Question 5·Medium·Command of Evidence
Land Area Covered by Native Flowering Plants at a Site in Antarctica
| Species | Area covered in 2009 (square meters) | Area covered in 2018 (square meters) | Percent increase 2009–2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deschampsia antarctica | 1,230 | 1,576 | 28% |
| Colobanthus quitensis | 6.9 | 10.7 | 55% |
The only flowering plant species native to Antarctica, Colobanthus quitensis and Deschampsia antarctica grow in places where the earth remains free of ice for much of the year. Botanist Nicoletta Cannone wondered how the warming of Antarctica’s climate in recent years had affected these species, so she visited a site in Antarctica—first in 2009 and later in 2018—to count the number of plants growing there. Cannone found that the area of land covered by the two species had significantly expanded during the nine-year period. While both species likely benefited from warming temperatures, Colobanthus quitensis _____
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?
For SAT Reading & Writing questions that combine a short passage with a table or graph, first identify what the blank or question is asking you to describe (comparison, trend, or specific number). Then go straight to the relevant row/column in the graphic, restate what the numbers show in simple words, and look for the answer choice that matches only that information. Systematically eliminate any choice that contradicts the numbers, reverses them, or introduces new details (like causes, rates, or measurements) that are not given in the passage or graphic.
Hints
Locate where the answer must come from
The blank talks about Colobanthus quitensis right after a sentence about the expansion of both species. Look at the table to see how Colobanthus’s change compares with Deschampsia’s.
Use the percent increase column
Focus on the “Percent increase 2009–2018” numbers for the two plants. Which species’ land coverage increased by a larger percentage?
Watch for contradictions and extra information
Eliminate any answer that disagrees with the table’s numbers (for example, saying an area got smaller) or that introduces new ideas not mentioned in the passage or table (such as plant size or the rate of ice melting).
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the blank must do
The sentence before the blank says both species’ land coverage “had significantly expanded” between 2009 and 2018. The blank must add a specific statement about Colobanthus quitensis, especially in relation to Deschampsia antarctica, that is supported by the table.
Read the key numbers in the table
Focus on the “Percent increase 2009–2018” column:
- Deschampsia antarctica: increase (from 1,230 to 1,576 square meters)
- Colobanthus quitensis: increase (from 6.9 to 10.7 square meters)
So Colobanthus quitensis had a larger percent increase in area covered than Deschampsia antarctica did.
Translate the data into words
A increase means Colobanthus quitensis ended up covering more than half again as much land as it had in 2009. Also, since is greater than , Colobanthus quitensis expanded more, in percentage terms, than Deschampsia antarctica. The correct completion must capture both ideas: (1) Colobanthus expanded more than Deschampsia, and (2) its area increased by more than half.
Match the idea to the answer choices
Now compare that required idea to the options:
- Eliminate any choice that says Deschampsia’s area got smaller (the table shows it increased).
- Eliminate any choice that talks about things the table never mentions, like average plant size or land “newly freed from ice.”
The only choice that correctly states that Colobanthus quitensis “saw a greater expansion than Deschampsia antarctica did, increasing the area of land it covered by more than half” is choice B, so B is correct.