Question 65·Medium·Command of Evidence
Results of an 8-Week Tomato Fertilizer Trial
| Treatment | Mean plant height (cm) | Mean number of fruits per plant |
|---|---|---|
| Fertilizer A | 52 | 18 |
| Fertilizer B | 45 | 15 |
| Fertilizer C | 39 | 12 |
| Control (no fertilizer) | 40 | 11 |
In the study report, the lead researcher states, "Among all treatments, Fertilizer A demonstrated the greatest overall benefit for tomato growth."
Which choice most effectively uses information from the table to support the researcher’s statement?
For data-based evidence questions, first translate the claim into something concrete (for example, “best overall” means highest on all relevant measures, compared with every group). Then scan the chart or table to identify which category matches that pattern. Finally, eliminate answer choices that (1) talk about the wrong group, (2) mention only one of the important measures, or (3) make a comparison that doesn’t directly back up the claim; select the choice that clearly and directly summarizes the key comparison shown in the data.
Hints
Clarify what needs to be supported
Restate the researcher’s claim in your own words. What is the researcher saying about Fertilizer A compared to the other treatments?
Use both columns in the table
Look at both plant height and number of fruits. Which treatment is best in each column, and how does that relate to the idea of the “greatest overall benefit”?
Check focus and relevance of each option
For each answer, ask: Does this sentence talk about the key treatment in the claim and clearly compare it to all the others in a way that supports the idea of a greater overall benefit, or is it only mentioning side comparisons or partial information?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the researcher’s claim
The researcher says, "Among all treatments, Fertilizer A demonstrated the greatest overall benefit for tomato growth."
"Greatest overall benefit" here involves both measurements given in the table: plant height and number of fruits per plant, and "among all treatments" means compared with every other group listed.
Analyze the table for which treatment did best overall
Look at the Mean plant height (cm) column:
- Fertilizer A: 52
- Fertilizer B: 45
- Fertilizer C: 39
- Control: 40
Fertilizer A has the tallest plants (52 cm, higher than 45, 39, and 40).
Now look at the Mean number of fruits per plant column:
- Fertilizer A: 18
- Fertilizer B: 15
- Fertilizer C: 12
- Control: 11
Fertilizer A also has the most fruits (18, higher than 15, 12, and 11).
So, Fertilizer A is best on both measures compared with every other treatment.
Match the data pattern to the answer choice
The correct supporting statement must:
- Focus on Fertilizer A (because that is what the researcher’s claim is about), and
- Use information that shows Fertilizer A is better than all other treatments in both height and fruit production.
Choice D does exactly this by stating that Fertilizer A produced plants that were taller and had more fruits than plants in any other treatment, which directly matches what the table shows and supports the researcher’s statement.