For each of 10 consecutive years (Year 1 through Year 10), the graph shows a certain region's irrigated crop land...
GMAT Graphics Interpretation : (GI) Questions
For each of 10 consecutive years (Year 1 through Year 10), the graph shows a certain region's irrigated crop land in hectares (left scale), non irrigated crop plant area in hectares (left scale) and freshwater area in hectares (right scale).
From each drop-down menu, select the option that creates the most accurate statement based on the information given.
Owning the Dataset
Table 1: Text Analysis
| Text Component | Literal Content | Simple Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Time period | "For each of 10 consecutive years (Year 1 through Year 10)" | The data covers a ten-year consecutive period, labeled Year 1–10 |
| Geographic context | "a certain region's" | The region is unspecified; data applies to one area |
| Data series 1 | "irrigated crop land in hectares (left scale)" | Hectares of crop land with irrigation, measured by the left axis |
| Data series 2 | "non irrigated crop plant area in hectares (left scale)" | Hectares of crop land without irrigation, measured by the left axis |
| Data series 3 | "freshwater area in hectares (right scale)" | Freshwater surface or resource area in hectares, measured by the right axis |
Table 2: Chart Analysis
| Chart Component | What's Shown | What This Tells Us |
|---|---|---|
| X-axis | Years 1 through 10 | Ten years of consecutive data are compared |
| Left Y-axis | Cropland in hectares (0 to 18,000) | Irrigated and non-irrigated cropland are quantified here |
| Right Y-axis | Freshwater in hectares (0 to 36,000) | Freshwater area is measured on a separate, larger scale |
| Freshwater series | Line or curve on right axis, from ~31,600 to ~23,200 hectares | Freshwater area declines steadily over time |
| Irrigated cropland series | Line or curve on left axis, from ~7,400 to ~16,800 hectares | Area of irrigated cropland more than doubles |
| Non-irrigated cropland series | Bar or area plot on left axis, from ~4,000 to ~1,600 hectares | Non-irrigated cropland consistently shrinks |
Key Insights
Across the 10-year period, freshwater area is always greater than the irrigated cropland area; at no point does irrigated cropland surpass freshwater. Irrigated cropland area consistently exceeds non-irrigated cropland in every year, with both trends diverging further over time. There is a strong inverse relationship: as freshwater resources decline by thousands of hectares, irrigated cropland increases by a similar magnitude—implying a transfer of resources or intensification of irrigation practices at the expense of natural freshwater.
Step-by-Step Solution
Question 1: Freshwater vs. Irrigated Cropland: Yearly Comparison
Complete Statement:
For the 10 years shown in the graph for this region, the number of hectares of freshwater exceeded the number of hectares of irrigated crop land in _______ of the years.
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: For the 10 years shown in the graph
- Meaning: The question requires us to examine each of the 10 years presented in the data.
- Relation to Chart: The graph's x-axis shows 10 years; each year must be checked.
- Important Implications: Final count will be out of 10 years, so all possibilities from 0 to 10 must be considered.
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: the number of hectares of freshwater exceeded the number of hectares of irrigated crop land
- Meaning: We're being asked: in which years was the freshwater value greater than the irrigated cropland value?
- Relation to Chart: Freshwater values (on the right y-axis) compared to irrigated cropland (left y-axis) for each year.
- Important Implications: Because the y-axes have different scales, be careful to compare absolute numerical values, not their appearance.
What is needed: How many of the 10 years show freshwater hectares greater than irrigated cropland hectares.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
Look at each year's data for freshwater and irrigated cropland; check which is greater. - Necessary Data points:
Each year's freshwater and irrigated cropland numbers; taking examples: Year 1 (freshwater 31,600, irrigated 7,400), Year 10 (freshwater 23,200, irrigated 16,800). - Calculations Estimations:
Even at the minimum, freshwater (23,200) is higher than the maximum irrigated cropland (16,800). This pattern holds for all years. - Comparison to Answer Choices:
Since freshwater is always greater than irrigated cropland, the correct answer is 'all'.
FINAL ANSWER Blank 1: all
Question 2: Irrigated Cropland vs. Non-Irrigated Cropland: Yearly Comparison
Complete Statement:
For the 10 years shown in the graph for this region, the number of hectares of irrigated crop land exceeded the number of hectares of non irrigated crop land in _______ of the years.
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: the number of hectares of irrigated crop land exceeded the number of hectares of non irrigated crop land
- Meaning: We're being asked: in which years was the irrigated cropland value greater than the non-irrigated cropland value?
- Relation to Chart: Both irrigated and non-irrigated cropland use the left y-axis; compare their values per year.
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase:
- Meaning:
- Relation to Chart:
What is needed: How many of the 10 years show irrigated cropland hectares greater than non-irrigated cropland hectares.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
For each year, compare the hectares of irrigated cropland to non-irrigated cropland. - Necessary Data points:
Each year's irrigated and non-irrigated cropland data; for instance: Year 1 (irrigated 7,400, non-irrigated 4,000), Year 10 (irrigated 16,800, non-irrigated 1,600). - Calculations Estimations:
In every year, irrigated cropland values are higher than non-irrigated cropland values. - Comparison to Answer Choices:
Since irrigated cropland always exceeds non-irrigated cropland in all years, the correct answer is 'all'.
FINAL ANSWER Blank 2: all
Summary
For both blanks, comparison of the relevant data series across all 10 years shows that the condition specified holds every year. Therefore, the answer for both is 'all'. Quick analysis of the data table or graph directly confirms this, as the minimum value for the 'greater' category in each comparison still exceeds the maximum value of the 'lesser' category.
Question Independence Analysis
The two questions are independent in the sense that each asks about a different set of data series and compares different pairs. Answering one does not require, or directly aid in, answering the other.