RI.6.1 Inference & Text Evidence Worksheet — Grade 6 Informational Text for 11-Year-Olds (Self-Directed Learners)

Instructions

1. Read the informational text below, "The Mystery of the Silent Hives." Imagine you are a detective trying to solve a case. The text is your evidence file.
2. Answer the questions that follow. Each question will help you practice finding clues (explicit evidence) and connecting the dots (making inferences).
3. For every answer, be prepared to point to the specific words or phrases in the text that support your conclusion.

The Mystery of the Silent Hives

Something strange is happening in the world of honeybees. In 2006, beekeepers began reporting an alarming phenomenon: their bees were disappearing. Hives that were once buzzing with thousands of workers were suddenly nearly empty. The queen bee and a few young bees were often left behind, but the adult worker bees—the ones that travel to collect nectar and pollen—were gone. They didn't even leave behind bodies. They simply vanished.

Scientists named this mystery Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). For over a decade, researchers have been searching for the "culprit." The investigation has pointed to several suspects. One major suspect is a group of pesticides called neonicotinoids. These chemicals are used on crops to protect them from harmful insects, but they may also harm beneficial insects like bees, potentially damaging their ability to navigate. If a bee can't find its way home, it can't support the hive.

Another suspect is the Varroa mite, a tiny parasite that feeds on bees and spreads deadly viruses throughout the colony. A hive weakened by these mites becomes more vulnerable to other stresses. Finally, some scientists point to habitat loss. As wild fields and flowers are replaced by cities and single-crop farms, bees lose the diverse food sources they need to stay healthy and build strong immune systems. It is very likely that a combination of these factors, not just one, is responsible for the problem.

Part 1: Finding Direct Clues

Direct clues (explicit evidence) are facts stated directly in the text. Your job is to find them.

1. According to the text, which of the following is a tiny parasite that harms honeybees?

• Neonicotinoids
• The queen bee
• The Varroa mite
• A worker bee

2. What happens to a bee that may be affected by neonicotinoid pesticides? Support your answer with a direct quote from the text.

Part 2: Connecting the Dots

Now, use the clues in the text to make logical conclusions (inferences).

3. The text states, "As wild fields and flowers are replaced by cities and single-crop farms, bees lose the diverse food sources they need." What can you infer from this statement?

• Bees prefer to live in cities.
• A diet of just one type of plant might not be enough to keep a bee colony healthy.
• Single-crop farms produce more honey than wild fields.
• Bees are getting better at finding food.

4. Complete the detective's chart below. Fill in the missing information by either finding the evidence that leads to the inference or by making an inference based on the evidence provided.

Part 3: Solving the Case

Use all the evidence to form a well-supported conclusion.

5. After reviewing all the evidence, what do you think is the main idea the author wants the reader to understand about Colony Collapse Disorder? Use at least two different pieces of evidence from the text to support your answer.

Challenge Zone

Think beyond the text and apply your reasoning skills.

6. The passage mentions that worker bees are "the ones that travel to collect nectar and pollen." Based on this clue and your own knowledge about plants, what is a major long-term consequence for humans if honeybee populations continue to disappear? Explain your thinking.

Answer Key

Part 1: Finding Direct Clues

1. The correct answer is The Varroa mite. The text says, "Another suspect is the Varroa mite, a tiny parasite that feeds on bees..."
2. A bee affected by neonicotinoid pesticides might have its ability to navigate damaged. Quote: "...they may also harm beneficial insects like bees, potentially damaging their ability to navigate." (Or "If a bee can't find its way home, it can't support the hive.")

Part 2: Connecting the Dots

3. The correct answer is A diet of just one type of plant might not be enough to keep a bee colony healthy. The text connects the loss of "diverse food sources" to bees' ability to "stay healthy and build strong immune systems," which implies a varied diet is necessary.

4. Clue from the Text (Explicit Evidence)	My Conclusion (Inference)
   "The queen bee and a few young bees were often left behind, but the adult worker bees...were gone."	(Sample Answer) The problem affects the bees that are most active outside the hive. Something is happening to them when they are away from home.
   (Sample Answer) "For over a decade, researchers have been searching for the 'culprit.'" OR "The investigation has pointed to several suspects." OR "It is very likely that a combination of these factors...is responsible."	Solving the mystery of CCD is a complex and difficult task for scientists.

Part 3: Solving the Case

5. (Sample Answer) The main idea is that Colony Collapse Disorder is a serious and complicated problem with multiple possible causes, not just one simple answer.
   • Evidence 1: The text mentions several "suspects" including pesticides, mites, and habitat loss.
   • Evidence 2: The text concludes by stating, "It is very likely that a combination of these factors, not just one, is responsible for the problem."

Challenge Zone

6. (Sample Answer) If honeybees disappear, our food supply would be in danger. The text says they collect pollen, which means they are pollinators. Many of the plants that grow our food (like fruits, vegetables, and nuts) need pollinators like bees to reproduce. Without bees, those crops would fail, leading to food shortages for humans.