In Asia, where palm trees are non-native, the trees’ flowers have traditionally been pollinated by hand, which has kept palm fruit productivity unnaturally low. When weevils known to be efficient pollinators of palm flowers were introduced into Asia in 1980, palm fruit productivity increased – by up to fifty percent in some areas – but then decreased sharply in 1984.
Which of the following statements, if true, would best explain the 1984 decrease in productivity?

Question

Examsnet · Accepted Answer

Correct Answer is :  Rapid increases in productivity tend to deplete trees of nutrients needed for the development of the fruit-producing female flowers.

GMAT Verbal Reasoning Practice Test 4