Question

Interpreting the Evidence
A graph titled Percent of Population 25 Years and Over with a High School Diploma or More by Race shows percent labeled on the x-axis and years labeled on the y-axis. In 1960, 21.7 percent were Black American and 43.2 percent were White. In 1980, 51.2 percent were Black American and 68.8 percent were White. In 2000, 72.3 percent were Black American and 83.6 percent were White.

How do the percentages in 2021 compare to those in 1980?

The difference between the groups increased and then decreased.
The difference between the two groups was the same in 2021 as 1980.
There is more of a difference between the two groups in 2021 than in 1980.
There is less of a difference between the two groups in 2021 than in 1980.

Answer 1

There is less of a difference between the two groups in 2021 than in 1980.

Reason: in 1980 the gap was 68.8 − 51.2 = 17.6 percentage points. By 2000 it had fallen to 83.6 − 72.3 = 11.3 points, and the gap narrowed further by 2021, so the difference in 2021 is smaller than in 1980.