Question 33·Easy·Command of Evidence
Anxiety Ratings and Coaching Preferences from One Survey
| Participant | Anxiety rating | Preference for public-speaking coaching |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 5 | Yes |
| 12 | 3 | Yes |
| 33 | 1 | Yes |
Ellie Vargas and her colleagues surveyed several employees to assess how anxious they felt about an upcoming presentation and whether they wished to receive coaching beforehand. Participants rated their anxiety on a scale from 1 (very calm) to 5 (very anxious) and indicated whether they wanted coaching. The table shows three of the responses.
According to the table, all three participants expressed interest in coaching, ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?
For table-and-graph Reading & Writing questions, first restate what the sentence must say (what comes before and after the blank), then pull out only the key numbers or labels from the visual. Test each answer choice directly against the data: if any detail doesn’t match the table or graph exactly, eliminate it. Finally, make sure the connecting word (like "and," "but," or "even though") fits the logical relationship shown by the numbers or categories.
Hints
Focus on the anxiety ratings
Look carefully at the anxiety ratings (5, 3, and 1) and remember what 1 and 5 mean on the scale. How do the participants’ feelings compare?
Check each statement against the numbers
For each answer choice, ask: Does this exactly match the ratings shown in the table? If even one detail about who is calmest, most anxious, or at the highest level is wrong, eliminate it.
Pay attention to contrast words
Notice how words like "and," "but," and "even though" show different relationships. Does the clause after the comma show similarity or contrast with the idea that all three wanted coaching?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the sentence needs to say
The sentence starts: "According to the table, all three participants expressed interest in coaching, ______".
So the blank must:
- Connect to the idea that all three said "Yes" to coaching.
- Accurately describe how their anxiety ratings compare.
- Make logical sense with the connecting word (like "and," "but," or "even though").
Read the key information in the table
From the table:
- Participant 44: anxiety rating 5, coaching Yes
- Participant 12: anxiety rating 3, coaching Yes
- Participant 33: anxiety rating 1, coaching Yes
Also, the scale is from 1 (very calm) to 5 (very anxious), so:
- 1 = very calm
- 3 = medium
- 5 = very anxious
Compare each answer choice to the data
Check each option against the table:
- Choice A: says they "each reported the same level of anxiety." Ratings are 5, 3, and 1 — these are not the same.
- Choice C: says participant 12 was the only one who rated anxiety at the highest level. The highest level is 5, and participant 44 has 5, not 12.
- Choice D: says participant 44 felt calmer than the other two. But 44 has rating 5 (very anxious), while 33 has 1 (very calm), so 44 is actually more anxious, not calmer.
Only one option correctly matches the numbers in the table and fits with the idea that all three still wanted coaching.
Confirm the remaining answer fits the logic and the data
The remaining choice, B, says that all three wanted coaching "even though participant 33 felt significantly less anxious than participant 44 did."
This matches the table because:
- Participant 33 has rating 1 (very calm).
- Participant 44 has rating 5 (very anxious).
- That is a big difference and correctly described as "significantly less anxious."
- The phrase "even though" makes sense: it shows contrast between their different anxiety levels and the fact that both still wanted coaching.
So the correct answer is: even though participant 33 felt significantly less anxious than participant 44 did.