SAT question a7c52fa4 (Command Of Evidence)

Question

To study how floral damage affects the behavior of pollinators, such as bees, a team of researchers punched holes in the floral tissue of flowers from the vine yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens), a plant that produces flowers that have either a long pistil and a short stamen (pin morphs) or a short pistil and a long stamen (thrum morphs). The researchers then compared the time different insect pollinators spent visiting intact pin and thrum flowers to the time such pollinators spent visiting the artificially damaged pin and thrum flowers. The researchers concluded that the effect of floral damage on time spent per flower varied by both floral morph and the genus of the pollinator. Which choice best describes data from the table that support the researchers' conclusion?

College Board · Accepted Answer

The correct answer is A. Choice A is the best answer because it describes data from the table that support the researchers' conclusion that the effect of floral damage on time spent per flower varied by both floral morph and the genus of the pollinator. The table presents the average time pollinators spent per floral morph. The data in the table shows that for pin flowers, the average time spent per flower by all pollinator genera was higher for flowers that had been artificially damaged than for intact flowers. By contrast, for thrum flowers, the difference in time spent on intact and damaged flowers is seen for only some pollinator genera. This supports the researchers' conclusion that both floral morph and the genus of the pollinator are factors involved in the effect that floral damage has on time pollinators spend per flower.

Mean Time (in Seconds) Spent per Flower for Four Pollinator Genera
Pollinator genus	Seconds per intact pin flower	Seconds per damaged pin flower	Seconds per intact thrum flower	Seconds per damaged thrum flower
Habropoda	$2.7$	$5.4$	$4.1$	$9.5$
Osmia	$5.2$	$8.2$	$7.1$	$8.3$
Pierid	$2.6$	$4.0$	$2.4$	$1.9$
Xylocopa	$2.3$	$2.8$	$2.5$	$2.2$

Explanation

Why the other choices are wrong

SAT Question a7c52fa4: Command Of Evidence answer and explanation

Explanation

Why the other choices are wrong