Identify Supporting Evidence
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AP English Language and Composition › Identify Supporting Evidence
In a 6-sentence article about urban trees, the author claims that street trees measurably reduce summer heat on city blocks. The author cites a university field study that compared two similar streets and found that at 3 p.m. on clear July days, the tree-lined block averaged 7°F cooler at sidewalk level than the block with sparse canopy. The author also notes that residents on the cooler block reported lower air-conditioning use, and the author references satellite imagery showing higher surface temperatures over large parking lots. The article ends by urging the city to prioritize canopy in heat-vulnerable neighborhoods.
Which of the following does the author use as evidence for the claim that street trees measurably reduce summer heat on city blocks?
The university field study reporting a 7°F cooler average on the tree-lined block at 3 p.m.
The recommendation that the city prioritize canopy in heat-vulnerable neighborhoods.
The author’s general point that cities should be more livable in summer.
The observation that large parking lots appear hotter in satellite imagery.
Explanation
This question requires identifying supporting evidence for the claim that street trees measurably reduce summer heat on city blocks. The correct answer (A) provides specific, quantitative evidence: a university field study showing the tree-lined block averaged 7°F cooler at 3 p.m. than a similar block with sparse canopy. This controlled comparison with a concrete temperature measurement directly demonstrates the measurable cooling effect of street trees. Option B is a recommendation based on the evidence rather than evidence itself, option C is a general point about livability, and option D mentions parking lots, which doesn't directly support the claim about street trees on city blocks. When identifying evidence, look for specific measurements or data that directly demonstrate the claimed effect.
In a 7-sentence editorial about public transit funding, the author argues that a city’s “free-fare pilot” did not meaningfully reduce traffic congestion. The author notes that during the three-month pilot, downtown vehicle counts recorded by the city’s loop sensors fell by only 1.2% compared with the same months the previous year, while ridership rose 18%. The author adds that parking garage revenue stayed “nearly flat” (down 0.4%) and quotes a delivery company manager who says, “Our drivers still lose the same 20 minutes on Main Street every morning.” The author then concedes that the program helped low-income riders but insists congestion requires changing driving behavior, not only lowering transit costs.
Which of the following does the author use as evidence for the claim that the free-fare pilot did not meaningfully reduce traffic congestion?
The author’s concession that the program helped low-income riders.
The claim that the pilot “did not meaningfully reduce traffic congestion.”
The statement that congestion requires changing driving behavior, not only lowering transit costs.
The city loop-sensor counts showing downtown vehicle traffic fell only 1.2% during the pilot compared with the previous year.
Explanation
This question asks you to identify supporting evidence for the claim that a free-fare pilot did not meaningfully reduce traffic congestion. The correct answer (C) provides concrete, quantitative evidence: city loop-sensor data showing downtown vehicle traffic fell by only 1.2% during the pilot compared to the previous year. This small percentage directly supports the claim that congestion was not meaningfully reduced, as a 1.2% decrease is minimal. Option A discusses helping low-income riders, which is unrelated to traffic congestion, while option B is a general statement about solutions rather than evidence about the pilot's effectiveness. Option D is the claim itself, not evidence supporting it. When identifying evidence, look for specific data, statistics, or concrete examples that directly measure or demonstrate the claim being made.
In a 6-sentence column about local journalism, the author claims that paying for news subscriptions supports more accurate community coverage. The author points to a neighboring town where a new subscriber-funded newsroom published a database of restaurant inspections and, over the next year, the county health department reported a 17% increase in on-time compliance after repeated public reporting on late filings. The author also notes that the newsroom issued three corrections in a year “with transparent editor’s notes,” contrasting it with a rumor-heavy social media group that rarely retracts posts. The column ends by urging readers to treat reliable reporting as a public utility.
The author supports the claim primarily by providing evidence that paying for news subscriptions supports more accurate community coverage through
the example of the subscriber-funded newsroom publishing inspection data and issuing transparent corrections.
the claim that subscriptions support accurate coverage.
the idea that social media groups can spread rumors.
the author’s urging readers to treat reliable reporting as a public utility.
