Region (Overall)Provisioning (75%)Regulating (21%)Cultural (4%)West73%27%0%North88%12%0%South79%14%7%East83%6%11%Central33%67%0%To assess the impact o...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
| Region (Overall) | Provisioning (75%) | Regulating (21%) | Cultural (4%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| West | 73% | 27% | 0% |
| North | 88% | 12% | 0% |
| South | 79% | 14% | 7% |
| East | 83% | 6% | 11% |
| Central | 33% | 67% | 0% |
To assess the impact of invasive species on ecosystems in Africa, Benis N. Egoh and colleagues reviewed government reports from those nations about how invasive species are undermining ecosystem services (aspects of the ecosystem on which residents depend). The services were sorted into three categories: provisioning (material resources from the ecosystem), regulating (natural processes such as cleaning the air or water), and cultural (nonmaterial benefits of ecosystems). Egoh and her team assert that countries in each region reported effects on provisioning services and that provisioning services represent the majority of the reported services.
Which choice best describes data from the table that support Egoh and colleagues' assertion?
Provisioning services represent 73% of the services reported for the West region and 33% of those for the Central region, but they represent 75% of the services reported overall.
None of the percentages shown for provisioning services are lower than 33%, and the overall percentage shown for provisioning services is 75%.
Provisioning services are shown for each region, while no cultural services are shown for some regions.
The greatest percentage shown for provisioning services is 88% for the North region, and the least shown for provisioning services is 33% for the Central region.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "To assess the impact of invasive species on ecosystems in Africa, Benis N. Egoh and colleagues reviewed government reports from those nations about how invasive species are undermining ecosystem services" |
|
| "(aspects of the ecosystem on which residents depend)" |
|
| "The services were sorted into three categories: provisioning (material resources from the ecosystem), regulating (natural processes such as cleaning the air or water), and cultural (nonmaterial benefits of ecosystems)." |
|
| "Egoh and her team assert that countries in each region reported effects on provisioning services and that provisioning services represent the majority of the reported services." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Egoh and colleagues found that invasive species affect provisioning ecosystem services across all African regions, with provisioning services representing the majority of reported impacts.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes the research context (studying invasive species impacts), explains the methodology (reviewing government reports), defines the classification system used (three service categories), and concludes with the researchers' key findings about provisioning services being both universal and dominant in the reports.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to find which data from the table supports Egoh's assertion.
What type of answer do we need? Evidence from the numerical data that backs up the researchers' two-part claim.
Any limiting keywords? "Support" - we need data that confirms rather than contradicts their assertion.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer must support both parts of Egoh's assertion: (1) that every region reported provisioning service effects, and (2) that provisioning services represent the majority of all reported services
- Looking at our table, we can see that every region does have a provisioning percentage (ranging from 33% to 88%), confirming the first part
- For the second part, we need to focus on the "Overall" row showing provisioning at 75%, which is indeed a majority
Provisioning services represent 73% of the services reported for the West region and 33% of those for the Central region, but they represent 75% of the services reported overall.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on specific regional percentages (73%, 33%, 75%) but frames them confusingly
- Doesn't clearly establish that all regions report provisioning services
None of the percentages shown for provisioning services are lower than 33%, and the overall percentage shown for provisioning services is 75%.
✓ Correct
- Shows that provisioning services appear in every region (no percentages below 33%) and confirms provisioning represents the majority overall (75%)
- Directly supports both parts of Egoh's assertion with clear numerical evidence
Provisioning services are shown for each region, while no cultural services are shown for some regions.
✗ Incorrect
- Only addresses the first part of the assertion (provisioning shown for each region)
- Doesn't provide evidence for the majority claim, which is crucial to Egoh's assertion
The greatest percentage shown for provisioning services is 88% for the North region, and the least shown for provisioning services is 33% for the Central region.
✗ Incorrect
- Simply states the range of provisioning percentages (33% to 88%)
- Doesn't demonstrate that these percentages support either part of the assertion