Question 71·Easy·Command of Evidence
A city library recently launched a monthly "Story Swap" program in which community members of different ages meet to exchange and discuss their favorite childhood stories. After observing several sessions and interviewing participants, a group of journalism students concluded that the program has strengthened intergenerational connections within the community.
Which quotation from a participant would best support the students’ conclusion?
For “Which quotation/best supports the conclusion?” questions, first underline the key idea in the conclusion (here, “strengthened intergenerational connections”). Quickly restate it in your own words (for example, “different age groups are connecting more”). Then scan each answer for a direct, concrete example of that exact idea—look for explicit interactions or relationships that match the wording, not just related benefits like comfort, statistics, or personal gains. Eliminate any option that doesn’t clearly show the specific type of evidence the conclusion talks about.
Hints
Focus on the conclusion’s key word
Look carefully at the phrase “strengthened intergenerational connections within the community.” What does “intergenerational” mean in this context?
Look for people of different ages interacting
Ask yourself: Which option shows people from different age groups actually interacting or relating to each other because of the program? Eliminate choices that only show one person’s experience or general information.
Ignore answers about environment or numbers
Be cautious of choices that talk about how the room feels (snacks, seating) or give statistics (percent increases). Do these details really prove that people from different generations are connecting?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the key idea in the conclusion
The journalism students concluded that the program “has strengthened intergenerational connections within the community.”
Break this down:
- “Intergenerational” means involving people from different age groups (younger and older generations).
- “Connections” means relationships, interactions, or bonds between those age groups.
So the correct quotation must show people of different ages interacting and forming a bond or recognizing something in common.
Translate the task into a simple question
Rephrase the question in your own words:
Which quote best shows that Story Swap helps people from different age groups connect with each other?
Keep this test in mind as you read each answer choice: Does this show a clear, specific connection between people of different generations? If not, it cannot be the best support for the conclusion.
Check each option against the key idea
Go through the choices one by one:
- Choice A: A parent gets new reading recommendations for their own children. This is about personal benefit and family reading, not about new connections between different age groups in the wider community.
- Choice C: Talks about snacks, comfortable seating, and a relaxed atmosphere. This describes the environment, not relationships between age groups.
- Choice D: Mentions a 15% increase in children’s book circulation. That is a statistic about book checkouts, not about people from different generations interacting or bonding.
Only one choice clearly shows a younger person and an older person relating to each other through stories.
Confirm the choice that directly shows intergenerational connection
The remaining choice describes a participant sharing a childhood comic book and a retiree responding by connecting it to stories she once read to her sons. This clearly shows:
- Two people from different generations (a younger participant and an older retiree),
- Interacting directly at Story Swap,
- Connecting over similar childhood reading experiences.
That concrete example directly supports the idea that Story Swap has strengthened intergenerational connections. Therefore, the best supporting quotation is:
“During last month’s session, I shared a comic book I adored at age ten, and a retiree told me it reminded her of the adventure tales she read aloud to her sons decades ago.”