Evidence and claims
Integration questions ask you to judge how well evidence supports a claim.
The rules
- Identify the claim, then ask what would make it more or less believable.
- Evidence that directly measures the claim strengthens it. Evidence that is irrelevant or contradicts it weakens it.
- Be careful with words like "proves." Most passages only support or suggest.
- Strengthen or weaken questions: choose the answer that most directly connects to the claim.
Watch out: Choosing evidence that is interesting but does not address the claim.
Worked example
A study claims a new fertilizer raises crop yield. Which result would most support the claim?
- The claim compares yield.
- A comparison with similar fields tests it directly.
- Facts about cost or color do not.
Answer: Fields using the fertilizer produced more than similar fields that did not.
Try it yourself
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