Neighborhood income levelResidents using public transitResidents using personal vehicles$30,000text{-}$50,00015689$50,000text{-}$70,000134123$70,000te...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
| Neighborhood income level | Residents using public transit | Residents using personal vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| \(\$30,000\text{-}\$50,000\) | 156 | 89 |
| \(\$50,000\text{-}\$70,000\) | 134 | 123 |
| \(\$70,000\text{-}\$90,000\) | 98 | 187 |
| \(\$90,000\text{-}\$110,000\) | 67 | 234 |
| \(\text{Above }\$110,000\) | 43 | 298 |
City transportation planner Maria Rodriguez analyzed commuting data from five metropolitan neighborhoods to understand travel preferences across different economic demographics. Her analysis focused on two primary transportation modes: public transit systems, which require users to coordinate with fixed schedules and shared routes, and personal vehicles, which offer individual control over timing and destinations. Rodriguez observed that public transit usage involves more logistical complexity and schedule dependency. Her department's report concluded that personal vehicle ownership reduces commuting complications for residents, observing that _____
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to support the planning department's conclusion?
neighborhoods with higher income levels show increased personal vehicle usage, suggesting that economic factors influence transportation infrastructure development.
the highest public transit usage occurs in the $30,000-$50,000 income bracket, indicating that lower-income residents rely more heavily on public transportation systems.
across all income levels, the shifting ratio between transportation modes suggests that personal vehicles offer less complicated commuting solutions than public transit systems.
the total transportation usage across all neighborhoods suggests that the metropolitan area needs expanded public transit coverage to serve diverse economic communities.
Student-Facing Solution
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'City transportation planner Maria Rodriguez analyzed commuting data from five metropolitan neighborhoods to understand travel preferences across different economic demographics.' |
|
| 'Her analysis focused on two primary transportation modes: public transit systems, which require users to coordinate with fixed schedules and shared routes, and personal vehicles, which offer individual control over timing and destinations.' |
|
| 'Rodriguez observed that public transit usage involves more logistical complexity and schedule dependency.' |
|
| 'Her department's report concluded that personal vehicle ownership reduces commuting complications for residents' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Rodriguez's research concluded that personal vehicle ownership reduces commuting complications compared to public transit systems.
Argument Flow: Rodriguez set up a study comparing transportation preferences across income levels, defined two main transportation modes with their characteristics, observed that public transit involves more complexity, and concluded that personal vehicles reduce complications for commuters.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which choice most effectively uses the table data to support the planning department's conclusion that personal vehicle ownership reduces commuting complications.
What type of answer do we need? We need to identify how the numerical data in the table provides evidence for the conclusion about personal vehicles reducing complications.
Any limiting keywords? 'Most effectively uses data from the table' - we must focus specifically on what the numbers show, and 'support the planning department's conclusion' - the data must back up their finding about personal vehicles reducing complications.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at the data, we can see a clear pattern: as income levels increase, public transit usage consistently decreases while personal vehicle usage consistently increases
- This shifting pattern suggests people are choosing personal vehicles over public transit when they have the economic means to do so
- The right answer should explain how this data pattern supports the conclusion that personal vehicles reduce complications
- If people consistently choose personal vehicles over public transit as their income increases, it suggests they find personal vehicles to be the less complicated option
neighborhoods with higher income levels show increased personal vehicle usage, suggesting that economic factors influence transportation infrastructure development.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on economic factors influencing infrastructure development
- Doesn't directly address the conclusion about personal vehicles reducing complications
the highest public transit usage occurs in the $30,000-$50,000 income bracket, indicating that lower-income residents rely more heavily on public transportation systems.
✗ Incorrect
- Only discusses the highest public transit usage in the lowest income bracket
- Doesn't address the overall pattern or the conclusion about personal vehicles
across all income levels, the shifting ratio between transportation modes suggests that personal vehicles offer less complicated commuting solutions than public transit systems.
✓ Correct
- Directly references the shifting ratio between transportation modes which captures the clear pattern in the data
- Explicitly connects this pattern to the conclusion that personal vehicles offer less complicated commuting solutions than public transit systems
the total transportation usage across all neighborhoods suggests that the metropolitan area needs expanded public transit coverage to serve diverse economic communities.
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests expanding public transit coverage, which actually contradicts the conclusion
- Focuses on what the area needs rather than supporting the conclusion about personal vehicle benefits