Age GroupProduct Feature PriorityAverage Rating for Voice Control Feature (1-10 scale)Average Rating for Traditional Button Control (1-10 scale)18-34 ...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
| Age Group | Product Feature Priority | Average Rating for Voice Control Feature (1-10 scale) | Average Rating for Traditional Button Control (1-10 scale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-34 years | Technology-focused | 8.2 | 4.1 |
| 35-54 years | Convenience-focused | 7.8 | 5.3 |
| 55+ years | Simplicity-focused | 6.9 | 6.8 |
A market research team conducted a consumer preference study for a new home appliance, testing two control interfaces across different age demographics. The team selected three age groups based on established consumer behavior patterns: younger adults who typically embrace new technology, middle-aged consumers who prioritize convenience, and older adults who prefer simple, familiar interfaces. The research team anticipated that older consumers would strongly favor traditional button controls over voice-activated systems due to their documented preference for familiar technology. However, when reviewing the data, the team discovered that ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?
younger adults rated voice control much higher than traditional buttons, reflecting their typical embrace of new technology.
middle-aged consumers showed strong preference for voice control over traditional button interfaces.
younger adults gave voice control the highest rating among all age groups tested in the study.
older adults rated voice control and traditional buttons nearly equally, despite expectations of strong traditional preference.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| A market research team conducted a consumer preference study for a new home appliance, testing two control interfaces across different age demographics. |
|
| The team selected three age groups based on established consumer behavior patterns: younger adults who typically embrace new technology, middle-aged consumers who prioritize convenience, and older adults who prefer simple, familiar interfaces. |
|
| The research team anticipated that older consumers would strongly favor traditional button controls over voice-activated systems due to their documented preference for familiar technology. |
|
| However, when reviewing the data, the team discovered that ______ |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A research team studying control interface preferences discovered that their data contradicted expectations about older consumers' preferences.
Argument Flow: The passage sets up a consumer preference study with three age groups, explains the team's logical expectation that older adults would strongly prefer traditional button controls based on known preferences for familiar technology, then signals that the actual data contradicted this expectation.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The key is in that word 'However' - it signals that the data contradicted the team's expectation
- They expected older adults to 'strongly favor traditional button controls,' so the right answer should show how the data contradicted this
- Looking at the 55+ age group data: Voice Control = 6.9, Traditional Buttons = 6.8
- These ratings are nearly identical (only 0.1 difference), which contradicts the expectation of a 'strong' preference for traditional buttons
younger adults rated voice control much higher than traditional buttons, reflecting their typical embrace of new technology.
✗ Incorrect
- States younger adults rated voice control much higher than buttons
- This is true from the data (8.2 vs 4.1), but doesn't address the 'However' contradiction about older adults
middle-aged consumers showed strong preference for voice control over traditional button interfaces.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims middle-aged consumers showed strong preference for voice control
- While voice control did rate higher (7.8 vs 5.3), this doesn't contradict the team's specific expectation about older adults
younger adults gave voice control the highest rating among all age groups tested in the study.
✗ Incorrect
- States younger adults gave voice control the highest rating among all groups
- This is factually correct (8.2 is the highest rating), but doesn't address the contradiction about older adults
older adults rated voice control and traditional buttons nearly equally, despite expectations of strong traditional preference.
✓ Correct
- Shows older adults rated voice control (6.9) and traditional buttons (6.8) nearly equally
- This directly contradicts the expectation of 'strongly favor traditional button controls'
- The word 'despite' perfectly captures the contradiction between expectation and reality