SAT Reading and Writing · Topic 1.4
Command of Evidence: Quantitative Practice
Part of Information and Ideas.
Practice questions
150
Sample questions
5 of 150 — sign in to practice the rest with adaptive difficulty and mastery tracking.
Sample 1difficulty 2/5
Researchers measured average bone density (g/cm²) in four age groups of women: 25-34, 1.20; 35-44, 1.18; 45-54, 1.05; 55-64, 0.92. The researchers concluded that bone density declines with age. The strongest support is ______
Which choice most logically completes the text using the data above?
- A
the 35-44 group's density of 1.18.
- Bcheck_circle
the steady decline from 1.20 to 0.92 across age groups, a drop of 23%.
- C
the 55-64 group's density of 0.92.
- D
the 25-34 group's density of 1.20.
Why
"Declines with age" is supported by the monotonic drop across age groups, captured by Choice B.
- A
Sample 2difficulty 2/5
A 2022 lab study measured the density (g/cm³) of four metal samples: Sample W, 7.9 g/cm³; X, 8.9; Y, 11.3; Z, 19.3. The researchers concluded Sample Z is by far the densest. The strongest support is ______
Which choice most logically completes the text using the data above?
- Acheck_circle
Sample Z's density of 19.3—more than 1.7x the next densest sample.
- B
Sample W's density of 7.9.
- C
the average density.
- D
Sample Y's density of 11.3.
Why
"By far the densest" is supported by Z's value being 1.7x the next sample. Choice B captures this contrast.
- A
Sample 3difficulty 2/5
A 2023 survey reported the percentage of adults who say they read a book in the past year, by region: Northeast, 78%; Midwest, 70%; South, 64%; West, 76%. The researchers concluded the South has the lowest rate. The strongest support is ______
Which choice most logically completes the text using the data above?
- Acheck_circle
the South's 64%, the lowest of the four regions.
- B
the West's 76%.
- C
the Northeast's 78%.
- D
the Midwest's 70%.
Why
"Lowest rate" is directly supported by the South's 64%, the smallest value in the table.
- A
Sample 4difficulty 2/5
A historian compiled the percentage of literate adults in a country in four years: 1850, 22%; 1900, 51%; 1950, 78%; 2000, 96%. The historian concluded that literacy rose substantially over 150 years. To support this, the historian could cite ______
Which choice most logically completes the text using the data above?
- A
the 1850 figure of 22%.
- B
the 1950 figure of 78%.
- C
the 1900 figure of 51%.
- Dcheck_circle
the rise from 22% in 1850 to 96% in 2000—more than fourfold.
Why
"Rose substantially over 150 years" is supported by comparing the endpoints. Choice B captures the 4x rise across the full period.
- A
Sample 5difficulty 2/5
Researchers compared corn yield (bushels per acre) on four farms using different irrigation methods: Farm 1 (flood), 110; Farm 2 (sprinkler), 135; Farm 3 (drip), 178; Farm 4 (subsurface drip), 192. The researchers argued that newer drip-based methods substantially outperform older flood irrigation. To support this, they pointed to ______
Which choice most logically completes the text using the data above?
- A
Farm 2's sprinkler yield of 135.
- B
Farm 1's flood-irrigation yield of 110.
- Ccheck_circle
the gap between flood (110) and subsurface drip (192), nearly 75% more yield.
- D
the modest difference between drip and subsurface drip.
Why
The claim is that drip methods substantially outperform flood. Choice B directly quantifies this gap (110 vs. 192), supporting "substantially outperform."
- A