Sand dunes are piles of sand. Scientists wanted to know how a hurricane's rain and waves affect them. They found the average height of many sand dunes in different states. Then they measured the heights again after a very strong hurricane had passed. The table below shows some of their results.

Question

Average Dune Height
Before Hurricane
(meters) Average Dune Height
After Hurricane
(meters)
New Jersey 3.2 1.5
Virginia 6.6 5.2
New York 4.3 2.9

What can be concluded from the data?
A.
The hurricane eroded sand from the sand dunes and caused the height of the sand dunes to decrease.
B.
The hurricane eroded sand from the dunes of one state and deposited it on the dunes of another state.
C.
The next hurricane will deposit sand from the ocean and increase the height of the sand dunes.
D.
The next hurricane will cause the sand dunes to decrease in height by the same number of meters.

Answer 1

The most accurate conclusion that can be drawn from the data presented is:

A. The hurricane eroded sand from the sand dunes and caused the height of the sand dunes to decrease.

The data shows a clear reduction in the average heights of the sand dunes before and after the hurricane, indicating that erosion occurred due to the hurricane's rain and waves. The other options cannot be concluded directly from the information provided.