Question 19M.3.HL.TZ2.5
| Date | May 2019 | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 6] | Reference code | 19M.3.HL.TZ2.5 |
| Level | HL | Paper | 3 | Time zone | TZ2 |
| Command term | Distinguish, Evaluate, Suggest | Question number | 5 | Adapted from | N/A |
Distinguish between learned behaviour and innate behaviour.
[2]
Not necessary to answer within a table.
Most produced correct answers, but some had difficulties pairing distinctions of the same type.
An investigation was carried out to examine whether honeybees (Apis mellifera) can learn “rules” to deal with complex tasks and then apply them to new situations. To train bees, they were rewarded each time they followed a cue to make a correct turn at the start of a training maze. They were then allowed to find their way through the entire training maze.
This was followed by attempts to navigate two unfamiliar mazes (maze 1 and maze 2) to see whether the bees could apply the rules to follow a path through different mazes. Untrained control bees were also put into mazes. Only one bee was tested in each maze at a time.
The bees were classified according to how successful they were in making their way through each maze. The results are shown in the bar chart.
[Source: reprinted from Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 72, S.W. Zhang et al, Honeybee Memory: Navigation by
Associative Grouping and Recall of Visual Stimuli, 180–201, Copyright 1999, with permission from Elsevier]
Evaluate how the data supports the hypothesis that honeybees are able to learn to use cues to find the path through new mazes.
[3]
a. trained bees made few mistakes/were successful ✔
b. trained bees could use cues on two different mazes so able to remember «overtime»
OR
bees who did well on training maze continued to do well on other mazes ✔
c. «approximately» same percentage/frequency of successful bees on training and other two mazes ✔
d. most control/untrained bees unable to find path through maze without mistakes
OR
most control/untrained bees always made mistakes ✔
[Source: reprinted from Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 72, S.W. Zhang et al, Honeybee Memory: Navigation by Associative Grouping and Recall of Visual Stimuli, 180–201, Copyright 1999, with permission from Elsevier]
Accept converse statements.
Most did well on evaluating the data, but it was more difficult for some to suggest an advantage of the behaviour and apply it to the bees.
Suggest an advantage of such behaviour.
[1]
a. return to flowers with nectar
OR
«more chance» to obtain food ✔
b. increases chances of survival «if they can learn directions to and from food» ✔
Most did well on evaluating the data, but it was more difficult for some to suggest an advantage of the behaviour and apply it to the bees.