How do captions and graphs function in informational texts?

• A. They present unrelated decorative content.
• B. They add extra filler with no data.
• C. They highlight quotes from the text only.
• D. They provide quick access to data and evidence and illustrate key points.

Answer: (D)

Captions and graphs help readers access data quickly and see evidence that supports the ideas in the text, while also illustrating the main points visually. A graph brings numbers to life by showing trends, comparisons, or relationships at a glance, and the caption explains what the graphic is showing—the time period, units, sources, and any specifics readers need to interpret it correctly. This pairing lets you grasp key information fast and understand how the text uses data to back up its claims. The other ideas–that captions and graphs are decorative, that they just add filler, or that they only pull quotes—don’t fit because captions and graphs are meant to convey data and support, not merely decorate or repeat a single part of the text.