SAT Reading & Writing · Command of Evidence (quantitative)
A biologist argues that the restored wetland showed a larger increase in recorded species richness than the comparison wetland. Which…
Two wetlands were surveyed before and after a restoration project.
| Wetland | Species before | Species after |
|---|---|---|
| Restored wetland | 18 | 27 |
| Comparison wetland | 20 | 24 |
A biologist argues that the restored wetland showed a larger increase in recorded species richness than the comparison wetland. Which choice most effectively supports the argument?
| Wetland | Species before | Species after |
|---|---|---|
| Restored wetland | 18 | 27 |
| Comparison wetland | 20 | 24 |
A biologist argues that the restored wetland showed a larger increase in recorded species richness than the comparison wetland. Which choice most effectively supports the argument?
Answer and explanation
Answer: A: The restored wetland increased by 9 recorded species, whereas the comparison wetland increased by 4.
The biologist's claim is specifically about the size of the increase in each wetland, not the final species count, and A is the only choice that reports both increases and compares them: +9 versus +4. B and D each report a single data point from the table without connecting it to a change over time. C is true of both wetlands but doesn't address which one increased more.
More Command of Evidence (quantitative) questions
- Question 4The researchers claim that, in this study, retrieval practice improved later recall relative to…
- Question 5A school compared the percentage of students submitting an assignment on time before and after…
- Question 6A researcher claims that the intervention produced uniformly better performance. Which choice most…
- Question 30A gardener recorded the average height of the same variety of plant under two light conditions…
- Question 32A student claims that the shade cloth was associated with higher seedling survival. Which choice…
- Question 55A researcher measured the percentage of participants who remembered a warning under two…
Learn the method behind questions like this one
The SAT Reading & Writing course teaches each tested skill through lessons, step-by-step solutions to sample problems, the complete study guide and full-length practice tests.