SAT OwlQuestion bank / Command of Evidence
| Way of commuting | Average commute time (minutes) |
|---|---|
| Car | 28 |
| Bus | 41 |
| Bicycle | 22 |
| Walking | 17 |
A city planner examined how long residents' trips to work take, on average, for different ways of commuting. She noted that in her city, cycling to work can be faster than driving. For example, ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the example?
the average bus commute was 41 minutes, which was longer than the average for any other way of commuting.
the average bicycle commute was 22 minutes, compared with 28 minutes for the average car commute.
the average walking commute was 17 minutes, shorter than the average bicycle commute.
the average car commute was 28 minutes, compared with 41 minutes for the average bus commute.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B
The example has to show cycling beating driving. Choice B compares the two directly: 22 minutes by bicycle versus 28 minutes by car.
Choice D is accurate, but it compares cars with buses and leaves out cycling.
Why the other choices are wrong
- A. This is accurate but compares the bus with everything else, while the example must compare cycling with driving.
- C. This is accurate but concerns walking. The example needs cycling and driving.
- D. This is accurate but compares cars with buses and never mentions cycling.
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