Question 151·Easy·Command of Evidence
Average Lifespans of Four Mammal Species in the Wild
| Species | Average lifespan |
|---|---|
| African elephant | 60–70 years |
| Bottlenose dolphin | 40–50 years |
| Domestic cat | 12–15 years |
| Little brown bat | 6–7 years |
Wildlife biologists summarized how long several mammals typically live in their natural habitats.
According to the table, what is the average lifespan of the little brown bat in the wild?
For questions that use tables or charts, start by underlining what specific item the question is asking about (here, the little brown bat). Then, go straight to that row or category in the table, read across to the relevant column, and only after that look at the answer choices to find the exact match. Avoid guessing from general knowledge; always base your answer directly on the data shown.
Hints
Focus on the right species
Re-read the question and make sure you know which animal it is asking about. Do not use the first number you see—use only the row for that specific animal.
Use the table structure
Find the species name in the left column, then read across that same row to the right to see its average lifespan in the table.
Compare before choosing
Once you have the lifespan from the table, look at all four answer choices and select the one that matches that lifespan exactly.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the question is asking
The question asks: "According to the table, what is the average lifespan of the little brown bat in the wild?" That means you only need to find the little brown bat in the table and read its average lifespan value.
Locate the correct row in the table
Look at the left column labeled Species. Scan down until you find Little brown bat. This is the row that has the information you need.
Read the lifespan value for that species
From the Little brown bat row, move your eyes to the right, into the Average lifespan column. Note the range of years given there; that is the answer the question is asking for, even before you look at the choices.
Match the table value to the answer choices
Compare the lifespan range you just read for the little brown bat with the four answer options:
- 60–70 years
- 40–50 years
- 12–15 years
- 6–7 years
The range that exactly matches the table entry for Little brown bat is 6–7 years, which is answer choice D.