Question 115·Easy·Command of Evidence
Average June Rainfall in Selected US Cities
| City | Average June rainfall (cm) |
|---|---|
| New Orleans | 17.0 |
| Phoenix | 0.2 |
| Seattle | 4.0 |
| Miami | 24.0 |
Based on the data in the table, which city receives the least average rainfall in June?
For questions with tables and charts, first underline or note exactly what you are asked to find (e.g., least, greatest, increase, difference). Then focus only on the relevant column or row and quickly compare the values, using quick mental comparisons to find the minimum or maximum. Avoid overthinking: you rarely need to calculate anything complex—simply read, compare, and then carefully match your result to the correct answer choice.
Hints
Clarify the task
Check whether the question is asking for the greatest rainfall or the least rainfall. Make sure you know if you’re looking for the largest or smallest number.
Focus on the right part of the table
Look only at the numbers in the “Average June rainfall (cm)” column and ignore everything else for now.
Compare the numbers
Line up the four rainfall amounts and decide which is the smallest. Then find the city that goes with that number and match it to the answer choices.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the question is asking
The question asks: “Which city receives the least average rainfall in June?”
“Least” means you are looking for the smallest number in the “Average June rainfall (cm)” column of the table.
Read the rainfall values for each city
From the table:
- New Orleans: 17.0 cm
- Phoenix: 0.2 cm
- Seattle: 4.0 cm
- Miami: 24.0 cm
Keep these four numbers in mind so you can compare them.
Identify the smallest rainfall amount
Compare the four values: 17.0, 0.2, 4.0, and 24.0.
The smallest of these numbers is 0.2 cm because it is much less than 4.0, 17.0, and 24.0.
Match the smallest value to the city and answer choice
The city with 0.2 cm of average June rainfall is Phoenix.
Looking at the answer choices, Phoenix corresponds to choice B, so the correct answer is B) Phoenix.