Average Test Scores by Subject at Lincoln High SchoolSubjectAverage Score (out of 100)Mathematics78.5English82.3Science75.2History89.1Art91.4Lincoln H...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
| Subject | Average Score (out of \(\mathrm{100}\)) |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | \(\mathrm{78.5}\) |
| English | \(\mathrm{82.3}\) |
| Science | \(\mathrm{75.2}\) |
| History | \(\mathrm{89.1}\) |
| Art | \(\mathrm{91.4}\) |
Lincoln High School offers instruction in twelve academic subjects. A student government representative is analyzing academic performance data to present to the school board. The representative wants to highlight how different subjects compare in terms of student achievement. Examining the data, the representative notes that while Art students achieved an average score of \(\mathrm{91.4}\), Mathematics students averaged ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the comparison?
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Average Test Scores by Subject at Lincoln High School [table with Math: \(\mathrm{78.5}\), English: \(\mathrm{82.3}\), Science: \(\mathrm{75.2}\), History: \(\mathrm{89.1}\), Art: \(\mathrm{91.4}\)] |
|
| "Lincoln High School offers instruction in twelve academic subjects." |
|
| "A student government representative is analyzing academic performance data to present to the school board." |
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| "The representative wants to highlight how different subjects compare in terms of student achievement." |
|
| "Examining the data, the representative notes that while Art students achieved an average score of \(\mathrm{91.4}\), Mathematics students averaged ______" |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A student government representative is using academic performance data to compare subjects, specifically contrasting Art students' \(\mathrm{91.4}\) average with Mathematics students' performance.
Argument Flow: The passage provides performance data, establishes the analytical context (student rep presenting to school board), explains the comparative purpose, and sets up a specific Art-versus-Mathematics comparison that needs completion using the provided data.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to complete a comparison between Art and Mathematics performance using data from the table.
What type of answer do we need? A specific numerical score that represents Mathematics students' average performance.
Any limiting keywords? "most effectively uses data from the table" - the answer must come directly from the provided data table.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should be the Mathematics average score from the data table (\(\mathrm{78.5}\)) to complete the Art vs. Mathematics comparison established in the passage.
- Correct - This is exactly the Mathematics average score from the data table (78.5).
- Completes the comparison logically: Art students (91.4) vs. Mathematics students (78.5).
- Incorrect - This is the English average score (82.3), not Mathematics.
- Trap: Students might grab a nearby score without carefully checking which subject it represents.
- Incorrect - This is the Science average score (75.2), not Mathematics.
- Trap: Students might choose the lowest score thinking it makes the Art comparison more dramatic.
- Incorrect - This is the History average score (89.1), not Mathematics.
- Trap: Students might select this because it's close to Art's score (91.4).