Command of Evidence: Quantitative

SAT Reading and Writing· difficulty 3/5

Researchers measured the average leaf area (cm²) of four plant species at full sun and full shade: Species I, 22 (sun), 18 (shade); Species II, 28 (sun), 16 (shade); Species III, 30 (sun), 12 (shade); Species IV, 24 (sun), 22 (shade). The researchers concluded that Species IV is the most shade-tolerant. To support this, they pointed to ______

Which choice most logically completes the text using the data above?

A
$Species IV's sun area of 24.$
B
$Species IV's small drop from 24 (sun) to 22 (shade)—a tiny 8% decrease, far less than the others.$
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C
$Species III's sun area of 30.$
D
$the average leaf area across species.$

Explanation

"Most shade-tolerant" means leaf area changes least when moved to shade. Choice B captures Species IV's smallest sun-to-shade decline, the strongest evidence for shade tolerance.

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