Interpreting Data from Tables
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ACT Science › Interpreting Data from Tables
A chemistry lab measured the pH of a buffer solution after adding different volumes of acid. Use Table 1 to answer the question.
When 6.0 mL of acid was added, the pH was:
6.10
6.35
6.55
6.80
Explanation
When 6.0 mL of acid was added, the pH was 6.55. In Table 1, locate the row for 6.0 mL acid volume and read across to the pH column to find the value of 6.55. This shows how the buffer solution's pH decreases as more acid is added, but the change is gradual due to the buffering capacity.
Based on Table 1, what was the force required to pull the block when the angle of the incline was 40°?
4.1 N
8.5 N
5.8 N
7.2 N
Explanation
This is a straightforward data retrieval question. Table 1 shows Trial 4 with an angle of 40° corresponding to a force of 7.2 N. Choice C is correct. This is the most basic type of ACT Science question—simply locate the row and column and read the value. Choice A (4.1 N) is the value at 20°. Choice B (5.8 N) is the value at 30°. Choice D (8.5 N) is the value at 50°. Pro tip: For direct lookup questions, carefully match the row to avoid reading the wrong value.
Suppose the students performed an additional trial in Study 1 with the light source placed at 25 cm. Based on the trend in Table 1, the number of bubbles produced would most likely be:
less than 5.
between 38 and 45.
between 22 and 38.
greater than 45.
Explanation
This is an interpolation question. Looking at Table 1, at 20 cm the plant produced 38 bubbles, and at 30 cm it produced 22 bubbles. The value 25 cm falls exactly between these two distances, so the bubble count should fall between 22 and 38. Choice C is correct. Choice A (greater than 45) would require the light to be closer than 10 cm. Choice B (between 38 and 45) would be for distances between 10 cm and 20 cm. Choice D (less than 5) would be for distances greater than 50 cm. Pro tip: For interpolation, find the two surrounding known values and choose the range between them.
Suppose the student performed a trial in Study 1 with an incline angle of 25°. Based on the trend in Table 1, the force required would most likely be:
between 4.1 N and 5.8 N.
between 5.8 N and 7.2 N.
greater than 7.2 N.
less than 4.1 N.
Explanation
This is an interpolation question. Looking at Table 1, at 20° the force is 4.1 N, and at 30° the force is 5.8 N. The value 25° falls exactly between these two angles, so the force should fall somewhere between 4.1 N and 5.8 N. If you wanted to be more precise, 25° is the midpoint, so approximately (4.1 + 5.8) ÷ 2 = 4.95 N, which falls in the range. Choice B is correct. Choice A (less than 4.1) would be for angles below 20°. Choice C (between 5.8 and 7.2) would be for angles between 30° and 40°. Choice D (greater than 7.2) would be for angles above 40°. Pro tip: For interpolation, identify the two surrounding known values and select the range between them.
According to Table 1, running at 1.0 km/hr causes the metabolic rate of the Lizard to increase by approximately what factor compared to its resting rate?
6 times
2 times
3 times
10 times
Explanation
This is a calculation question. Table 1 shows the Lizard's resting metabolic rate is 0.5 mL O₂/g·hr and running rate is 3.2 mL O₂/g·hr. To find the factor increase, divide running by rest: 3.2 ÷ 0.5 = 6.4. The closest integer is 6. Choice C (6 times) is correct. Choice A (2 times) would be 1.0 mL. Choice B (3 times) would be 1.5 mL. Choice D (10 times) would be 5.0 mL. Pro tip: For factor questions, divide the final value by the initial value.
A chemistry student measured how reaction temperature affects the time required for a color change to occur. Each trial used the same reactant concentrations. Use Table 1 to answer the question.
At $35,^{\circ}\text{C}$, the reaction time was:
90 s
72 s
41 s
58 s
Explanation
At 35°C, the reaction time was 41 s. In Table 1, find the row for 35°C temperature and read across to the reaction time column to locate the value of 41 s. This shows how reaction time decreases as temperature increases, following the expected pattern for chemical reaction kinetics.
A microbiology lab tested bacterial growth at different antibiotic concentrations. After 24 hours, students measured the optical density (OD) of each culture. Use Table 1 to answer the question.
At an antibiotic concentration of 4 µg/mL, the OD$_{600}$ was:
0.62 (unitless)
0.35 (unitless)
0.95 (unitless)
0.18 (unitless)
Explanation
At 4 µg/mL antibiotic concentration, the OD₆₀₀ was 0.35. In Table 1, find the row for 4 µg/mL antibiotic concentration and read across to the OD₆₀₀ column to locate the value of 0.35. This shows how increasing antibiotic concentration reduces bacterial growth, as measured by optical density.
A materials science team measured the electrical resistance of a wire at different lengths while keeping the wire type and temperature constant. Use Table 1 to answer the question.
According to Table 1, what was the resistance when the wire length was 1.5 m?
6.0 Ω
1.5 Ω
3.0 Ω
4.5 Ω
Explanation
When the wire length was 1.5 m, the resistance was 4.5 Ω. In Table 1, locate the row for 1.5 m wire length and read across to the resistance column to find 4.5 Ω. This demonstrates the linear relationship between wire length and resistance, where longer wires have higher resistance.
A marine science lab measured salinity and temperature at five ocean sampling stations.
At Station 3, the salinity was:
35.1 PSU
34.2 PSU
34.6 PSU
33.8 PSU
Explanation
At Station 3, the salinity was 34.2 PSU. In Table 1, locate the row for Station 3 and read across to the salinity column to find the value of 34.2 PSU. This demonstrates how to extract specific data points from oceanographic measurements by finding the correct station row and reading the corresponding salinity measurement.
Researchers tested how water temperature affects the time needed for a tablet to dissolve in 200 mL of water. Each trial used the same tablet mass and the same stirring rate. The results are shown in Table 1.
According to Table 1, what was the dissolve time when the water temperature was 40 °C?
70 s
120 s
95 s
55 s
Explanation
Table 1 shows dissolve times for tablets at different water temperatures. To find the dissolve time at 40 °C, locate the row for 40 °C in the temperature column and read across to the dissolve time column, where the value is 55 s. This is correct because the table organizes data by increasing temperature, ensuring accurate lookup for the specific condition. A key distractor might be misreading the row for a nearby temperature like 30 °C, which could show 70 s instead.