While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Valley Transit operates two major bus routes in the metropolitan...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Valley Transit operates two major bus routes in the metropolitan area.
- Route A serves the northern districts and carries approximately 8,000 passengers daily.
- Route B serves the southern districts and was launched three years after Route A.
- Route B currently carries approximately 12,000 passengers daily.
- The difference in ridership reflects the higher population density in the southern districts.
- Both routes operate at near their designed capacity levels.
The student wants to compare the ridership between the two routes. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Valley Transit operates two major bus routes, with Route A serving northern districts and Route B serving southern districts.
Route B was launched three years after Route A and serves the higher population density southern districts.
Route B carries approximately 12,000 daily passengers compared to Route A's 8,000, reflecting the higher population density in southern districts.
Both Valley Transit routes operate at near their designed capacity levels despite serving different district populations.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Valley Transit operates two major bus routes in the metropolitan area." |
|
| "Route A serves the northern districts and carries approximately 8,000 passengers daily." |
|
| "Route B serves the southern districts and was launched three years after Route A." |
|
| "Route B currently carries approximately 12,000 passengers daily." |
|
| "The difference in ridership reflects the higher population density in the southern districts." |
|
| "Both routes operate at near their designed capacity levels." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Valley Transit operates two bus routes with different ridership levels that reflect the population characteristics of their respective service areas.
Argument Flow: The notes establish the basic system setup, provide specific ridership data for both routes, explain why the numbers differ, and conclude with operational context about both routes running near capacity.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which choice best uses the notes to accomplish the goal of comparing ridership
What type of answer do we need? A statement that effectively compares the ridership numbers between Route A and Route B
Any limiting keywords? "most effectively" and "relevant information" - we need the choice that best serves the comparison purpose
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- To effectively compare ridership between the two routes, we need the actual ridership numbers for both routes
- From our analysis, Route A carries 8,000 passengers daily while Route B carries 12,000 passengers daily
- The right answer should include both of these specific numbers so readers can actually make the comparison
- It would also be helpful to include the explanation for why they differ (the population density difference), since that provides meaningful context for the comparison
- So the right answer should present both ridership numbers directly and ideally explain the reason behind the difference
Valley Transit operates two major bus routes, with Route A serving northern districts and Route B serving southern districts.
- ✗ Incorrect
- Simply states that there are two routes and where they're located
- Provides no ridership numbers at all, making comparison impossible
- Doesn't accomplish the goal of comparing ridership
Route B was launched three years after Route A and serves the higher population density southern districts.
- ✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on the timeline (Route B launched three years later) and population density
- Contains no actual ridership figures
- What trap this represents: Students might think mentioning population density is sufficient since it relates to ridership differences, but without the actual numbers, no comparison can be made
Route B carries approximately 12,000 daily passengers compared to Route A's 8,000, reflecting the higher population density in southern districts.
- ✓ Correct
- Provides both ridership numbers directly: "12,000 daily passengers" vs "8,000"
- Includes the explanatory context about population density
- Enables readers to make a clear numerical comparison
- Matches our prethinking perfectly by giving the specific data needed for comparison
Both Valley Transit routes operate at near their designed capacity levels despite serving different district populations.
- ✗ Incorrect
- Discusses capacity levels but provides no ridership numbers
- While capacity is related to ridership, it doesn't enable the requested comparison
- What trap this represents: Students might think operational information like capacity is relevant to ridership comparison, but the goal specifically requires comparing actual ridership numbers