Critical Reasoning

In California, varroa mites decimated the domestic honey-bee population in 2004, which caused a notable decrease in honey production during this year. When a pesticide that is not harmful to honey-bees was introduced in 2005 to exterminate varroa mites, honey production increased – by up to 10 percent in some areas – but then decreased sharply in 2006.

Which of the following statements, if true, would best explain the 2006 decrease in honey production?

(A)In 2006, bee-keepers were more likely to use the pesticide than any other form of mite population control.
(B) Varroa mites do not harm bees directly, but rather spread diseases and viruses that are particularly harmful to honey-bees.
(C)The same amount of the pesticide was applied to the areas infested by mites in 2005 and in 2006.
(D) Rapid growth in a bee population tends to deplete resources that bees need to produce honey.
(E) The demand for honey fell between 2004 and 2006, and this caused the price of honey to fall significantly.

A,B and C doesn't explain as to how the production of honey might have gone down.
E speaks of demand and price relationship.

But D states a probable cause as to how the production of honey might have gone down.
I go with D.

[spoiler](D) for Denmark[/spoiler]

rahulg83 wrote:In California, varroa mites decimated the domestic honey-bee population in 2004, which caused a notable decrease in honey production during this year. When a pesticide that is not harmful to honey-bees was introduced in 2005 to exterminate varroa mites, honey production increased – by up to 10 percent in some areas – but then decreased sharply in 2006.

Which of the following statements, if true, would best explain the 2006 decrease in honey production?

(A)In 2006, bee-keepers were more likely to use the pesticide than any other form of mite population control.
(B) Varroa mites do not harm bees directly, but rather spread diseases and viruses that are particularly harmful to honey-bees.
(C)The same amount of the pesticide was applied to the areas infested by mites in 2005 and in 2006.
(D) Rapid growth in a bee population tends to deplete resources that bees need to produce honey.
(E) The demand for honey fell between 2004 and 2006, and this caused the price of honey to fall significantly.

IMHO only D seems to the right answer. The other choices just don't cut it . Please let us know the OA.

IMO, D. Correct me if I am wrong.

(A) OUT - Using one pestiside than other does not explain why honey production decreased in 2006.
(B) OUT - out of context
(C) OUT - Same amount of pesticide used in 2005 and 2006. But does not explain why the production is different in 2005 and 2006.
(D) Best Answer - Using pesticides, Varro Mites has been killed/controled in 2005 i.e. Domestic honey-bee population did not get decimated, which resulted in rapid growth of honey-bee population that tends to deplete the resources that need to produce honey.
(E) OUT - Demand fell and honey price fell - Has nothing to do why honey production decreased in 2006.

D seems to be the best answer!

I'm pretty confident that D is correct answer.

I would go for D as well.