Market Performance Data for Two Product LinesProductRetail price (dollars)Monthly sales volume (units)Customer satisfaction rating (1-10 scale)Product...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
| Product | Retail price (dollars) | Monthly sales volume (units) | Customer satisfaction rating (1-10 scale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product X | 67 | 1,250 | 6.8 |
| Product Y | 89 | 1,580 | 8.1 |
Market analysts compiled this data comparing two competing product lines over a six-month period. The analysis revealed that Product Y consistently outsold Product X in monthly volume, ______
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
a higher retail price, and a higher customer satisfaction rating.
a lower retail price, and a higher customer satisfaction rating.
a higher retail price, and a lower customer satisfaction rating.
a lower retail price, and a lower customer satisfaction rating.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Market Performance Data for Two Product Lines" |
|
| "Product X: $67, 1,250 units, 6.8 rating" |
|
| "Product Y: $89, 1,580 units, 8.1 rating" |
|
| "Market analysts compiled this data comparing two competing product lines over a six-month period." |
|
| "The analysis revealed that Product Y consistently outsold Product X in monthly volume," |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Product Y consistently outperformed Product X in sales volume despite having different price and satisfaction characteristics.
Argument Flow: The passage presents comparative data for two products, provides context about how this data was gathered, then begins to state the key finding about Product Y's superior sales performance while leaving the sentence incomplete for us to finish with additional comparative information.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to complete the sentence about Product Y's performance compared to Product X with the most logical and precise information.
What type of answer do we need? A phrase that accurately describes Product Y's characteristics relative to Product X based on the data provided.
Any limiting keywords? "Most logical and precise" tells us we need factual accuracy based on the data, not speculation.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at our data analysis, we know Product Y outsold Product X
- The sentence wants us to add more comparative information about Product Y
- From the table, we can see that compared to Product X, Product Y has: A higher retail price ($89 vs $67) and A higher customer satisfaction rating (8.1 vs 6.8)
- The right answer needs to accurately reflect both of these factual comparisons from the data
a higher retail price, and a higher customer satisfaction rating.
- Correctly states that Product Y has both a higher retail price and higher customer satisfaction rating
- Matches exactly what we see in the data table
a lower retail price, and a higher customer satisfaction rating.
- Claims Product Y has a "lower retail price" when the data clearly shows \(\$89 \gt \$67\)
- Gets the satisfaction rating comparison correct but the price comparison is factually wrong
a higher retail price, and a lower customer satisfaction rating.
- Gets the price comparison right (higher) but claims lower satisfaction rating
- Data shows Product Y has 8.1 vs Product X's 6.8, so Y is higher, not lower
a lower retail price, and a lower customer satisfaction rating.
- States both comparisons incorrectly - claims lower price and lower satisfaction
- Contradicts both data points from the table