Country201620172018South Korea$21.0$17.2$23.1Japan$33.5$37.0$45.3Thailand$48.5$57.1$61.4Malaysia$19.7$20.3$21.8One measure of international tourism is...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
| Country | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | $21.0 | $17.2 | $23.1 |
| Japan | $33.5 | $37.0 | $45.3 |
| Thailand | $48.5 | $57.1 | $61.4 |
| Malaysia | $19.7 | $20.3 | $21.8 |
One measure of international tourism is how much money visitors from abroad spend in a country. A student writing a report about tourism in several Asian countries notes that among the countries in the table, most had annual increases in international tourism revenue in 2017 and 2018, but that trend wasn't universal. For example, ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the example?
in each year shown, the revenue from tourism by residents of those countries was greater than the revenue from international tourism.
Japan's international tourism revenue was higher in 2016 than it was in 2018.
South Korea's annual international tourism revenue decreased from 2016 to 2017.
in each year shown, Thailand had higher international tourism income than any of the other countries.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "One measure of international tourism is how much money visitors from abroad spend in a country." |
|
| "A student writing a report about tourism in several Asian countries notes that among the countries in the table, most had annual increases in international tourism revenue in 2017 and 2018" |
|
| "but that trend wasn't universal." |
|
| "For example, ______" |
|
Data Table Analysis: South Korea: 2016: $21.0 → 2017: $17.2 → 2018: $23.1 (decreased then increased), Japan: 2016: $33.5 → 2017: $37.0 → 2018: $45.3 (increased both years), Thailand: 2016: $48.5 → 2017: $57.1 → 2018: $61.4 (increased both years), Malaysia: 2016: $19.7 → 2017: $20.3 → 2018: $21.8 (increased both years)
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Most Asian countries in the table saw tourism revenue increases in 2017 and 2018, but this pattern had exceptions.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a measurement definition, presents the general upward trend observed across most countries, then signals that we need a specific example showing where this trend didn't hold true.
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 passage says most countries had increases in 2017 and 2018, but this trend wasn't universal
- So we need an example of a country that did NOT follow this pattern of increases in both years
- Looking at our data analysis: Japan, Thailand, and Malaysia all increased in both 2017 and 2018, but South Korea decreased from 2016 to 2017, then increased from 2017 to 2018
- The right answer should point to South Korea's decrease as the exception to the general upward trend
in each year shown, the revenue from tourism by residents of those countries was greater than the revenue from international tourism.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims tourism revenue by residents was greater than international tourism revenue
- The table only shows international tourism revenue with no data about domestic tourism spending
- Doesn't address the trend exception we need
Japan's international tourism revenue was higher in 2016 than it was in 2018.
✗ Incorrect
- States Japan's 2016 revenue was higher than 2018
- Japan went from $33.5 (2016) to $45.3 (2018) so 2018 was actually higher
- Contradicts the actual data
South Korea's annual international tourism revenue decreased from 2016 to 2017.
✓ Correct
- Points to South Korea's decrease from $21.0 (2016) to $17.2 (2017)
- This perfectly exemplifies how the increasing trend "wasn't universal" and uses actual table data to show a specific exception to the general pattern
in each year shown, Thailand had higher international tourism income than any of the other countries.
✗ Incorrect
- States Thailand had the highest revenue each year
- While true, this supports the upward trend rather than showing an exception
- Doesn't provide the contrasting example the passage needs