Question 2

Female cicadas cannot replicate the buzzing.

This statement directly supports the idea that female cicadas do not have tymbals attached to their abdomen, as it explains their inability to produce the loud buzzing sound characteristic of male cicadas.

A) “.. the female deposits the eggs into the bark."

This statement provides information about the reproductive behavior of female cicadas but does not offer any evidence regarding their anatomical structure or the presence of tymbals. Therefore, it does not support the assertion about female cicadas lacking tymbals.

B) “Female cicadas cannot replicate the buzzing…”

This statement clearly indicates that female cicadas are unable to produce the loud buzzing sound that male cicadas make, which is directly linked to the presence of tymbals. Since they cannot replicate this sound, it implies that they do not possess tymbals, making this the correct choice.

C) “.. the cicada is a large, loud insect…”

While this statement describes cicadas in general, it does not provide any specific information about the differences between male and female cicadas or their anatomical features. Thus, it does not contribute to evidence regarding the presence or absence of tymbals in female cicadas.

D) “…. The male cicada makes a strident, high buzzing by vibrating two membranes on its abdomen called tymbals…”

This statement focuses on the male cicada’s ability to produce sound and describes the function of tymbals. However, it does not directly address the anatomical features of female cicadas, nor does it provide evidence that they lack tymbals.

Conclusion

The statement that "Female cicadas cannot replicate the buzzing…" is definitive evidence that female cicadas do not have tymbals, as the ability to produce such sounds is directly tied to their presence. All other options either provide unrelated information or do not address the anatomical differences between male and female cicadas regarding tymbals, thereby failing to support the question's core inquiry.