TEAS Ready🧩 Reading · Integration of Knowledge and Ideas · Lesson 4 of 5 · 5 min
Combining data from a text, a table and a chart
📊 Some TEAS questions can only be answered by putting two pieces together: a sentence in the passage and a number in a table. Neither one alone is enough.
💡 Key idea
Read the table's title, headings and units, then connect the numbers to the exact sentence the question depends on.
🧠 The idea
When a passage comes with a TABLE, GRAPH or other visual, expect questions that need BOTH. The text may give a rule ("adults should get at least 7 hours of sleep") while the table gives the numbers for each person; you combine them to find who meets the rule. First read the table's TITLE, column headings and UNITS, so you know exactly what each number measures. Then find the sentence in the text that the question depends on. Check that the two sources talk about the same thing: the same group, the same time period and the same units. Watch for traps: a choice that is true according to the table but contradicts the text, a choice that mixes up rows, and a choice that compares numbers measured in different units. When sources conflict, note which is more recent or more specific.
✏️ Worked example
Text: "A daily step count of 7,000 or more is linked with better heart health." Table: Ana 6,200; Ben 7,400; Cal 9,100; Dee 6,900. Question: How many people meet the level the text describes? Step 1, find the rule in the text: 7,000 or more. Step 2, check each row: Ben and Cal are at or above 7,000; Dee at 6,900 is close but below. Answer: two people.
📌 Takeaways
- Read the title, headings and units before the numbers.
- Find the sentence in the text that sets the rule or context.
- Make sure both sources describe the same group, time and units.
✅ Check yourself
Question 1 of 3
A passage says a healthy resting heart rate for adults is 60 to 100 beats per minute. A table lists four adults at 58, 72, 96 and 104. How many are in the healthy range?
- Three
- Four
- One
- Two
Show the answer and rationale
Answer: D
Only 72 and 96 fall within 60 to 100, so two adults are in the range. The value 58 is below the range and 104 is above it, which is why counting three or four is wrong.
Question 2 of 3
What should you read FIRST when a question pairs a passage with a table?
- The last sentence of the passage
- The largest number in the table
- The answer choice that is longest
- The table's title, headings and units
Show the answer and rationale
Answer: D
The title, headings and units tell you what each number means, which you need before using any of them. The largest number, the last sentence and the longest choice can all mislead you without that context.
Question 3 of 3
A text reports a city's rainfall in inches, and a table lists another city's rainfall in centimeters. What is the main risk in comparing them?
- Mixing up two different units
- Counting the cities in the table
- Reading the table before the passage
- Using the passage's title as evidence
Show the answer and rationale
Answer: A
Inches and centimeters are different units, so comparing the raw numbers would mislead unless one is converted. The number of cities, reading order and the title are not the main danger here.
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