Question 70·Easy·Command of Evidence
Number and Origin of Clamshell Tools Found at Different Depths below the Surface in Neanderthal Cave
| Depth of tools found below surface in cave (meters) | Clamshells that Neanderthals collected from the beach | Clamshells that Neanderthals harvested from the seafloor |
|---|---|---|
| 2–3 | 7 | 0 |
| 3–4 | 99 | 33 |
| 4–5 | 2 | 0 |
| 5–6 | 18 | 7 |
| 6–7 | 1 | 0 |
Two kinds of clamshell tools used by Neanderthals were dug up in a cave on the western coast of Italy. Archaeologist Paola Villa and her colleagues studied the tools and determined that Neanderthals either collected clams that had washed onto the beach or harvested clams from the seafloor and then sharpened the shells to make tools.
The highest number of tools made from clamshells that were collected from the beach was found at a depth of _____
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?
For SAT questions that use tables or charts, always start by reading exactly what the question is asking—such as "highest number" in a specific category—and then go straight to the relevant column or row. Ignore any extra information (including other columns) and systematically scan the numbers to find the maximum or minimum as required. Finally, match that value back to the correct label (like depth, year, or group) and then to the corresponding answer choice, relying only on the data in the graphic, not on outside knowledge.
Hints
Locate the correct column
Ignore the passage for a moment and look closely at the table. Which column specifically talks about clamshells that Neanderthals collected from the beach?
Focus only on the needed data
Once you’ve found the "collected from the beach" column, look only at the numbers in that column, not the seafloor column.
Compare values, then connect to depth
Which number in that beach column is the largest? After you find it, look to the left to see which depth interval that number belongs to, and then match that depth to the answer choices.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what data the question wants
The question asks about tools made from clamshells that were collected from the beach, not from the seafloor. So you should focus only on the column labeled "Clamshells that Neanderthals collected from the beach" in the table.
Find the largest number in the relevant column
Read down the "collected from the beach" column and note the numbers next to each depth:
- At 2–3 meters: 7
- At 3–4 meters: 99
- At 4–5 meters: 2
- At 5–6 meters: 18
- At 6–7 meters: 1
Compare these values and identify which one is the greatest.
Match the largest value to its depth and answer choice
The largest value in that column is 99. This value is in the row for 3–4 meters below the surface, so the highest number of tools made from clamshells collected from the beach was found at 3–4 meters below the surface, which corresponds to Choice C.