Question 123·Hard·Command of Evidence
Hatching Success Rates for Three Sea Turtle Species at Different Sand Temperatures
| Sand Temperature | Green Turtle | Loggerhead Turtle | Leatherback Turtle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 °C | 88% | 92% | 71% |
| 30 °C | 81% | 85% | 64% |
| 34 °C | 49% | 38% | 22% |
Marine biologist Kara Onizuka investigated how rising sand temperatures affect sea turtle reproduction. She observed that, for each species studied, the decline in hatching success is much sharper when the temperature increases from 30 °C to 34 °C than when it rises from 26 °C to 30 °C. To illustrate this pattern, Onizuka cited data for the loggerhead turtle, noting that whereas the percentage of successful hatches falls by 7 points between 26 °C and 30 °C, it drops by __________.
Which choice completes the sentence with accurate and relevant information from the table?
For table-based evidence questions, first underline the exact item the question asks about (here, loggerhead turtles and the range 30 °C to 34 °C). Then carefully read only the relevant row(s)/column(s), compute any needed differences (using subtraction for “falls by” or “difference in percentage points”), and finally match your computed value and context (temperature range, species) to the choice that states the same information. Avoid rushing—most errors come from grabbing numbers from the wrong row or column, not from hard math.
Hints
Focus on the right species and temperatures
The question is only about loggerhead turtles. Look at the loggerhead column and the rows for 30 °C and 34 °C.
Think about what “falls by” means
“Falls by” or “drops by” is asking for the difference between the earlier percentage and the later percentage. What operation finds that difference?
Compare the two percentages
Once you have the loggerhead percentages at 30 °C and 34 °C, subtract the 34 °C value from the 30 °C value. Then look for the answer choice that matches that number of percentage points.
Step-by-step Explanation
Locate the relevant values for the loggerhead turtle
The sentence is about loggerhead turtles and compares the change from 26 °C to 30 °C with the change from 30 °C to 34 °C. From the table, find the loggerhead percentages at 30 °C and 34 °C:
- At 30 °C: 85%
- At 34 °C: 38%
Set up the drop between 30 °C and 34 °C
To find how many percentage points the hatching success falls, subtract the later (higher temperature) value from the earlier one:
This subtraction gives the number of percentage points the rate decreases between 30 °C and 34 °C.
Compute and match the calculation to the answer choice
Now compute the difference:
So the correct choice is:
47 percentage points between 30 °C and 34 °C.