universal claim is overbroad.
The female-drone claim combines two facts: drones lack a sting, but they are males rather than females. Therefore the combined claim is false.
The shared-unfertilized-origin claim conflicts with haplodiploidy: workers arise from fertilized eggs, whereas drones arise from unfertilized eggs. Therefore this claim is false.
Regardless of whether the single-queen statement is read as textbook shorthand or strictly, both the female-drone claim and the shared-unfertilized-origin claim are false. Thus at least two listed statements are false.
Cross-check
The caste-development rule gives a direct check: fertilized and diploid corresponds to a female queen or worker, while unfertilized and haploid corresponds to a male drone. This independently establishes two false biological claims.
Result
Thus the applicable aggregate choice is More than one of the above.