A 2023 study tested whether expanding paid family leave reduced infant mortality. They reported infant-mortality changes in four states adopting expansion, alongside changes in matched non-expansion states: State 1, -0.4/1,000 (vs. -0.3 match); 2, -2.1 (vs. -0.3); 3, -0.5 (vs. -0.4); 4, -2.6 (vs. -0.5). The researchers argued the expansion meaningfully reduced infant mortality only in States 2 and 4. The strongest support is ______
Which choice most logically completes the text using the data above?
- A
State 1's decline of 0.4/1,000.
- B
State 4's largest decline of 2.6/1,000.
- Ccheck_circle
the contrast: States 2 and 4 declined 1.8 and 2.1/1,000 more than their matched controls, while States 1 and 3 nearly matched their controls.
- D
the average decline across states.
Explanation
"Meaningful reduction only in States 2 and 4" requires comparing each adoption state to its match. Choice B captures the 1.8 and 2.1/1,000 excess declines in 2 and 4, while noting 1 and 3 nearly matched their controls.