The chart shows 10 techniques that have, at one time or another, been commonly used to construct buildings in Nation...
GMAT Graphics Interpretation : (GI) Questions
The chart shows 10 techniques that have, at one time or another, been commonly used to construct buildings in Nation X. Each horizontal bar indicates the interval of time, up to the year 2000, during which the associated construction technique was in common use, with the leftmost edge of the bar indicating the onset of common use and the rightmost edge, where visible, indicating the termination of common use.
Select from each drop-down menu the option that completes the statement most accurately.
Owning The Dataset
Table 1: Text Analysis
| Text Component | Literal Content | Simple Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Subject Matter | 10 techniques that have, at one time or another, been commonly used to construct buildings | The dataset concerns 10 building techniques used in Nation X |
| Geographic Context | in Nation X | The setting is a specific country (Nation X) |
| Visual Representation | Each horizontal bar indicates the interval of time, up to the year 2000, during which ... | The data is shown as bars, each indicating usage periods for techniques |
| Time Indicator | up to the year 2000 | The chart covers up to, but not beyond, the year 2000 |
| Onset Definition | leftmost edge ... indicating the onset of common use | Bar starts = when technique becomes commonly used |
| Termination Definition | rightmost edge, where visible, indicating the termination of common use | Bar ends = when technique stops being commonly used (sometimes still going) |
| Usage Meaning | commonly used | Only periods of widespread adoption are shown |
Table 2: Chart Analysis
| Chart Feature | Description | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| X-axis | Timeline from (at least) 1500 to 2000, demarked by years | Techniques tracked across ~500 years |
| Y-axis | 10 construction techniques, labeled uniquely | Each row is a unique technique (A-J, for example) |
| Bars | Each bar has a start and possibly an end point (sometimes ongoing) | Visualizes when each technique was in use |
| Onsets (1600-1800) | 3 bars have starts within 1600-1800 | Exactly 3 techniques began in that period |
| Maximum Overlap (1600-1800) | At most 5 bars overlap during this period | Up to 5 techniques in common use at once in this window |
| Modern Techniques | Some bars reach the year 2000 (no visible right end) | Indicates ongoing use as of 2000 |
Key Insights
- Exactly three techniques began common use between 1600 and 1800, according to the left edges of the bars.
- The maximum number of techniques in common use simultaneously during 1600-1800 is five, as indicated by overlapping bars.
- Bars start and end at many different points, meaning some techniques were much longer-lived than others, resulting in periods of overlap and replacement.
- Some techniques' bars extend to the year 2000, so they were still in use at the chart's endpoint, while others terminated earlier.
Step-by-Step Solution
Question 1: Counting Techniques That Began During 1600-1800
Complete Statement:
From 1600 to 1800, the chart shows the onset of common use for exactly ___ of the techniques
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: From 1600 to 1800
_ Meaning: This specifies the time period to consider.
_ Relation to Chart: Focuses analysis on bars that start within this date range on the horizontal (time) axis.
_ Important Implications: Only constructions with a start date (left edge of bar) between 1600 and 1800 matter.
- Key Phrase: From 1600 to 1800
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: onset of common use
_ Meaning: The starting point when a construction technique became widely used.
_ Relation to Chart: This refers to the leftmost endpoint of each technique's bar.
_ Important Implications: Bars must begin inside this window; those that end or only pass through the window aren't counted unless they start here.
- Key Phrase: onset of common use
What is needed: The number of construction techniques whose first year of common use was between 1600 and 1800.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
Scan the chart to count only the techniques whose bars begin (left edge) between 1600 and 1800. - Necessary Data points:
The start years of each technique: Technique B (1650), Technique C (1700), Technique D (1725).
_ Calculations Estimations: All three (B, C, D) have their start between 1600 and 1800, so the count is 3.
_ Comparison to Answer Choices: Answer choice matching: The answer choices include 1, 2, 3, and 4. Our total (3) matches one.
FINAL ANSWER Blank 1: 3
Question 2: Finding the Maximum Techniques in Use Simultaneously (1600-1800)
Complete Statement:
During this time period, the maximum number that were in common use at the same time is ___
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: during this time period
_ Meaning: Limits the scope to 1600-1800 only.
_ Relation to Chart: Look at all techniques' bars that intersect the interval from 1600 to 1800.
- Key Phrase: during this time period
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: maximum number that were in common use at the same time
_ Meaning: We want the largest overlap in active techniques within the time window.
_ Relation to Chart: Find the point(s) where the most bars overlap within 1600-1800.
- Key Phrase: maximum number that were in common use at the same time
What is needed: The greatest number of different construction techniques that were all in common use on any single year between 1600 and 1800.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
Identify, for any year in 1600-1800, the largest number of overlapping horizontal bars. - Necessary Data points:
The periods of activity: Technique B (1650-1875), C (1700-1790), D (1725-1875) all in use from 1725 to 1790.
_ Calculations Estimations: Count of overlapping bars from 1725 to 1790 is 3. No period has 4; so, the maximum is 3 techniques.
_ Comparison to Answer Choices: Choices include 1, 2, 3, 4. Three is present and matches our finding.
FINAL ANSWER Blank 2: 3
Summary
Both blanks have the answer 3, but each asks about a different property of the chart within 1600-1800. The first blank is about new technique introductions (start years), and the second is about the greatest simultaneous overlap (active techniques at once). By focusing visually on bar start points and overlaps, the answers emerge clearly.
Question Independence Analysis
The two blanks are independent: Blank 1 requires counting techniques starting within 1600-1800, while Blank 2 measures overlapping usage during the same period. Solving one does not provide the answer to the other.