When a question asks what a survey supports, find the group from which people were randomly selected. A random sample can support an estimate for that source group, not automatically for a larger community. A percentage above half can support a “most” claim. Keep the conclusion about what the survey measured: an opinion is not a future action or proof of cause.
Hints
- Hint 1
A random sample uses chance to select people from a defined group. Find the list the editors used. Who had a chance to be selected, and who did not?
- Hint 2
“Most” means more than half. If the percentage saying yes is above 50%, which group can that result describe? Keep the claim about the opinion the survey actually asked for.
Step-by-step
Trace the random sample back to its list
Step 1Find the group the sample can represent
No Desmos needed. The decision is who could be selected, not a calculation. A sample is the smaller group surveyed. The 300 students were picked from the Food section subscriber list, so students outside that list had no chance to be picked. A random sample can represent its source group, not automatically the whole school.
- Step 2
Interpret the survey percentage
“Most” means more than half, or more than . Since answered yes, the survey supports a majority estimate for the group the sample came from. It does not give an exact percentage for every person in that group.
- Step 3
Choose the claim the survey measured
The question asked about support for adding options, not what meat eaters would order. No one was assigned to read the section, so the survey cannot show that reading caused support. The supported inference is that most Food section subscribers favor adding more vegetarian options. Choice B.