Endangered Species Recovery by Decade of Protection StatusDecade protection beganPercentage showing population recovery1950-19592.431960-19698.761970-...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
| Decade protection began | Percentage showing population recovery |
|---|---|
| 1950-1959 | 2.43 |
| 1960-1969 | 8.76 |
| 1970-1979 | 23.18 |
| 1980-1989 | 31.45 |
| 1990-1999 | 18.92 |
According to the data, wildlife conservation efforts have had varying degrees of success across different time periods. The research indicates that 23.18 percent of protected species showed population recovery when their protection status began in ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?
1970-1979
1960-1969
1950-1959
1980-1989
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'According to the data, wildlife conservation efforts have had varying degrees of success across different time periods.' |
|
| 'The research indicates that 23.18 percent of protected species showed population recovery when their protection status began in ______' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Research shows that conservation efforts achieved a 23.18% species recovery rate during one particular decade of protection.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that conservation success varies across time periods, then presents a specific recovery percentage that needs to be matched to the correct decade using the provided data table.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to complete the statement by identifying which decade corresponds to the 23.18% recovery rate.
What type of answer do we need? A specific time period (decade) that matches the given percentage in the data table.
Any limiting keywords? None specified.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct decade must show exactly 23.18% in the 'Percentage showing population recovery' column
- We need to scan the table systematically to find this precise match
1970-1979
✓ Correct
- Looking at the table, 1970-1979 shows exactly \(23.18\%\) population recovery
- This perfectly matches the percentage stated in the passage
1960-1969
✗ Incorrect
- 1960-1969 shows \(8.76\%\) recovery rate in the table
- This doesn't match the \(23.18\%\) specified in the passage
1950-1959
✗ Incorrect
- 1950-1959 shows \(2.43\%\) recovery rate in the table
- This is significantly lower than the required \(23.18\%\)
1980-1989
✗ Incorrect
- 1980-1989 shows \(31.45\%\) recovery rate in the table
- While this represents the highest recovery rate, it doesn't match the specific \(23.18\%\) mentioned in the passage