Question
Examine the chart.
A 5-column table with 9 rows titled Religion in North America. Column 1 is titled Religion with entries Christianity, Unaffiliated, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Other Religions, Folk Regions, and Total. Column 2 is titled 2010 population with entries 266,630,000; 59,040,000; 6,040,000; 3,860,000; 3,480,000; 2,250,000; 2,200,000, 1,020,000; and 344,530,000. Column 3 is titled percent in 2010 with entries 77.4, 17.1, 1.8, 1.1, 1.0, 0.7, 0.6, 0.3, and 100.0. Column 4 is titled 2050 Projected Population with entries 286,710,000; 111,340,000; 5,920,000; 6,080,000; 10,350,000; 5,850,000; 6,540,000; 2,630,000; and 435,420,000. Column 5 is titled percent in 2050 with entries 65.8, 25.6, 1.4, 1.4, 2.4, 1.3, 1.5, 0.6, and 100.0.
Which conclusion can be drawn from the data presented in the chart?
By 2050, there will be fewer Christians in North America than there were in 2010.
There will still be fewer North Americans practicing Islam than Judaism or Buddhism in 2050.
The number of North Americans who are unaffiliated with any religion will increase significantly by 2050.
All religions except Christianity will represent a greater percentage of North Americans in 2050 than in 2010.
A 5-column table with 9 rows titled Religion in North America. Column 1 is titled Religion with entries Christianity, Unaffiliated, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Other Religions, Folk Regions, and Total. Column 2 is titled 2010 population with entries 266,630,000; 59,040,000; 6,040,000; 3,860,000; 3,480,000; 2,250,000; 2,200,000, 1,020,000; and 344,530,000. Column 3 is titled percent in 2010 with entries 77.4, 17.1, 1.8, 1.1, 1.0, 0.7, 0.6, 0.3, and 100.0. Column 4 is titled 2050 Projected Population with entries 286,710,000; 111,340,000; 5,920,000; 6,080,000; 10,350,000; 5,850,000; 6,540,000; 2,630,000; and 435,420,000. Column 5 is titled percent in 2050 with entries 65.8, 25.6, 1.4, 1.4, 2.4, 1.3, 1.5, 0.6, and 100.0.
Which conclusion can be drawn from the data presented in the chart?
By 2050, there will be fewer Christians in North America than there were in 2010.
There will still be fewer North Americans practicing Islam than Judaism or Buddhism in 2050.
The number of North Americans who are unaffiliated with any religion will increase significantly by 2050.
All religions except Christianity will represent a greater percentage of North Americans in 2050 than in 2010.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Based on the data presented in the chart, the most accurate conclusion is:
**The number of North Americans who are unaffiliated with any religion will increase significantly by 2050.**
This conclusion is supported by the data showing an increase in the projected population of the unaffiliated from 59,040,000 in 2010 to 111,340,000 in 2050, which represents a significant increase both in number and percentage (from 17.1% in 2010 to 25.6% in 2050).
The other statements can be evaluated as follows:
- **By 2050, there will be fewer Christians in North America than there were in 2010.** This is incorrect; the Christian population is projected to increase from 266,630,000 in 2010 to 286,710,000 in 2050.
- **There will still be fewer North Americans practicing Islam than Judaism or Buddhism in 2050.** This statement is incorrect, as the projected population of Muslims (10,350,000) will exceed the populations of both Jews (5,920,000) and Buddhists (6,080,000) in 2050.
- **All religions except Christianity will represent a greater percentage of North Americans in 2050 than in 2010.** This statement is also incorrect. While some religions will see an increase in population, their percentage representation (like Christianity) is not increasing except for the unaffiliated group.
Hence, the clearest conclusion supported by the data is the significant increase in the unaffiliated population by 2050.
**The number of North Americans who are unaffiliated with any religion will increase significantly by 2050.**
This conclusion is supported by the data showing an increase in the projected population of the unaffiliated from 59,040,000 in 2010 to 111,340,000 in 2050, which represents a significant increase both in number and percentage (from 17.1% in 2010 to 25.6% in 2050).
The other statements can be evaluated as follows:
- **By 2050, there will be fewer Christians in North America than there were in 2010.** This is incorrect; the Christian population is projected to increase from 266,630,000 in 2010 to 286,710,000 in 2050.
- **There will still be fewer North Americans practicing Islam than Judaism or Buddhism in 2050.** This statement is incorrect, as the projected population of Muslims (10,350,000) will exceed the populations of both Jews (5,920,000) and Buddhists (6,080,000) in 2050.
- **All religions except Christianity will represent a greater percentage of North Americans in 2050 than in 2010.** This statement is also incorrect. While some religions will see an increase in population, their percentage representation (like Christianity) is not increasing except for the unaffiliated group.
Hence, the clearest conclusion supported by the data is the significant increase in the unaffiliated population by 2050.