SAT Reading & Writing · Command of Evidence (quantitative)
A researcher concludes that Method Y was more accurate for these samples. Which choice most effectively supports the conclusion?
A study compared two ways of estimating the age of the same archaeological samples against independently established reference ages.
| Method | Mean absolute error |
|---|---|
| Method X | 38 years |
| Method Y | 21 years |
A researcher concludes that Method Y was more accurate for these samples. Which choice most effectively supports the conclusion?
| Method | Mean absolute error |
|---|---|
| Method X | 38 years |
| Method Y | 21 years |
A researcher concludes that Method Y was more accurate for these samples. Which choice most effectively supports the conclusion?
Answer and explanation
Answer: A: Method Y’s mean absolute error was 17 years lower than Method X’s.
The researcher's conclusion is about which method was more accurate, and A supplies the direct comparison needed: Method Y's 17-year-lower error. B reports one method's result in isolation without comparing it to the other. C and D are true background facts about the study's design that don't address which method performed better.
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