Identify Supporting Evidence Practice Test

In a 7-sentence essay about workplace meetings, the author argues that most recurring meetings persist out of habit rather than necessity. The author cites an internal audit at a mid-size software firm showing that 62% of weekly recurring meetings had no written agenda and that canceling just two standing meetings freed an average of 3.5 hours per employee each month. The author also mentions that when one team required a one-sentence purpose statement in calendar invites, the number of attendees dropped “without any drop in output,” according to the team’s quarterly goals report. The author concludes that meetings should “re-earn their place on the calendar.”

Which of the following does the author use as evidence for the claim that most recurring meetings persist out of habit rather than necessity?

In a 6-sentence newsletter to residents about water conservation, the author claims that small household changes can significantly reduce citywide water use. The author cites the city utility’s estimate that replacing old showerheads with 1.5-gallon-per-minute models saves about 2,900 gallons per person annually. The author adds that in the pilot rebate program, 3,200 households participated and the utility measured a 6% drop in average monthly consumption among those addresses compared with the prior year. The author then explains that “multiplying modest savings across thousands of homes creates real capacity,” and urges readers to apply for the next rebate round.

Which of the following does the author use as evidence for the claim that small household changes can significantly reduce citywide water use?