Quarterly Sales Performance by Regional Division Division Revenue Generated ($M) Market Share Percentage Northeast 847 28% Southeast 623 21% Western...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Quarterly Sales Performance by Regional Division
| Division | Revenue Generated ($M) | Market Share Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 847 | 28% |
| Southeast | 623 | 21% |
| Western | 1,205 | 41% |
A business analyst is compiling the annual performance review and needs to determine the revenue generated by the top-performing division, Western. According to the quarterly data, the Western division generated ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?
Six hundred twenty-three million dollars.
Forty-one percent market dominance.
One thousand two hundred five million dollars.
Eight hundred forty-seven million dollars.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Quarterly Sales Performance by Regional Division |
|
| Northeast: Revenue $847M, Market Share 28% |
|
| Southeast: Revenue $623M, Market Share 21% |
|
| Western: Revenue $1,205M, Market Share 41% |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map: QUARTERLY SALES DATA includes Northeast Division (Revenue: $847M, Market Share: 28%), Southeast Division (Revenue: $623M, Market Share: 21%), and Western Division (Revenue: $1,205M, Market Share: 41%).
Main Point: The table presents quarterly sales performance data for three regional divisions, showing both revenue generated and market share percentage for each.
Argument Flow: The data is organized by division, with Western showing the highest performance in both revenue ($1,205M) and market share (41%), followed by Northeast, then Southeast.
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
- Looking at our table analysis, we need the specific revenue figure for the Western division
- From the data, Western generated $1,205 million in revenue during this quarter
- The statement asks what Western generated, which clearly refers to revenue rather than market share percentage
- The correct completion should state the exact revenue amount: $1,205 million or one thousand two hundred five million dollars
Six hundred twenty-three million dollars.
✗ Incorrect
- States six hundred twenty-three million dollars
- This is actually Southeast's revenue (\(\$623\mathrm{M}\)), not Western's
- This represents a trap where students might confuse the divisions
Forty-one percent market dominance.
✗ Incorrect
- States forty-one percent market dominance
- This gives Western's market share, not revenue
- The statement asks what Western generated, which refers to revenue, not market percentage
One thousand two hundred five million dollars.
✓ Correct
- States one thousand two hundred five million dollars
- This matches exactly with Western's revenue of \(\$1,205\mathrm{M}\) from the table and correctly identifies the revenue metric
Eight hundred forty-seven million dollars.
✗ Incorrect
- States eight hundred forty-seven million dollars
- This is Northeast's revenue (\(\$847\mathrm{M}\)), not Western's
- This represents a trap where students might misread which division they're looking for