Question 67·Easy·Command of Evidence
Estimated Impacts of Invasive Predator Species on Threatened Birds, Mammals, and Reptiles
| Invasive predator species | Estimated impact on threatened birds | Estimated impact on threatened mammals | Estimated impact on threatened reptiles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mongooses | 0.66 | 0.75 | 0.44 |
| Dogs | 0.67 | 0.57 | 0.44 |
| Cats | 0.74 | 0.61 | 0.52 |
How harmful are invasive predators to threatened species? To find out, researchers assigned values from 0.25 to 1.00 to various harms caused by invasive predators. The researchers then used these values to estimate the extent to which several invasive predator species have harmfully impacted threatened birds, mammals, and reptiles. In the table, higher numbers represent greater impacts.
The estimated impact of invasive mongooses on threatened mammals is ____
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?
For table-reading questions, start by underlining the key categories in the question (here, the specific species and the type of threatened animal). Then, in the table, first find the correct row (species), then the correct column (type of animal), and read the value at their intersection. Avoid doing extra calculations unless the question explicitly asks you to compute something; often, the task is simply to locate and read the correct cell without confusing it with nearby rows or columns.
Hints
Focus on the right species
In the leftmost column, which row is specifically about mongooses? Make sure you stay on that row for the rest of the question.
Identify the correct animal group
Across the top of the table, find the column that refers to threatened mammals, not birds or reptiles.
Use the intersection of row and column
Once you have the mongooses row and the threatened mammals column, what number is at the point where that row and column cross?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the question is asking
The question asks for "The estimated impact of invasive mongooses on threatened mammals." That means you need to find a single number in the table where the category is mongooses and the type of threatened species is mammals.
Locate the correct row (mongooses)
Look at the leftmost column labeled "Invasive predator species."
- Find the row labeled "Mongooses".
- All numbers in this row show the impacts of mongooses on different kinds of threatened animals.
Locate the correct column (threatened mammals)
Now look across the top at the column headers.
- Find the column labeled "Estimated impact on threatened mammals."
- This column contains numbers for how each invasive predator species impacts threatened mammals.
Read the value where the row and column meet
Follow the mongooses row across until it lines up with the threatened mammals column.
- The number at this intersection is 0.75.
- This matches choice C (0.75), so C is the correct answer.