YearElementary Literacy - Region ASecondary Enrollment - Region AHigher Ed Access - Region AElementary Literacy - Region BSecondary Enrollment -...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
| Year | Elementary Literacy - Region A | Secondary Enrollment - Region A | Higher Ed Access - Region A | Elementary Literacy - Region B | Secondary Enrollment - Region B | Higher Ed Access - Region B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 45 | 22 | 8 | 42 | 25 | 9 |
| 1990 | 67 | 38 | 18 | 59 | 34 | 15 |
| 2000 | 78 | 52 | 31 | 88 | 67 | 45 |
| 2020 | 94 | 78 | 58 | 96 | 81 | 62 |
Throughout the last five decades, both Region A and Region B have experienced substantial improvements in elementary literacy, alongside considerable expansion in higher education accessibility. Nevertheless, the rate of these educational improvements varied significantly between the two regions. This variation becomes most evident when analyzing educational statistics from ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?
1970 compared with data from 1990.
1990 compared with data from 2000.
2000 compared with data from 2020.
1970 compared with data from 2020.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Throughout the last five decades, both Region A and Region B have experienced substantial improvements in elementary literacy, alongside considerable expansion in higher education accessibility." |
|
| "Nevertheless, the rate of these educational improvements varied significantly between the two regions." |
|
| "This variation becomes most evident when analyzing educational statistics from ______" |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: While both regions improved educationally over five decades, their rates of improvement differed significantly, with this difference being most apparent during a specific time comparison.
Argument Flow: The statement establishes broad educational progress for both regions, then contrasts this with the claim that improvement rates varied, leading to the need for specific temporal evidence that demonstrates this variation most clearly.
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 right answer should identify the time comparison that shows the most uneven improvement rates between the two regions
- We need to look for the period where one region clearly outpaced the other in educational improvements across multiple categories
1970 compared with data from 1990.
- Looking at 20-year changes: Region A gained 22 points in elementary literacy, Region B gained 17 points
- While there are differences, both regions show substantial and relatively comparable improvement rates
- The gaps between regions are not dramatically different
1990 compared with data from 2000.
- During this decade: Region A's elementary literacy increased 11 points while Region B's jumped 29 points
- Secondary enrollment: Region A gained 14 points, Region B gained 33 points
- Higher education: Region A gained 13 points, Region B gained 30 points
- This shows Region B improving at roughly double Region A's rate across all categories
2000 compared with data from 2020.
- Region A actually outpaced Region B during this period in most categories
- The differences exist but are less dramatic than in the 1990-2000 period
- This does not represent the most significant variation in improvement rates
1970 compared with data from 2020.
- This 50-year comparison shows both regions made substantial overall progress
- The long timeframe masks the specific period where improvement rates differed most dramatically