Final answer:
When the mean and median are close, and the range is small, the data are symmetrical, and there is little variability, which is accurately described by option A.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing data using measures of center and variability, a description that accurately summarizes the sample result where the mean and median are close to each other, and the range is small would be: A. The mean and median are close, and the range is small. This description implies that the data are symmetrical, as symmetrical distributions have means and medians that are near or identical. Additionally, a small range indicates that there is not much variability in the data values.
In symmetrical distributions, the mean, median, and mode are usually close to one another, which suggests that the values are evenly distributed around the center. However, in skewed distributions, the mean is often farther out in the tail due to its sensitivity to outliers, causing the mean and median to be farther apart.