SAT OwlQuestion bank / Command of Evidence
| Light color | Average height after 4 weeks (cm) | Average number of leaves |
|---|---|---|
| Red | 18.2 | 9 |
| Blue | 12.6 | 14 |
| Green | 9.1 | 6 |
| White | 16.4 | 12 |
A student grew basil seedlings under lamps of four different colors and measured the plants after four weeks. The student concluded that the light color that produced the tallest plants did not also produce the most leaves. For example, ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the example?
plants grown under green light averaged only 9.1 centimeters in height and 6 leaves.
plants grown under white light averaged more leaves than plants grown under blue light did.
plants grown under red light were taller, on average, than plants grown under white light.
plants grown under red light were the tallest, averaging 18.2 centimeters, but plants grown under blue light had the most leaves, averaging 14.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D
The example must show that the color giving the tallest plants was not the color giving the most leaves. Red light produced the tallest plants (18.2 cm), but blue light produced the most leaves (14). Choice D shows both facts.
Choice C is accurate, but it compares only height and says nothing about which color produced the most leaves.
Why the other choices are wrong
- A. This choice cites the shortest plants and fewest leaves, which does not demonstrate that the tallest plants came from a different color than the leafiest ones.
- B. This statement is factually incorrect because blue light produced 14 leaves, which is more than the 12 leaves produced by white light.
- C. While this comparison of heights is accurate, it fails to mention which light color produced the most leaves, so it does not support the full conclusion.
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