PSAT Writing and Language Practice Question 681

Question: 681

Hermey Is Onto Something
{1}
In the 1964 Christmas classic "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," Hermey is a misfit elf who hopes to give up toy-making in order to practice dentistry. As a child, the only thing more appealing to me than being Santa's elf would have been to be Rudolph himself. 34 A lifelong protester of bath time teeth brushing nail clipping, and anything concerning strict routine hygiene, I simply could not understand the elf who would forgo the joys of Santa's workshop for a chance to play in somebody's disgusting mouth. 35  On the one hand he had an amiable, loyal nature. Even though this was the case, Hermey appalled me.
{2}
I recited this 36 childhood memory from the early part of my life to my first college roommate. Tim had just earned admission into Indiana University's School of Dentistry. After living in a single dorm room through undergraduate, I had found his apartment listed under the enticing entry "Looking for One Roommate, Cheap Rent for the Quiet and Introverted," and 37 accepted the adventure of graduate school and a roommate who preferred books to parties. Dental students, Tim explained, 38 have many reasons for pursuing the occupation.
{3}
Besides having great hand dexterity and steadiness, dentists also tend to be personable and interested in helping others maintain their health and self-confidence. Tim, while appropriately interested in diagnosing and treating 39 patients problems with their teeth and gums, demonstrated real passion for repairing teeth and aiding in cosmetic dental concerns. An accident involving stairs and a hardwood floor had left Tim missing a front tooth from the age of seven until seventeen. He understood firsthand how being ashamed of your dental health can 40  effect your whole demeanor. His goal, he boasted, would be to ensure no other middle school kid would go ten years without cracking a smile.
{4}
While Tim's intentions are admirable, I found, with a little research, that there are several other reasons for becoming a dentist. In 2015, average estimates of a general dentist's annual salary for dentists 41 with over six years experience approached $250,000. In fact, their expected salaries 42 come close to those of general doctors. The career prospects are equally impressive, and continuing to grow. Certainly, dentists complete a rigorous curriculum—after undergraduate, they go on to earn a doctorate in dental school, complete licensing standards, and sometimes work a 2–4 year residency—but the intense training pays off in job security and a rewarding income. 43 However, many dentists work in dental offices or start their own practice and enjoy normal 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekday hours. Even those who choose to work a more unconventional schedule find the compensation well worth their time.
Source: onetonline.org
{5}
Hermey, detestable as he was to my five-year-old self, might have been onto something after all. 44

Which of the following properly uses information from the supplementary graph to provide logical support to the author's argument?

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