Difficulty: Hard

Average Score: 41%

The table and the article are based on information from the U.S. Federal Election Commission.
U.S. presidential candidates receive financial contributions from many different sources. For the 2012 election cycle, political parties reported contributions of $34,750 to all candidates. Political action committees, groups that raise money to give to campaigns, reported contributions of $1.7 million to all candidates. Candidates personally contributed $5.8 million to their own campaigns. Additionally, the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, to which citizens may contribute by checking a box on their federal tax forms, gave $1.3 million to all candidates. The remainder came from individual contributions as shown in the table.

Which conclusion is best supported by information in the table and article?

Diagram for question

Rationale

Individuals donated the greatest total amount although many contributions were relatively small.

The passage emphasizes the importance of sustainability and highlights that while many individual donations may be small, they collectively contribute significantly to the total funds available for presidential campaigns. This aligns with the notion that individual contributions can have a substantial impact on overall fundraising efforts.

A (Individuals contributed a total amount of money equal to the total of all other sources of donations.) YOUR ANSWER

This choice inaccurately suggests that individual contributions matched the total from all other sources, which is unlikely given that the passage implies multiple sources of funding. The focus is on the significant role of individuals rather than equality with other sources.

B (Individuals contributing the smallest quantity of money insignificantly impact presidential campaigns.) YOUR ANSWER

This statement contradicts the passage, which indicates that even small contributions can accumulate to make a significant difference in total donations. Therefore, it fails to recognize the potential collective impact of numerous small donations.

C (Individuals donated the greatest total amount although many contributions were relatively small.) CORRECT

This option correctly reflects the conclusion supported by the information provided in the passage. It acknowledges that while individual contributions may often be small, they collectively represent a substantial portion of total donations, aligning with the theme of sustainability in resource use.

D (Individuals have more influence on the proposed policies of presidential candidates than groups do.) YOUR ANSWER

This choice makes a claim about influence that is not directly supported by the passage. While individual donations are highlighted, the passage does not provide comparative information regarding the influence of individuals versus groups on policy proposals.

Conclusion

The passage illustrates how individual contributions, despite being small, can aggregate to form a significant total, underscoring the importance of each donation in the context of presidential campaigns. This reflects a broader understanding of sustainability where responsible use of resources—here, financial contributions—ensures availability and impact in future electoral processes.

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