Question 154·Easy·Command of Evidence
Smartphone Ownership by Age Group in the United States, 2010 and 2020
| Age group | Percentage owning a smartphone, 2010 | Percentage owning a smartphone, 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| 18–29 | 52% | 96% |
| 30–49 | 35% | 92% |
| 50–64 | 10% | 68% |
| 65+ | 5% | 55% |
A student is preparing a report on technology adoption. Based on the table, the student writes that from 2010 to 2020, _____
For graph and table interpretation questions, always read the question stem first to know what relationship or trend you’re checking, then scan the data systematically (row by row or column by column) to see how the values change. Translate your observations into simple phrases like “all increase,” “some increase, some decrease,” or “one stays the same,” and then eliminate any choices that contradict even one data point. This quick, structured comparison prevents you from relying on assumptions and helps you reach the correct answer efficiently.
Hints
Focus on the data, not on assumptions
Ignore what you think might have happened in real life and look only at the numbers in the table for 2010 and 2020.
Compare year by year within each row
For each age group, compare its 2010 percentage to its 2020 percentage. Decide: is the 2020 value higher, lower, or the same as 2010?
Look for a pattern across all age groups
After you compare each row, ask yourself: do all groups show the same kind of change, or do some differ from others?
Test each answer choice against the table
Take each answer choice and check whether it matches the comparisons you just made for all four age groups. If it fails for even one age group, eliminate it.
Step-by-step Explanation
Read what the question is asking
The question asks which statement correctly describes the change in smartphone ownership from 2010 to 2020 for the age groups shown. So you need to compare the 2010 and 2020 percentages in the table for each age group.
Compare 2010 and 2020 for each age group
Look at each row:
- Ages 18–29: 52% in 2010 vs. 96% in 2020 → 96 is greater than 52.
- Ages 30–49: 35% vs. 92 → 92 is greater than 35.
- Ages 50–64: 10% vs. 68 → 68 is greater than 10.
- Ages 65+: 5% vs. 55 → 55 is greater than 5.
In every row, the 2020 percentage is higher than the 2010 percentage.
Match your observations to the choices
Now compare what you observed to each answer:
- One choice claims only the oldest group increased.
- One claims no group changed.
- One claims the youngest group declined.
- One claims all groups increased.
Use your comparisons from the table to see which statement matches the pattern you found.
Select the statement that fits all the data
Since every age group (18–29, 30–49, 50–64, and 65+) has a higher percentage in 2020 than in 2010, the correct description is that the percentage of adults owning smartphones increased in every age group listed (Choice D).