Question 142·Easy·Command of Evidence
A student is writing a report about an animal-behavior study. In the study, researchers recorded the air temperature and the average number of chirps per minute made by field crickets. The scatterplot shows the study results.
Based on the data in the scatterplot, the student argues field crickets tend to chirp more frequently at higher temperatures.
Which choice most effectively uses data from the scatterplot to support the underlined claim?
For graph-based command-of-evidence questions, identify exactly what relationship or comparison the claim makes, then choose the option that cites the specific data points needed to demonstrate that relationship. Strong support typically compares two relevant points (often one low and one high) rather than listing a single maximum, minimum, or an unrelated summary statistic.
Hints
Focus on what must be shown
The claim is about a relationship: higher temperature corresponds to a higher chirping rate.
Use a comparison
Look for an option that compares a lower-temperature point to a higher-temperature point and reports the chirp rates for both.
Prefer the most direct support
The strongest evidence uses two points that are far apart in temperature so the increase is easy to see.
Step-by-step Explanation
Restate the claim in measurable terms
The claim says crickets chirp more frequently at higher temperatures, so the best evidence should compare a lower temperature to a higher temperature and show a higher chirp rate at the higher temperature.
Read two clearly separated points from the scatterplot
From the scatterplot, at about 55°F the chirping rate is about 70 chirps per minute, and at about 85°F the chirping rate is about 155 chirps per minute.
Connect the data to the claim
Because the chirping rate is higher at the higher temperature, this comparison directly supports the claim that chirping tends to increase as temperature increases.
Select the choice that states that supporting comparison
The choice that most effectively supports the claim is: From about 55°F to about 85°F, the chirping rate increases from about 70 to about 155 chirps per minute.