Question ID 37930b2a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Math Problem-Solving Evaluating
and Data Analysis statistical claims:
Observational
studies and
experiments
ID: 37930b2a 2.1
Residents of a town were surveyed to determine whether they are satisfied
with the concession stand at the local park. A random sample of
200 residents was selected. All 200 responded, and 87% said they are
satisfied. Based on this information, which of the following statements
must be true?
I. Of all the town residents, 87% would say they are satisfied with the concession stand at the local park.
II. If another random sample of 200 residents were surveyed, 87% would say they are satisfied.
A. Neither
B. I only
C. II only
D. I and II
ID: 37930b2a Answer
Correct Answer: A
Rationale
Choice A is correct. The purpose of surveying a random sample of residents is to approximate the percent of
the town residents that are satisfied with the concession stand. The sample doesn’t necessarily get the same
result as surveying every resident of the town, nor would another sample necessarily have identical results.
Therefore, although it’s possible that either statement I or statement II could prove true by surveying every
resident of the town, these statements cannot be proven true solely based on the results of the sample.
Choice B is incorrect because surveying a sample of the town residents may not have the same result as
surveying all the town residents. Choices C and D are incorrect because surveying a different sample of
residents could yield different results.
Question Difficulty: Medium
Question ID b4f5a7ca
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Math Problem-Solving Evaluating
and Data Analysis statistical claims:
Observational
studies and
experiments
ID: b4f5a7ca 2.2
A survey was conducted using a sample of history professors selected at
random from the California State Universities. The professors surveyed
were asked to name the publishers of their current texts. What is the largest
population to which the results of the survey can be generalized?
A. All professors in the United States
B. All history professors in the United States
C. All history professors at all California State Universities
D. All professors at all California State Universities
ID: b4f5a7ca Answer
Correct Answer: C
Rationale
Choice C is correct. Selecting a sample at random when conducting a survey allows the results to be
generalized to the population from which the sample was selected, but not beyond this population. In this
situation, the population that the sample was selected from is history professors from the California State
Universities. Therefore, the largest population to which the results of the survey can be generalized is all
history professors at all California State Universities.
Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Since the sample was selected at random from history professors from the
California State Universities, the results of the survey can’t be generalized to all professors in the United
States, all history professors in the United States, or all professors at all California State Universities. All three
of these populations may use different texts and therefore may name different publishers.
Question Difficulty: Medium
Question ID 642519d7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Math Problem-Solving Evaluating
and Data Analysis statistical claims:
Observational
studies and
experiments
ID: 642519d7 2.3
A polling agency recently surveyed 1,000 adults who were selected at
random from a large city and asked each of the adults, “Are you satisfied
with the quality of air in the city?” Of those surveyed, 78 percent responded
that they were satisfied with the quality of air in the city. Based on the
results of the survey, which of the following statements must be true?
1. Of all adults in the city, 78 percent are satisfied with the quality of air in the city.
2. If another 1,000 adults selected at random from the city were surveyed, 78 percent of them would report
they are satisfied with the quality of air in the city.
3. If 1,000 adults selected at random from a different city were surveyed, 78 percent of them would report they
are satisfied with the quality of air in the city.
A. None
B. II only
C. I and II only
D. I and III only
ID: 642519d7 Answer
Correct Answer: A
Rationale
Choice A is correct. Statement I need not be true. The fact that 78% of the 1,000 adults who were surveyed
responded that they were satisfied with the air quality in the city does not mean that the exact same
percentage of all adults in the city will be satisfied with the air quality in the city. Statement II need not be true
because random samples, even when they are of the same size, are not necessarily identical with regard to
percentages of people in them who have a certain opinion. Statement III need not be true for the same reason
that statement II need not be true: results from different samples can vary. The variation may be even bigger
for this sample since it would be selected from a different city. Therefore, none of the statements must be true.
Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because none of the statements must be true.
Question Difficulty: Medium
