Passage I
The termite Reticulitermes flavipes consumes wood and bark. A study examined whether the consumption of wood or bark mulch by R. flavipes varies with the type of mulch or the age of the mulch. Separate portion of each of 5 types of mulch were aged (allowed to decay) for 1, 24, and 48 weeks. Then, 2 g of each type of 1-week-old mulch were put into a box, 2 g of each type of 24-week-old mulch were put into a second box, and 2 g of each type of 48-week-old mulch were put into a third box. Next, 1 g of R. flavipes was added to each box. After 15 days, the mass of mulch consumed, in milligrams (mg), was determined for each type and age of mulch (see figure).
1. Of the following combinations of type of mulch and mulch age, which combination resulted in the greatest mass of mulch consumed by R. flavipes?
Your Answer is
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Look directly at the picture, compare the pine bark and oak of 24 weeks and 28 weeks involved in the options, and find that the oak is eaten by termites most at the age of 24 weeks.