Question

which of the following could be classified as a census?
a survey of a percentage of each state’s population about voting choices
a survey of each student in a school about school lunch options
a survey of all the children in a supermarket to determine the favorite cereal brands of the general population
a survey of all the women on main street to determine the current movie preferences of all people over age 20

Explanation:

A census is a survey of an entire population. Let's analyze each option:

• First option: Surveys a percentage of each state’s population (not the entire population of the states), so it's a sample, not a census.
• Second option: Surveys each student in a school (the entire population of students in that school), so this fits the definition of a census.
• Third option: Surveys all the children in a supermarket to determine preferences of the general population. The children in the supermarket are not the entire general population, so it's a sample.
• Fourth option: Surveys all the women on Main Street to determine preferences of all people over age 20. Women on Main Street are not the entire population of people over age 20, so it's a sample.

Answer:

B. a survey of each student in a school about school lunch options