Evidence Of the Warming Globe Practice Test

A student looks at global average temperature anomaly data. From 1998 to 2012, the values change only slightly overall, but from 1970 to 2020 the values rise by about +0.9°C. The data show observed change over time but do not, by themselves, identify a cause. How does short-term variation compare to the long-term trend?

A dataset lists global average temperature anomaly for selected years: 1910: −0.4°C, 1940: +0.1°C, 1970: −0.1°C, 2000: +0.4°C, 2020: +1.0°C. The numbers show observed temperature change over time but do not, by themselves, explain why it changed. Which statement about temperature change is supported by the data?