A data question with percentages in a text and a table tests whether you can combine counts correctly. Read the question, then check the table’s title and headings and which visits each percentage describes. To find part of a group, multiply its total by the percentage as a decimal. If a second percentage describes that part, use the new count as the next total. A choice can get one comparison right and another wrong.
Hints
- Hint 1
Which visits does each percentage describe? Read the table’s headings alongside the sentence beginning “Pollen deposition occurred.”
- Hint 2
Calculate the estimated moth visits in each lighting condition. Multiply each total insect count by its moth share as a decimal.
- Hint 3
Use the moth count as the base for the pollen percentage. Then compare the resulting counts across the three lighting conditions.
Step-by-step
Convert percentages into counts
Step 1Separate the two counts
The researchers warn that an insect visit does not necessarily result in pollination, so total visits alone won’t settle this question. Which counts do the statements compare? They compare moth visits and moth visits involving pollen deposition, which means we need both counts for each lighting condition.
- Step 2
Calculate moth visits
Read the table’s title and headings for total insect visits to experimental plots and moth share. How many moth visits does each row represent? Multiply total visits by the moth share as a decimal: no added light gives 180 × 0.30 = 54, amber light gives 150 × 0.40 = 60, and white light gives 240 × 0.25 = 60.
- Step 3
Calculate visits involving pollen deposition
Now which total do the pollen percentages describe? The text’s 50% of moth visits to plots with no added light tells us to apply the pollen percentages to moth counts, not all insect visits. Without added light, 54 × 0.50 = 27 visits involved pollen deposition. Amber light gives 60 × 0.60 = 36, and white light gives 60 × 0.40 = 24.
- Step 4
Match both comparisons
Which statement combines the information in the text and table correctly? Amber and white light each had 60 estimated moth visits, but 36 of those visits involved pollen deposition under amber light and 24 under white light. So the same estimated number describes the moth counts, while amber had more moth visits involving pollen deposition than white. Choice C.