SAT OwlQuestion bank / Command of Evidence
| Site | Species before restoration | Species after restoration |
|---|---|---|
| North Marsh | 22 | 41 |
| Cedar Pond | 30 | 35 |
| Elm Flats | 18 | 39 |
| Reed Bay | 27 | 29 |
Ornithologists counted the bird species observed at four wetland sites before and after a project that replanted native vegetation. They noted that restoration was associated with more species at every site, though the size of the increase varied widely. For instance, ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the example?
Cedar Pond had more species than North Marsh before restoration.
North Marsh had 41 species after restoration.
Elm Flats gained 21 species after restoration, while Reed Bay gained only 2.
Reed Bay gained more species after restoration than Elm Flats did.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C
The example should show that increases varied widely. Elm Flats went from 18 to 39 species, a gain of 21, while Reed Bay went from 27 to 29, a gain of 2. Choice C compares a large and a small increase. Choice D gets the comparison backward.
Choice A is accurate, but it compares counts before restoration and says nothing about the size of the increases.
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