A certain large company typically uses between 800 and 900 reams of paper per business day (a ream of paper...
GMAT Graphics Interpretation : (GI) Questions
A certain large company typically uses between 800 and 900 reams of paper per business day (a ream of paper is 500 sheets of paper). There are two exceptions to this pattern of use: on the last business day before a company holiday (a company holiday is not a business day), the company uses significantly less paper because a large number of employees take leave, and on the last business day of a month, monthly reports are produced, which significantly increases paper use. For each of 10 consecutive business days, the graph shows the number of reams of paper used on that day.
From each drop-down menu, select the option that creates the most accurate statement based on the information provided.
Owning the Dataset
Table 1: Text Analysis
| Text Component | Literal Content | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Normal usage | typically uses between 800 and 900 reams of paper per business day | The company generally uses 800-900 reams of paper each business day |
| Definition | a ream of paper is 500 sheets of paper | 1 ream = 500 sheets |
| Exception 1 | on the last business day before a company holiday, uses significantly less paper because many employees take leave | Usage drops significantly before company holidays |
| Exception 2 | on the last business day of a month, monthly reports are produced, which significantly increases paper use | Usage is much higher at end of month for monthly reports |
| Data coverage | For each of 10 consecutive business days, the graph shows the number of reams of paper used | Data is for 10 consecutive business days |
Table 2: Chart Analysis
| Chart Feature | Data / Description | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| X-axis | 10 consecutive business days | Each point is a day |
| Y-axis | Number of reams used (0-1200 range) | Measures daily usage |
| Day 1 | 1100 reams (highest data point) | Large spike, much higher than normal, likely last day of month |
| Day 4 | 350 reams (lowest data point) | Sharp drop, much lower than normal, likely pre-holiday |
| Days 2-3, 5-10 | 840-890 reams each day (flat trend) | All within typical usage; normal business days |
Key Insights
Paper usage generally stays within a 800-900 ream daily pattern except for two clear outliers: a large spike (Day 1 at 1100 reams), likely due to monthly reports produced on the last business day of the month, and a sharp dip (Day 4 at 350 reams), likely just before a company holiday when fewer employees are present. The pattern supports the claim about typical and exceptional usage, and the immediate return to normal levels further confirms these explanations.
Step-by-Step Solution
Question 1: Identifying the Last Business Day of a Month
Complete Statement:
The day that the graph most strongly suggests was the last business day of a month is Day ____.
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: last business day of a month
- Meaning: Refers to the final working day before a new month begins.
- Relation to Chart: According to the passage, this day is characterized by significantly increased use of paper for preparing and copying monthly reports.
- Important Implications: Look for a day with an abnormally high amount of paper used, above the normal range.
- Key Phrase: last business day of a month
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: most strongly suggests
- Meaning: We are being asked for the clearest and most obvious choice.
- Relation to Chart: Means choosing the most prominent spike in paper usage.
- Important Implications: We should select the largest outlier above the usual data points.
- Key Phrase: most strongly suggests
- What is needed: Which day on the chart shows an unusually high spike in paper used, indicating it was the last business day of a month.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
Scan the days' paper usage levels for a clear, outstanding peak above the usual range. - Necessary Data points:
Day 1: 1100 reams of paper. Other days: most are 840-890 reams, except Day 4, which is 350 reams.- Calculations Estimations:
Day 1 is about 200+ reams above the typical daily usage (800-900), or more than 20% above normal. All other days are close to normal, except Day 4 (which is very low). - Comparison to Answer Choices:
Day 1 is not only the highest data point, but the only significant spike upwards, so it matches the expected pattern for the month's end.
- Calculations Estimations:
FINAL ANSWER Blank 1: 1
Question 2: Identifying the Last Business Day Before a Company Holiday
Complete Statement:
The day that the graph most strongly suggests was the last business day before a company holiday is Day ____.
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: last business day before a company holiday
- Meaning: The last working day before the company is closed for a holiday.
- Relation to Chart: The passage says this day is associated with strikingly less use of the copying machine since many employees take personal leave.
- Key Phrase: last business day before a company holiday
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: most strongly suggests
- Meaning: We are to find the data point that is the most obvious and clear example.
- Relation to Chart: Means choosing the most pronounced dip in usage.
- Key Phrase: most strongly suggests
- What is needed: Which day shows an abnormally low use of the copying machine, likely due to employees being on leave before a holiday.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
Scan for the lowest data point—an obvious dip—significantly below other days. - Necessary Data points:
Day 4: 350 reams (lowest). Most other days: 840-890 reams; Day 1: 1100 reams.- Calculations Estimations:
Day 4 is at least 500 reams below the usual (over 50% drop). No other day even comes close to this low value. - Comparison to Answer Choices:
Day 4 is the only day with such a dramatic reduction, matching the pattern for a pre-holiday business day.
- Calculations Estimations:
FINAL ANSWER Blank 2: 4
Summary
By examining the chart, Day 1 is identified as the last business day of a month due to its extraordinary spike in paper use, while Day 4, with its pronounced drop, clearly points to the last business day before a holiday. Each is an outlier in opposite directions, making both answers straightforward to select by looking for clear data extremes.
Question Independence Analysis
Each blank is independently solvable because one asks for an unusually high day (month-end reports) and the other for an unusually low day (holiday absences). They are based on different observable patterns and do not depend on each other's answers.