1. The line graph displays the number of camping permits issued in a national forest on June 1 of each...

1. TRANSLATE the question into what you need to find

The question asks: "Which year corresponds to the highest point on the graph?"

• This is asking you to:
  • Locate the highest point on the line graph
  • Identify what year that point represents

2. INFER what "greatest number" means visually

• On a line graph, the "greatest number" of permits means the highest point on the curve
• You're looking for the data point with the maximum y-value (vertical position)

3. TRANSLATE the visual information from the graph

• Scan the line graph from left to right (2005 to 2013)
• Identify which point rises highest above the x-axis
• The peak of the graph occurs at 150 permits
• Read directly down from this highest point to the x-axis

4. TRANSLATE the x-axis value to get your answer

• The highest point on the graph aligns with the year 2009
• This is your answer

Answer: B (2009)

Why Students Usually Falter on This Problem

Most Common Error Path:

Weak TRANSLATE skill: Students may struggle to accurately identify which point is truly the highest, especially if multiple points appear similar in height.

Sometimes students rush and select a nearby year (like 2011 or 2007) if those points also appear relatively high on the graph. They might not carefully compare all the heights to confirm which is actually the maximum.

This may lead them to select Choice (A) (2007) or Choice (C) (2011) if those years also show high values that aren't properly compared to 2009.

Second Most Common Error:

Poor TRANSLATE execution: Students might correctly identify the highest point visually but then misread the x-axis, dropping their eyes down to the wrong year label.

This is especially likely if the spacing between year labels is irregular or if students rush through reading the axis. They might be off by one or two years in either direction.

This may lead them to select Choice (A) (2007) or Choice (C) (2011) if they misalign their reading of the x-axis.

The Bottom Line:

This problem tests careful visual analysis and accurate graph reading. The key is to methodically compare all data points to confirm which is truly highest, then precisely read the corresponding year label. Students who rush or estimate rather than carefully examine each point are most likely to make errors.