Evaluate Evidence in Passage Practice Test

An education researcher claims that later school start times improve attendance. The researcher cites: (1) District D moved start times from 7:30 to 8:20, and average daily attendance in grades 9–12 rose from 91.2% to 92.6% the following year; (2) in the same year, the district also implemented a new automated parent notification system for absences; and (3) a student survey reported that 54% of students said they slept at least 30 minutes more on school nights after the change.

Which statement best evaluates how the author uses evidence?​

Read the passage and answer the question.

A marine biologist claims that artificial reef structures increase local fish biodiversity. The biologist cites a two-year monitoring project in which divers conducted monthly visual counts at 12 artificial reef sites and 12 nearby sandy-bottom control sites. Across the project, the artificial reef sites averaged 22 species per survey, while the sandy controls averaged 14. The biologist also notes that several species observed at the artificial reefs were juvenile stages of commercially important fish. However, the monitoring report states that the artificial reefs were placed closer to existing natural rock outcrops than the control sites were, because of permitting constraints.

The evidence in the passage primarily serves to