State Conservation Program OutcomesConservation ProgramProgram Cost (in US dollars)Protected Area (acres)Wetlands Initiative 2022$1.3 million2,400 acr...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
State Conservation Program Outcomes
| Conservation Program | Program Cost (in US dollars) | Protected Area (acres) |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands Initiative 2022 | $1.3 million | 2,400 acres |
| Forest Preservation 2022 | $1.9 million | 1,850 acres |
| Prairie Restoration 2023 | $2.2 million | 3,100 acres |
| Coastal Protection 2023 | $1.7 million | 2,900 acres |
Environmental analyst Dr. Marcus Torres conducted a comprehensive review of state conservation program outcomes, documenting the actual acreage protected by each initiative. His detailed assessment verified specific conservation achievements across multiple programs. The documentation confirmed that the 2022 forest preservation program successfully protected ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the example?
\(\mathrm{2{,}400\ acres}\)
\(\mathrm{3{,}100\ acres}\)
\(\mathrm{1{,}850\ acres}\)
\(\mathrm{2{,}900\ acres}\)
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Environmental analyst Dr. Marcus Torres conducted a comprehensive review of state conservation program outcomes," |
|
| "documenting the actual acreage protected by each initiative." |
|
| "His detailed assessment verified specific conservation achievements across multiple programs." |
|
| "The documentation confirmed that the 2022 forest preservation program successfully protected ______" |
|
Data Table Summary: Wetlands 2022: $1.3M → 2,400 acres; Forest Preservation 2022: $1.9M → 1,850 acres; Prairie Restoration 2023: $2.2M → 3,100 acres; Coastal Protection 2023: $1.7M → 2,900 acres
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Torres conducted a comprehensive review that verified specific conservation program achievements, with documentation confirming measurable results.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Torres as a credible analyst who conducted thorough documentation of conservation outcomes. It emphasizes that his assessment verified specific achievements, then provides a concrete example requiring data from his documentation to complete.
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 sentence specifically mentions "the 2022 forest preservation program," so we need to look at that exact program in the data table
- Looking at the Forest Preservation 2022 row, we can see it protected 1,850 acres
- The question asks us to use data from the table effectively, which means we need the precise number that corresponds to this program
- So the right answer should be 1,850 acres - the exact acreage shown in the table for Forest Preservation 2022
\(\mathrm{2{,}400\ acres}\)
✗ Incorrect
- 2,400 acres corresponds to the Wetlands Initiative 2022, not Forest Preservation 2022
- While this number appears in the table, it's from the wrong program
- This trap represents students grabbing the first 2022 program they see without checking which specific program the sentence mentions
\(\mathrm{3{,}100\ acres}\)
✗ Incorrect
- 3,100 acres corresponds to Prairie Restoration 2023, not Forest Preservation 2022
- This is both the wrong program and wrong year
- Shows the highest acreage but doesn't match the specified program
\(\mathrm{1{,}850\ acres}\)
✓ Correct
- 1,850 acres is exactly what the table shows for Forest Preservation 2022
- Matches both the program name and year mentioned in the sentence
- Uses the data from the table effectively and precisely
\(\mathrm{2{,}900\ acres}\)
✗ Incorrect
- 2,900 acres corresponds to Coastal Protection 2023, not Forest Preservation 2022
- Wrong program entirely, and from the following year
- This trap represents students being drawn to this relatively high number without checking which program it represents