SAT OwlQuestion bank / Command of Evidence
| Month | Average daily visitors |
|---|---|
| May | 85 |
| June | 240 |
| July | 310 |
| August | 275 |
| September | 120 |
A student examined attendance records for the Riverside public pool, which is open from May through September. The student claims that the pool was busiest in the middle of its season rather than at the beginning or end.
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to support the student's claim?
The pool averaged 310 visitors per day in July, more than in any other month shown.
The pool averaged 85 visitors per day in May.
The pool averaged 240 visitors per day in June, fewer than it averaged in August.
The pool averaged more visitors per day in August than in July.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A
The claim is that the busiest time fell in the middle of the May-to-September season. July, the middle month, had the highest average (310 visitors), higher than any month before or after it. Choice A shows this.
Choice C is accurate, but comparing June with August does not identify when the pool was busiest.
Why the other choices are wrong
- B. This choice only provides the visitor count for the first month of the season. It does not compare this value to the middle months or demonstrate that the middle was the busiest time.
- C. The comparison is accurate, since 240 is less than 275, but it involves neither the busiest month nor the season's start and end. Comparing June with August does not show when the pool was busiest.
- D. This statement is factually incorrect because July had 310 visitors while August had 275. It fails to support the claim that the middle month had the highest attendance.
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