Question

Identify the correct word from the given options, which means the following:
A place for keeping bees

a) aviary
b) apiary
c) cage
d) nest

Answer 1

Hint:There is a specific word used to describe the place where bees are kept. It is derived from the Latin word ‘apis’ which means ‘bee’. It was then borrowed into English.

Complete answer:
Beekeeping is a very ancient practice. So, there are artificial bee colonies that have been traced back to 2422 BCE, when they were constructed by molding mud.
The word for this has been used since the 1650s, and it is derived from the Latin word ‘apiarium’ which means ‘beehive’. This word’s history is a mystery as this word does not appear in any Indo-European languages.

Now, we know the origin of the required word. Let’s look at the available options:

a) aviary - An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike birdcages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages. This is not a place used for keeping bees. This is not the required answer. So, it is an incorrect option.
b) apiary - An apiary is a location where beehives of honey bees are kept. Apiaries come in many sizes and can be rural or urban depending on the honey production operation. It is used to keep bees. This is the required answer. So, the correct answer is “Option b”.
c) cage - A cage is an enclosure often made of mesh, bars, or wires, used to confine, contain or protect something or someone. A cage can serve many purposes, including keeping an animal or person in captivity, capturing an animal or person, and displaying an animal at a zoo. It is not used to keep bees. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.
d) nest - A nest is a structure or place made or chosen by a bird for laying eggs and sheltering its young. This is not a place used to keep bees. This is not the required answer. So, it is an incorrect option.

Note:
Use the given options in sentences, and try to understand their meanings. Then, choose the most appropriate option that is closest in meaning to the given phrase.