Answer:

The correct answer is D. Mean

Explanation:

1. Mean: The mean is highly sensitive to extreme values in a data set. An unusually high or low value can significantly pull the mean towards it, making it not representative of the typical value in the data set.
2. Mode: The mode is the most frequently occurring value in a data set. It is not affected by extreme values unless they occur most frequently.
3. Range: While the range is determined by the extreme values (highest minus lowest), it doesn’t change if the extreme values become more extreme, as long as they remain the highest and lowest values.
4. Median: The median is the middle value when the data is arranged in order. It is resistant to extreme values and outliers, especially in large data sets.
5. Variance: While variance is affected by all values in the data set, including extreme ones, the question specifically asks for the statistic most affected by extreme values.

Among these options, the mean is the measure of central tendency most significantly affected by extreme values or outliers in a data distribution. This sensitivity to outliers is often considered a weakness of the mean as a descriptive statistic.