Question 83·Easy·Command of Evidence
Results of Battery Performance Testing for Two Smartphone Models
| Phone model | Battery capacity (mAh) | Average screen-on time (hours) | Full recharge time (minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model Apex | 4,800 | 10.2 | 90 |
| Model Zephyr | 5,000 | 11.4 | 120 |
The table shows data collected by engineers evaluating two new smartphone models. According to the data, compared with the Model Apex, the Model Zephyr offers ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?
For table-based SAT Reading & Writing questions, first identify exactly which items you are comparing (here, Zephyr vs. Apex). Then, column by column, decide whether the second item’s value is greater, smaller, or the same as the first. Translate those comparisons into simple words like “larger,” “smaller,” “longer,” or “shorter,” and match them directly to the answer choices. Finally, quickly scan all parts of each choice to ensure every detail matches the data—many wrong choices contain one correct comparison and one incorrect one to trap quick readers.
Hints
Focus on the right phone and columns
Make sure you are comparing Model Zephyr to Model Apex, not the other way around. Look closely at the battery capacity and average screen-on time columns first.
Decide if each value is bigger or smaller
For each of the two models, ask: Is Model Zephyr’s number in that column greater than or less than Model Apex’s number?
Use the recharge time to eliminate choices
Check whether Model Zephyr takes more or less time to fully recharge than Model Apex, and cross out any choices that describe the recharge time incorrectly.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what is being compared
The question asks how Model Zephyr compares with Model Apex using the data in the table. Focus on the three columns of data: battery capacity, average screen-on time, and full recharge time.
Compare battery capacities
Look at the "Battery capacity (mAh)" column:
- Model Apex: 4,800 mAh
- Model Zephyr: 5,000 mAh
Since 5,000 is greater than 4,800, Model Zephyr has a larger battery capacity than Model Apex.
Compare average screen-on times
Now look at the "Average screen-on time (hours)" column:
- Model Apex: 10.2 hours
- Model Zephyr: 11.4 hours
Because 11.4 is greater than 10.2, Model Zephyr has a longer average screen-on time than Model Apex.
Check full recharge times to eliminate traps
Finally, look at the "Full recharge time (minutes)" column:
- Model Apex: 90 minutes
- Model Zephyr: 120 minutes
Since 120 is greater than 90, Model Zephyr actually has a longer full recharge time, not a shorter one. Any answer that says Zephyr has a shorter recharge time must be wrong.
Match your comparisons to the answer choices
From the table, Model Zephyr has a larger battery capacity and a longer average screen-on time than Model Apex, and a longer (not shorter) recharge time. The only answer choice that correctly states both the larger battery capacity and the longer average screen-on time—without incorrectly claiming a shorter recharge time—is “a larger battery capacity and a longer average screen-on time.”