Question

country trees fungi insects austria 13 51 50 belgium 4 13 11 bulgaria 9 14 16 elisabeth pötzelsberger and colleagues gathered data on 23 non - native tree species grown in europe. they analyzed reports from austria, bulgaria, and belgium about the number of these species grown in those countries as well as the numbers of insect and fungus species that damage those trees. the researchers concluded that austria had a greater number of damaging fungus species than either of the other countries did. which choice best describes data from the table that support pötzelsberger and colleagues’ conclusion? a. belgium reported 13 damaging fungus species but only 11 damaging insect species. b. austria reported 51 damaging fungus species, whereas bulgaria reported 16 damaging insect species. c. bulgaria and belgium reported 9 and 4 damaging fungus species, respectively, which is far fewer than austria reported. d. austria reported 51 damaging fungus species, which is more than either bulgaria or belgium reported.

Explanation:

To support the conclusion that Austria has more damaging fungus species than the other two countries, we need to compare Austria's fungus count (51) with Belgium's (13) and Bulgaria's (14). Option D directly states Austria's 51 is more than both, which matches the conclusion. Option A compares Belgium's fungus and insects, not relevant. Option B compares Austria's fungus with Bulgaria's insects, irrelevant. Option C incorrectly compares Austria's fungus with other countries' tree species, not fungus.

Answer:

D. Austria reported 51 damaging fungus species, which is more than either Bulgaria or Belgium reported.