A recent study investigated the effect that scaling the play area (e.g., field or court size) of popular sports can...
GMAT Graphics Interpretation : (GI) Questions
A recent study investigated the effect that scaling the play area (e.g., field or court size) of popular sports can have on children's motor skills acquisition. For each of 3 sports, the graph shows the recommended scaling of the linear dimensions of the play area based on the age of the children who are playing the sport. For example, the graph shows that, for 5-year-olds playing Sport A, the recommendation is for the linear dimensions of the play area to be 10% of the corresponding linear dimensions of a full-size Sport-A play area. Note that, for ages 10 and up, the graph indicates the same percent (100%), for multiple sports, causing symbols to overlap.
Based on the information provided, select from each drop-down menu the option that creates the most accurate statement.
Owning The Dataset
Table 1: Text Analysis
| Text Component | Literal Content | Simple Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Study Purpose | "A recent study investigated the effect that scaling the play area...can have on children's motor skills acquisition." | Study explores how making sports fields smaller or larger affects children's development. |
| Data Displayed | "For each of 3 sports, the graph shows the recommended scaling of the linear dimensions of the play area based on the age of the children." | Three sports are compared; chart presents recommended field size (as a percent of adult size) per age. |
| Measurement Type | "Linear dimensions...percent...of a full-size...play area." | Field/court size is measured as the percent of the normal adult field. |
| Example Given | "For 5-year-olds playing Sport A...10% of...full-size..." | 5-year-olds use very small fields: just 10% of an adult field for Sport A. |
| Overlapping Symbols | "For ages 10 and up, the graph indicates the same percent (100%) for multiple sports, causing symbols to overlap." | When more than one sport reaches 100% by a certain age, their data points overlap in the chart. |
Table 2: Chart Analysis
| Chart Component | What's Shown | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Chart Type | Line chart with 3 series (Sports A, B, C) | Each sport's line shows how recommended field size increases with age. |
| X-axis | Ages 5 to 18 (years) | Follows children from young to adult ages. |
| Y-axis | Percent of full-size field (0%-100%) | Indicates recommended field size (scaled to adult field). |
| Sport A | Quickly reaches 100% at age 10 | By age 10, adult field recommended; previously, field scales up rapidly from 10%. |
| Sport B | Gradual increase, only reaches 100% at age 16 | Progressively larger fields, but doesn't recommend full-size until much older (age 16). |
| Sport C | Reaches 100% by age 10 (starts at 25%) | Similar to Sport A: children use full-size fields starting at age 10. |
| Key Comparison | At age 10: A=100%, B=50%, C=100% | At age 10, only Sport B is not at full field size—others are. |
Key Insights
At age 10, both Sport A and Sport C recommend the use of full-size fields (100%), while Sport B only recommends using 50% of the full-size field. Sport B is unique in its gradual approach, not recommending full-size until age 16. In contrast, Sports A and C have steeper increases and both reach 100% much earlier (by age 10), which makes Sport B the exception at age 10. This reflects different developmental considerations for each sport.
Step-by-Step Solution
Question 1: Determine the Age at Which All But One Sport Use Full-Size Field
Complete Statement:
For [BLANK 1] year-old children, the full-size play area is recommended for all sports except for Sport [BLANK 2].
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: full-size play area
- Meaning: The play area is 100% of the standard adult field size.
- Relation to Chart: On the chart, this corresponds to a value of 100% on the y-axis.
- Important Implications: At the required age, most sports must be at the uppermost point in the chart, except one.
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: for all sports except
- Meaning: All but one sport follow this guideline at this age.
- Relation to Chart: We should find an age where two sports are at 100%, but one is still below 100%.
- Important Implications: We're seeking an age where only one sport lags behind the others in field size.
- What is needed: The age where exactly two sports recommend full-size fields and one does not.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
Check each option (ages 8, 10, and 17) against the chart to see which has two sports at 100% and one below. - Necessary Data points:
Age 8: Sport A = 80%, Sport B = 30%, Sport C = 40%. Age 10: Sport A = 100%, Sport B = 50%, Sport C = 100%. Age 17: Sport A = 100%, Sport B = 100%, Sport C = 100%. - Calculations Estimations:
At age 8: none are at 100%. At age 10: Sports A and C are at 100%, sport B is at 50%. At age 17: all at 100%. - Comparison to Answer Choices:
Age 10 matches the requirement, as two sports are at 100% and one is below.
FINAL ANSWER Blank 1: 10
Question 2: Identify the Sport Not at Full-Size at This Age
Complete Statement:
For 10 year-old children, the full-size play area is recommended for all sports except for Sport [BLANK 2].
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: recommended for all sports except
- Meaning: At age 10, one sport is not following the full-size recommendation.
- Relation to Chart: At age 10, look for which sport's line is below 100%.
- What is needed: Which sport is not at 100% field size at age 10.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
Refer to the chart data at age 10 to find which sport is not yet at full-size. - Necessary Data points:
At age 10: \(\mathrm{Sport\ A = 100\%, Sport\ B = 50\%, Sport\ C = 100\%}\). - Calculations Estimations:
Sport B is only at 50%; the others are at 100%. - Comparison to Answer Choices:
Sport B is the only one not at full-size at age 10.
FINAL ANSWER Blank 2: B
Summary
Age 10 is the point at which all but one sport (Sport B) use full-size fields. Sport B reaches full-size later, at age 16, while Sports A and C are already at full-size by age 10.
Question Independence Analysis
The answer to the second blank relies on the age chosen for the first blank. Once the age is determined, only one sport will not use the full-size field at that time, so the two blanks are interdependent.