Explanation
This question requires identifying supporting evidence for the claim that paying for news subscriptions supports more accurate community coverage. The correct answer (B) provides a concrete example: a subscriber-funded newsroom that published inspection data and issued transparent corrections, leading to a 17% increase in health department compliance after repeated public reporting. This example directly demonstrates how subscription funding enabled accurate, impactful journalism with accountability through corrections. Option A is the author's concluding urging rather than evidence, option C is the claim itself, and option D mentions social media rumors but doesn't directly connect to subscription support. When identifying evidence, look for specific examples that show the causal relationship between the proposed solution (subscriptions) and the desired outcome (accurate coverage).
In a 7-sentence commentary on food waste, the author claims that confusing date labels cause people to throw away safe food. The author quotes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s guidance that “best if used by” dates refer to quality, not safety, and notes that many foods remain safe after the printed date if stored properly. The author then describes a local survey of 500 shoppers in which 58% said they discard yogurt the day after the “best by” date regardless of smell or appearance. The author adds an anecdote about a roommate who emptied the fridge every Friday because “the dates are basically expiration,” and concludes that standardized labeling would reduce waste.
Which of the following does the author use as evidence for the claim that confusing date labels cause people to throw away safe food?
The explanation that some foods remain safe after the printed date if stored properly.
The conclusion that standardized labeling would reduce waste.
The survey result that 58% of shoppers discard yogurt immediately after the “best by” date regardless of sensory cues.
The author’s claim that confusing labels cause waste.
Explanation
This question asks you to identify supporting evidence for the claim that confusing date labels cause people to throw away safe food. The correct answer (B) provides concrete evidence: a survey showing 58% of shoppers discard yogurt immediately after the "best by" date regardless of sensory cues like smell or appearance. This statistic directly demonstrates how date label confusion leads to discarding potentially safe food, as people ignore other indicators of food safety. Option A is a conclusion rather than evidence, option C is the claim itself, and option D explains food safety principles but doesn't provide evidence of actual waste behavior. The roommate anecdote also supports the claim, but the survey data provides quantifiable evidence of widespread wasteful behavior due to label confusion.
Read the following embedded passage and answer the question.
A nutrition writer claims that front-of-package warning labels can reduce sugary drink consumption. She cites a 2022 study in which a supermarket chain placed black “High Sugar” icons on certain beverages; scanner data showed purchases of those drinks fell 14% over eight weeks, while purchases of unlabeled beverages in the same aisles remained steady. The writer adds that, in exit surveys, 41% of shoppers who noticed the icon said it “made me reconsider,” even if they still bought the drink. She anticipates criticism that shoppers can ignore labels, but argues that the point is not perfect compliance; it is shifting habits at scale. She ends by noting that the chain did not change prices during the trial, reducing the likelihood that discounts explained the drop.
Which of the following does the author use as evidence for the claim that warning labels can reduce sugary drink consumption?
The statement that some shoppers said the icon “made me reconsider,” even if they still bought the drink.
The scanner-data finding that purchases of labeled high-sugar drinks fell 14% while purchases of unlabeled beverages remained steady.
The mention that shoppers can ignore labels, which the writer anticipates as criticism.
The argument that the goal is shifting habits at scale rather than perfect compliance.
Explanation
This question tests the skill of identifying supporting evidence by asking which detail from the passage best supports the writer's claim that front-of-package warning labels can reduce sugary drink consumption. The correct answer, the scanner-data finding that purchases of labeled high-sugar drinks fell 14% while purchases of unlabeled beverages remained steady, functions as evidence by providing objective sales data that shows a decline attributable to the labels. This comparison controls for other factors, isolating the labels' effect on consumer behavior. The eight-week trial period adds reliability to the quantitative evidence. In contrast, the statement that some shoppers said the icon 'made me reconsider' is anecdotal and does not measure actual reduction in consumption. A transferable strategy is to locate the claim in the passage and then scan for factual data or examples that directly bolster it, distinguishing them from opinions or unrelated details.
Read the following embedded passage and answer the question.
In an op-ed about municipal water, an engineer claims that fixing leaks is a cheaper “new water source” than drilling additional wells. She cites the city’s annual audit estimating that 19% of treated water is lost through leaks before it reaches customers. She also includes a cost comparison from the public works department: repairing the worst leak clusters would cost $2.1 million and recover an estimated 1.4 million gallons per day, while drilling and connecting a new well would cost $6.8 million for roughly 1.0 million gallons per day. The engineer notes that the city already pays to treat and pump the leaked water, meaning residents are billed for water that never arrives. “Conservation,” she writes, “is not only about shorter showers; it’s about stopping the invisible spill beneath our streets.”
