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Information and IdeasMediumReading a change from data

Information and Ideas practice question

A survey tracked the share of households in a country with a landline telephone. 2004: 93% 2012: 63% 2020: 38%

Which choice most accurately completes the statement based on the data? Between 2004 and 2020, the share of households with a landline ____

  1. A. fell by 55 percentage points.Correct
  2. B. fell by 30 percentage points.
  3. C. rose by 38 percentage points.
  4. D. fell to 93 percent.

Answer: A. fell by 55 percentage points.

The share went from 93% in 2004 to 38% in 2020. The change is 93 − 38 = 55 percentage points, and it's a decrease.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. fell by 30 percentage points.
30 points is the drop from 2004 to 2012 only (93 − 63). The statement covers 2004 to 2020.
C. rose by 38 percentage points.
The share decreased over the period; 38% is the 2020 value, not the size of a rise.
D. fell to 93 percent.
93% is the 2004 value, the starting point, not where the share ended up.

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