PSAT Reading Question 586: Answer and Explanation

Question: 586

According to Figures 1 and 2, the relationship between the worldwide business to consumer sales and the worldwide number of digital consumers can best be described as

• A. inversely related.
• B. positively correlated.
• C. exponentially related.
• D. negatively related.

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

(B) Both the worldwide business to consumer sales and the worldwide number of digital consumers are increasing, and the relationship between the two is linear. Therefore, the answer is choice (B), "positively correlated." Choices (A) and (D) mean the same thing: as one variable increases, the other decreases. However, both the variables are increasing in this case. Choice (C), "exponentially related," is flawed in that the two are increasing linearly. If one variable were, for instance, the square or the cube of the other variable, then there would be an exponential relationship.