The author supports the claim primarily by using which of the following as evidence for the claim that fixing leaks is cheaper than drilling additional wells?
The audit estimate that 19% of treated water is lost through leaks.
The cost comparison showing $2.1 million in repairs could recover 1.4 million gallons per day, while a $6.8 million well yields about 1.0 million gallons per day.
The metaphor that leaks are an “invisible spill beneath our streets.”
The explanation that residents are billed for water that never arrives because it is treated and pumped before leaking.
Explanation
This question tests the skill of identifying supporting evidence by asking which detail from the passage best supports the engineer's claim that fixing leaks is cheaper than drilling additional wells. The correct answer, the cost comparison showing $2.1 million in repairs could recover 1.4 million gallons per day while a $6.8 million well yields about 1.0 million gallons per day, functions as evidence by providing a direct financial and output analysis that highlights the efficiency of leak fixes. This comparison quantifies both cost savings and greater water recovery, making a compelling case for the claim. It also draws from public works data, adding credibility to the economic argument. In contrast, the audit estimate that 19% of treated water is lost through leaks describes the problem's scale but does not compare costs. A transferable strategy is to locate the claim in the passage and then scan for factual data or examples that directly bolster it, distinguishing them from opinions or unrelated details.
Read the following embedded passage and answer the question.
In a district memo about student sleep, a high school principal claims that later start times can improve academic performance. She cites the district’s pilot program: two schools shifted from 7:25 to 8:30 a.m., and their average first-period failure rate fell from 11% to 6% over one semester. She adds that tardies in those schools dropped by 22%, while three comparable schools that did not change start times saw tardies remain essentially flat. The principal also references a state health department survey in which 58% of teens reported getting fewer than seven hours of sleep on school nights. “If we keep scheduling learning at the hour students are least alert,” she concludes, “we should not be surprised when they underperform.”
Which of the following does the author use as evidence for the claim that later start times can improve academic performance?
The pilot program data showing first-period failure rates fell from 11% to 6% after the start time moved to 8:30 a.m.
The state health department survey reporting that 58% of teens sleep fewer than seven hours on school nights.
The general claim that students are “least alert” early in the morning.
The rhetorical conclusion that scheduling learning when students are least alert leads to underperformance.
Explanation
This question tests the skill of identifying supporting evidence by asking which detail from the passage best supports the principal's claim that later start times can improve academic performance. The correct answer, the pilot program data showing first-period failure rates fell from 11% to 6% after the start time moved to 8:30 a.m., functions as evidence by offering measurable outcomes from a real-world trial that connect delayed starts to reduced failures. This data provides a direct before-and-after comparison, illustrating how the change positively affected student performance metrics. Furthermore, the inclusion of tardy reductions in the pilot schools strengthens the evidence by linking better attendance to academic gains. In contrast, the state health department survey reporting 58% of teens sleep fewer than seven hours is background information on sleep deprivation but does not directly tie to performance improvements. A transferable strategy is to locate the claim in the passage and then scan for factual data or examples that directly bolster it, distinguishing them from opinions or unrelated details.
Read the following embedded passage and answer the question.
A columnist argues that library fines often discourage reading rather than encourage responsibility. She describes a 10-year-old who stopped checking out books after his family accumulated $18 in late fees; the child told the librarian he was “afraid of making it worse.” The columnist then cites a county library system that eliminated fines in 2021 and reported a 16% increase in youth card renewals the following year. That same system also reported that the percentage of overdue items returned within 30 days stayed nearly the same (from 83% to 82%), undercutting the fear that “everything will disappear.” The columnist concedes that replacing fines with reminder texts costs money, but notes that the county’s annual fine revenue had been less than 1% of its operating budget.
Which of the following does the author use as evidence for the claim that library fines discourage reading?
The anecdote about the 10-year-old who stopped checking out books after his family accumulated $18 in late fees.
The concession that replacing fines with reminder texts costs money.
The claim that fears about items “disappearing” are exaggerated.
The statement that annual fine revenue was less than 1% of the county library’s operating budget.
