Question 133·Easy·Command of Evidence
Read the passage.
(1) Over the past decade, urban planners have increasingly turned to green roofs—layers of vegetation planted atop buildings—as a way to mitigate rising city temperatures.
(2) In Chicago, for instance, summer surface temperatures on green roofs can be up to 30°F cooler than on conventional roofs.
(3) These vegetated areas not only reduce heat but also absorb rainwater, easing pressure on storm drains.
(4) A 2018 study estimated that widespread adoption of green roofs could lower a city’s peak summer energy demand by 5 percent.
(5) As green roofs demonstrate, a few inches of soil and plants can make a noticeable difference in a city’s climate footprint.
Based on the passage, a student claims Green roofs can help lower a city's energy demand.
Which choice most effectively uses information from the passage to support the claim?
For "command of evidence" questions like this, first restate the claim in your own words and underline its key idea (here, "lower a city's energy demand"). Then scan the referenced part of the passage for sentences that use the same or very similar words—especially any that make a direct, explicit statement or provide a statistic. Eliminate choices that are only loosely related (like general temperature or side benefits) and choose the one that clearly and specifically states the idea in the claim, ideally with matching keywords or a concrete percentage or number.
Hints
Focus on the key idea in the claim
Underline the phrase "help lower a city's energy demand." You need a line that talks about energy demand, not just temperature or rainwater.
Match specific words
Look for any line in the passage that includes the word "energy" or "demand", since those words are central to the claim.
Eliminate lines about other effects
If a line talks only about temperature changes or rainwater without mentioning energy use, ask yourself whether it truly proves that a city's energy demand is lower.
Step-by-step Explanation
Restate the student’s claim
The claim is: "Green roofs can help lower a city's energy demand." So you must find a sentence in the passage that talks specifically about energy demand (how much energy the city uses), not just temperature or rain.
Scan the lines for key idea words
Look through lines 1–4 for words related to energy or energy demand, such as "energy," "demand," "electricity," or "power." Identify which line clearly mentions this idea.
Compare what each line actually says
- Line 1 talks about planners using green roofs to deal with rising temperatures.
- Line 2 gives a temperature difference (30°F cooler).
- Line 3 mentions reducing heat and absorbing rainwater.
- One line mentions lowering a city’s peak summer energy demand with a specific percentage. That line directly connects green roofs to reduced energy demand, which is what the claim is about.
Choose the line that directly supports the claim
Because the question asks for evidence that green roofs "can help lower a city's energy demand," the best support is the sentence that explicitly says they could lower a city’s peak summer energy demand by 5 percent. That is Line 4, so the correct answer is D) Line 4.