Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) Practice Test

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Prepare for the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment. Study effectively with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Ace your exam preparation today!

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What is a stem and leaf plot used for?

To represent data in intervals
To display data trends
To show frequencies of quantitative variables
To compare multiple datasets

The correct answer is: To show frequencies of quantitative variables

A stem-and-leaf plot is specifically designed to display the distribution of quantitative data while preserving the original data points. This method allows for an easy visualization of the frequency of individual data values, which is why the correct answer highlights its purpose in showing frequencies of quantitative variables. By dividing each data point into a "stem" (the leading digits) and a "leaf" (the trailing digit), it enables viewers to see how often certain values occur within the dataset, maintaining more detail than other graph types like histograms. Contextually, while representing data in intervals is a characteristic of histograms, stem-and-leaf plots do not aggregate data into ranges. Displaying data trends typically involves line graphs or scatter plots that highlight changes over time. Comparing multiple datasets is more effectively achieved through side-by-side box plots or bar graphs, as stem-and-leaf plots focus on a single set of quantitative values.