Explanation
This question tests the skill of identifying supporting evidence by asking which detail from the passage best supports the columnist's claim that library fines often discourage reading. The correct answer, the anecdote about the 10-year-old who stopped checking out books after his family accumulated $18 in late fees, functions as evidence by providing a specific, relatable example of how fines create fear and barriers to library use. This story illustrates the emotional and behavioral impact of fines on young readers, directly supporting the claim of discouragement. Additionally, the child's statement about being 'afraid of making it worse' humanizes the evidence, showing real-world consequences. In contrast, the statement that annual fine revenue was less than 1% of the budget addresses financial aspects but does not demonstrate discouragement of reading. A transferable strategy is to locate the claim in the passage and then scan for factual data or examples that directly bolster it, distinguishing them from opinions or unrelated details.
Read the following embedded passage and answer the question.
A rural journalist argues that small-town newspapers still provide unique civic value even in the age of social media. She notes that in the last year her paper published 46 articles based on open-records requests, including a series that revealed the county ambulance service had response times exceeding its contract by an average of six minutes. After the series ran, the county commission voted to add a new overnight crew and posted monthly response-time data online. The journalist also points out that the paper’s court docket summaries are often the only consistent public record of minor cases, since the county website is updated irregularly. She concedes that Facebook groups spread information faster, but argues that speed is not the same as verification.
Which of the following does the author use as evidence for the claim that small-town newspapers provide unique civic value?
The statement that Facebook groups spread information faster but are not the same as verification.
The example that the paper’s open-records series exposed ambulance response-time problems and prompted the county to add an overnight crew and publish monthly data.
The detail that the county website is updated irregularly.
The claim that newspapers have civic value even in the age of social media.
Explanation
This question tests the skill of identifying supporting evidence by asking which detail from the passage best supports the journalist's claim that small-town newspapers provide unique civic value. The correct answer, the example that the paper’s open-records series exposed ambulance response-time problems and prompted the county to add an overnight crew and publish monthly data, functions as evidence by illustrating a tangible outcome where journalism led to public improvements. This case shows the newspaper's role in accountability and change, highlighting its civic impact. The specific actions taken by the county demonstrate the value beyond mere information sharing. In contrast, the detail that the county website is updated irregularly describes a gap but does not show the newspaper's unique contribution. A transferable strategy is to locate the claim in the passage and then scan for factual data or examples that directly bolster it, distinguishing them from opinions or unrelated details.
Read the following embedded passage and answer the question.
An environmental historian argues that planting diverse native species makes urban parks more resilient to extreme weather. She references a 15-year monitoring project in two city parks: the park that replaced large monoculture lawns with mixed native prairie plots lost 9% of plant cover during a two-month drought, while a comparable park dominated by turf grass lost 28%. She also cites a university soil study showing that the prairie plots developed deeper root systems and increased soil organic matter by 0.6 percentage points, improving water retention. The historian acknowledges that native plantings can look “messier” than lawns, but notes that maintenance crews reported fewer irrigation hours after establishment. “A park isn’t a carpet,” she writes; “it’s an ecosystem that has to survive the next surprise.”
Which of the following does the author use as evidence for the claim that diverse native plantings make parks more resilient to extreme weather?
The claim that native plantings can look “messier” than lawns.
The drought comparison showing the native prairie park lost 9% plant cover while the turf-dominated park lost 28%.
The metaphor that a park is not a carpet but an ecosystem.
The statement that maintenance crews reported fewer irrigation hours after the plantings were established.
Explanation
This question tests the skill of identifying supporting evidence by asking which detail from the passage best supports the historian's claim that planting diverse native species makes urban parks more resilient to extreme weather. The correct answer, the drought comparison showing the native prairie park lost 9% plant cover while the turf-dominated park lost 28%, functions as evidence by providing a direct, long-term comparison of resilience during a specific weather event. This data quantifies lower losses in diverse plantings, linking native species to better survival rates. The 15-year monitoring project adds depth and reliability to the evidence. In contrast, the statement that maintenance crews reported fewer irrigation hours addresses maintenance benefits but not resilience to extremes. A transferable strategy is to locate the claim in the passage and then scan for factual data or examples that directly bolster it, distinguishing them from opinions or unrelated details.