Question 58·Easy·Command of Evidence
Daily Distance Traveled by Adult Mountain Lions in Three Seasons
| Season | Kilometers per day traveled by adult females | Kilometers per day traveled by adult males |
|---|---|---|
| cold-dry | 9.28 | 15.81 |
| monsoon | 12.64 | 18.93 |
| hot-dry | 12.48 | 18.87 |
Wildlife researcher Dana L. Karelus and her colleagues tracked the movements of female and male adult mountain lions over three seasons: the cold-dry season, the hot-dry season, and the monsoon season. They found that the least amount of travel per day occurred in ____
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?
For table or graph questions asking about “least,” “greatest,” or “most,” start by underlining the key word (like “least”) and identifying which rows/columns are relevant (here, daily distance for females and for males). Then, scan only those numbers, quickly circle or note the smallest or largest values in each column, and finally match those seasons or categories to the answer choice. Avoid mental shortcuts like assuming the same season is always highest or lowest—always confirm by directly comparing the numbers.
Hints
Focus on what "least" means
The question is asking about the least amount of travel per day, so you should be looking for the smallest numbers in the table, not the largest.
Separate females and males
First, look only at the female column and decide in which season that number is smallest. Then, separately, look at the male column and find the season with the smallest value there.
Match both findings to one choice
Once you know the season with the lowest value for females and the season with the lowest value for males, choose the option that lists both of those seasons in the correct places.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the question is asking
The question asks in which seasons females and males each travel the least distance per day. That means you need to find the smallest number in the female column and the smallest number in the male column, then match those seasons to an answer choice.
Find the least daily distance for females
Look only at the "Kilometers per day traveled by adult females" column:
- cold-dry: 9.28
- monsoon: 12.64
- hot-dry: 12.48
The smallest of these three numbers is 9.28, which happens in the cold-dry season. So, females travel the least in the cold-dry season.
Find the least daily distance for males
Now look only at the "Kilometers per day traveled by adult males" column:
- cold-dry: 15.81
- monsoon: 18.93
- hot-dry: 18.87
The smallest of these three numbers is 15.81, which happens in the cold-dry season. So, males also travel the least in the cold-dry season.
Match the seasons to the answer choice
From the table, both females and males have their lowest daily travel distance in the cold-dry season. The answer choice that matches this is “the cold-dry season for both females and males.”