Which description best fits a publication that provides a summary of data?

• A. A narrative history
• B. A statistical compendium
• C. A bibliographic index
• D. A monograph

Answer: (B)

Providing a concise summary of data in a published work is the job of a statistical compendium. It gathers numerical information from multiple sources and presents it in an organized, easily digestible form—think tables, charts, and summarized statistics that show patterns and trends. The aim is quick access to the numbers and how they relate, not to tell a narrative or argue a point.

In contrast, a narrative history focuses on events and interpretation; a bibliographic index lists sources without summarizing data; and a monograph offers an in-depth study of a single topic, usually with analysis and argument rather than broad data summaries. So the description that fits best is a statistical compendium.