SAT OwlQuestion bank / Command of Evidence
| Net type | Target fish caught (kilograms per haul) | Sea turtles caught per 100 hauls |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 310 | 12 |
| Design A | 295 | 3 |
| Design B | 220 | 1 |
| Design C | 305 | 9 |
Fisheries scientists tested three new net designs meant to reduce the accidental capture of sea turtles without greatly reducing the catch of target fish. They concluded that Design A met both goals.
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to support the scientists' conclusion?
Design B caught only 1 sea turtle per 100 hauls, fewer than the standard net or either of the other new designs.
Design C caught 305 kilograms of target fish per haul, more than either Design A or Design B and nearly as much as the standard net did.
Design A caught 3 sea turtles per 100 hauls, which was more than the 1 sea turtle per 100 hauls caught by Design B.
Design A caught 295 kilograms of fish per haul, close to the standard net's 310, while cutting turtle captures from 12 to 3 per 100 hauls.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D
Design A isn't best on either measure alone, so the support has to show that it met both goals at once. Choice D shows Design A kept nearly all of the standard net's fish catch (295 versus 310 kilograms) while cutting turtle captures from 12 to 3. By contrast, Design B gave up far more fish and Design C still caught many turtles.
Choice A is tempting because Design B caught the fewest turtles, but its fish catch fell to 220 kilograms, and the conclusion is about Design A.
Why the other choices are wrong
- A. Design B caught the fewest turtles but lost far more fish, and the conclusion is about Design A.
- B. This shows Design C kept a high fish catch but says nothing about Design A.
- C. This is accurate but points to a weakness of Design A instead of showing that it met both goals.
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