Interpreting Informative Texts Flashcards

A report includes the statement: 'The mean score was 78, but the median was 62.' What does this disparity most likely indicate?

Answer: A few very high scores are pulling the mean upward

When the mean significantly exceeds the median, it suggests a positively skewed distribution with high-value outliers inflating the average.

An environmental impact statement categorizes effects as 'direct,' 'indirect,' and 'cumulative.' A reader should understand that 'cumulative' effects refer to:

Answer: The combined result of multiple impacts over time across a region

Cumulative impacts are the total environmental effects when a project's impact is added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions.

A text presents a Venn diagram with two overlapping circles labeled 'Online learners' and 'Full-time workers.' The overlapping region represents:

Answer: People who are both online learners and full-time workers

In a Venn diagram, the intersection (overlap) of two circles represents elements belonging to both sets simultaneously.

A passage uses the phrase 'anecdotal evidence' to describe several individual stories. The author is implying that this evidence:

Answer: Is based on personal accounts rather than systematic data collection

Anecdotal evidence consists of personal stories or isolated examples, which lack the rigor of controlled, systematic data collection.

A text includes: 'The intervention group improved by 15 points; the control group improved by 12 points (difference not statistically significant).' What should the reader conclude?

Answer: The observed difference could plausibly be due to chance

A non-significant result means the observed difference falls within the range expected by random variation, so the intervention's effect cannot be confirmed.

An author writes: 'It should be noted that the funding for this study was provided by the pharmaceutical company whose drug was being tested.' This disclosure is included primarily to:

Answer: Allow readers to consider potential conflicts of interest when evaluating the findings

Disclosing funding sources lets readers assess whether financial ties might have influenced the study's design, analysis, or reporting.

A passage describes a pie chart showing market share percentages that add up to 107%. A critical reader should recognize this as:

Answer: A data error, since all parts of a whole must total exactly 100%

Pie charts represent parts of a whole, so slices must sum to exactly 100%; any other total signals a data or presentation error.