Sarah Jenkins was the first female senior editor at a major publishing house in London during the 1970s. A historian suggests that one of Jenkins’s primary goals was to increase the publication of science fiction novels written by women.
Which finding, if true, would most strongly reinforce the historian’s proposition?
The total number of science fiction novels published by the house remained steady throughout the 1970s.
Female authors interviewed in the 2000s cited Jenkins’s own science fiction writing as a major influence on their careers.
Science fiction novels edited by Jenkins became bestsellers more frequently than those edited by her male colleagues.
During Jenkins's tenure, the percentage of science fiction titles by female authors in the publisher's catalog rose from 5% to 40%.
Correct Answer: D
Choice D is the best answer. The historian claims Jenkins aimed to "increase the publication of science fiction novels written by women." Statistical evidence that the percentage of such titles rose from 5% to 40% under her leadership offers the strongest factual support for this success/intent.
Choice A discusses the total number of novels, not the demographic of the authors. Choice B discusses Jenkins's influence as a writer, not her editorial goal of publishing others. Choice C discusses sales success, which is good, but doesn't specifically prove an intent to increase the representation or volume of female authors.