A Bar Graph Compares the Size of the Armed Forces

question 27

Multiple Choice

A bar graph compares the size of the armed forces for China, North Korea, Russia, and the United States. To make the graph look nicer, the artist replaces each bar by a proportionally correct picture of a soldier that is enlarged or reduced to be as tall as the bar. This graph is misleading because

• A) it's the wrong kind of graph. Use a pie chart instead.
• B) it's the wrong kind of graph. Use a scatterplot instead.
• C) China's armed forces are twice as large as those of North Korea, but the choice of vertical scale can change this to half as large or four times as large.
• D) China's armed forces are twice as large as those of North Korea, but the area of China's soldier picture is four times as large as the North Korea picture.

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Definitions:

Chemical Unit

A basic measurement of a substance used in chemistry that defines what amount of it is present.

Matter

The substance or substances of which any physical object consists or is composed, existing in solid, liquid, or gas states.

Lateral

Relating to, or situated at, the side of an organ or structure.

Left Lower Quadrant

An area of the abdomen that contains parts of the large and small intestine, left ovary and fallopian tube in women, and the left ureter.