CountryApproximate number of speakers (in millions)Estimated % of populationDemocratic Republic of the Congo2225Kenya55100Tanzania61100Swahili is esti...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
| Country | Approximate number of speakers (in millions) | Estimated % of population |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 22 | 25 |
| Kenya | 55 | 100 |
| Tanzania | 61 | 100 |
Swahili is estimated to be the first language of up to 15 million people worldwide. It's also an officially recognized language in Tanzania, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which means these countries use Swahili in government documents and proceedings. But even in countries where almost everyone speaks Swahili, for many it isn't their first language but is instead their second, third, or even fourth language.
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to support the underlined claim?
Tanzania has approximately 61 million Swahili speakers, which is much more than the estimated total number of people worldwide for whom Swahili is their first language.
Tanzania is estimated to have at most 15 million Swahili speakers, while the country's total population is approximately 61 million people.
Approximately 100 percent of the people who speak Swahili as their first language live in Kenya, which has a total population of approximately 55 million people.
Approximately 100 percent of Kenya's population speaks Swahili, while only about 25 percent of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's population speaks Swahili.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Swahili is estimated to be the first language of up to 15 million people worldwide." |
|
| "It's also an officially recognized language in Tanzania, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which means these countries use Swahili in government documents and proceedings." |
|
| "But even in countries where almost everyone speaks Swahili, for many it isn't their first language but is instead their second, third, or even fourth language." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[GLOBAL CONTEXT] Swahili = L1 for ≤15M worldwide → [OFFICIAL STATUS] Official in Tanzania, Kenya, DRC → [MAIN CLAIM] High usage ≠ first language status
Main Point:
Despite widespread use in official-status countries, Swahili functions primarily as a second, third, or fourth language rather than a first language for most speakers.
Argument Flow:
The passage establishes the limited global number of first-language Swahili speakers, explains the language's official status in three countries, then contrasts this widespread official use with the reality that most speakers learn it as an additional language rather than their native tongue.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked?
Which data from the table best supports the underlined claim that Swahili is often not a first language.
What type of answer do we need?
Evidence that demonstrates most Swahili speakers in these countries learned it as a second/third/fourth language rather than their native language.
Any limiting keywords?
"Most effectively uses data from the table" - must use specific numbers from the table, and "support the underlined claim" - must connect to the L2/L3/L4 argument.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should use specific numbers from the table to create a mathematical relationship
- It should show that the number of speakers in a country exceeds what's possible if most were first-language speakers
- The key insight is mathematical: if only 15 million people worldwide speak Swahili as a first language, but one country alone has many more speakers than that, then most speakers in that country must have learned it as an additional language
Tanzania has approximately 61 million Swahili speakers, which is much more than the estimated total number of people worldwide for whom Swahili is their first language.
✓ Correct
Uses Tanzania's 61 million speakers from the table and compares it to the 15 million global first-language speakers from the passage. Creates clear mathematical proof: if Tanzania alone has 61M speakers but only 15M people worldwide speak it as L1, then most of Tanzania's speakers must use it as L2/L3/L4.
Tanzania is estimated to have at most 15 million Swahili speakers, while the country's total population is approximately 61 million people.
✗ Incorrect
- States Tanzania has "at most 15 million" speakers, which contradicts the table showing 61 million
- Uses factually incorrect data
Approximately 100 percent of the people who speak Swahili as their first language live in Kenya, which has a total population of approximately 55 million people.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims 100% of first-language speakers live in Kenya, which isn't supported by any data in the table
- Makes an unsupported assumption about geographic distribution
Approximately 100 percent of Kenya's population speaks Swahili, while only about 25 percent of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's population speaks Swahili.
✗ Incorrect
- Compares speaker percentages between Kenya (100%) and DRC (25%) using table data but doesn't connect to the first language vs. later language distinction that's central to the claim