A restaurant asked a focus group to rate 5 new dishes, each of which features either beef, chicken, fish, pork,...
GMAT Graphics Interpretation : (GI) Questions
A restaurant asked a focus group to rate 5 new dishes, each of which features either beef, chicken, fish, pork, or tofu. The focus group was asked to make a comparison of each pair of dishes and to choose which of the two dishes they preferred. The graphic shows the focus group's preferences. For example, when the focus group compared the dish featuring beef to the dish featuring chicken, their preference was the dish featuring chicken, and this is indicated at the intersection of the horizontal row containing the label beef on the far right and the vertical column containing the label chicken at the top.
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 | Simple Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Study setup | A restaurant asked a focus group to rate 5 new dishes, each of which features either beef, chicken, fish, pork, or tofu | A restaurant tested 5 dishes, each with a different main protein, using a focus group |
| Methodology | The focus group was asked to make a comparison of each pair of dishes and to choose which of the two dishes they preferred | People compared each possible pair and picked their favorite of the two |
| Data representation | The graphic shows the focus group's preferences | The chart summarizes which dish was preferred in every head-to-head comparison |
| Reading instructions | For example, when the focus group compared the dish featuring beef to the dish featuring chicken, their preference was the dish featuring chicken [...] | The winner for each pair is found at the intersection of row (first dish) and column (second dish) |
Table 2: Chart Analysis
| Chart Feature | Description | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Chart type | Matrix/grid with dishes as both rows and columns | Displays all head-to-head preferences between dish pairs |
| Matrix entries | Each cell (not on diagonal) contains the preferred dish in each pairwise comparison | Shows which dish was preferred in each specific matchup |
| Reading approach | Find intersection of row (right label) and column (top label) to see preferred dish | Reveals outcome for a chosen pair |
| Data anomalies | Missing comparison between chicken and pork; error in fish vs pork cell | Some comparison results are missing or potentially recorded incorrectly |
| Preference pattern | Winners distributed among different proteins; no dish wins consistently across all pairings | Preferences are varied; no universally preferred dish |
Key Insights
Each row-column intersection in the matrix shows which of two dishes was preferred, providing a full set of pairwise preference data. However, there are some missing or inconsistent entries (e.g., no comparison between chicken and pork, and an error in the fish vs pork cell), so the dataset is slightly incomplete. Overall, no single dish dominated all others; preferences were distributed among the offerings, showing varied tastes among participants.
Step-by-Step Solution
Question 1: Most Preferred Dish
Complete Statement:
The focus group preferred the dish featuring [BLANK] to every other dish.
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: preferred the dish featuring [BLANK] to every other dish
Meaning: We are searching for a single dish that the group chose over all the other options in direct comparisons.
Relation to Chart: We need to check which dish was selected as the winner in every one of its head-to-head matchups in the chart.
Important Implications: The answer must be the only dish that beat all other dishes in the one-on-one preference comparisons.
- Key Phrase: preferred the dish featuring [BLANK] to every other dish
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: every other dish
Meaning: Includes all of the remaining dishes except the one being considered.
Relation to Chart: Each dish will be compared to each of the other four dishes.
Important Implications: We need a dish with 4 wins (since there are 5 dishes total).
- Key Phrase: every other dish
- What is needed: Which dish won all its head-to-head preference contests.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
Count each dish's wins in its head-to-head matchups from the chart. The dish with 4 wins is the most preferred. - Necessary Data points:
Total number of wins for each dish in the chart: Beef (1), Chicken (3), Fish (3), Pork (1), Tofu (4).- Calculations Estimations:
Beef beats Pork only. Chicken beats Beef, Fish, Pork. Fish beats Beef, Chicken, Pork. Pork beats Tofu only. Tofu beats Beef, Chicken, Fish, Pork. - Comparison to Answer Choices:
Only Tofu is shown to beat all other dishes, making it the answer.
- Calculations Estimations:
FINAL ANSWER Blank 1: Tofu
Question 2: Least Preferred Dish
Complete Statement:
The focus group preferred every other dish to the dish featuring [BLANK].
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: preferred every other dish to
Meaning: Looking for the dish that was rejected in favor of all others.
Relation to Chart: Find the dish that lost in all or almost all comparisons.
- Key Phrase: preferred every other dish to
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: the dish featuring [BLANK]
Meaning: Refers to the specific dish we're trying to identify as least preferred.
Relation to Chart: Check the head-to-head results for each dish to see which lost the most.
- Key Phrase: the dish featuring [BLANK]
- What is needed: Which dish lost the most or all head-to-head preference contests.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
Review the chart and identify which dish lost the most head-to-head contests. - Necessary Data points:
Beef (1 win, 3 losses), Chicken (3 wins, 1 loss), Fish (3 wins, 1 loss), Pork (1 win, 4 losses), Tofu (4 wins, 0 losses).- Calculations Estimations:
Pork wins only against Tofu, losing to Beef, Chicken, Fish, and Tofu. Pork therefore has 4 losses. - Comparison to Answer Choices:
Pork has the most losses, so it is the least preferred dish.
- Calculations Estimations:
FINAL ANSWER Blank 2: Pork
Summary
By analyzing the chart and counting the number of wins for each dish, Tofu is the only dish to have 4 wins—making it the most preferred. Pork, with only 1 win and 4 losses, is least preferred. The questions require counting wins and losses for each dish in the preference matrix.
Question Independence Analysis
The blanks are independent: one asks which dish wins against all others, the other which dish loses to all others. Answering one does not give away the answer to the other.