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Free GMAT Graphics Interpretation Practice Question

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Active home listings in hundreds, four districts across four quartersGrid of active home listings in hundreds. Rows are four districts; columns are quarters Q1 to Q4. Every cell shows its value.Q1Q2Q3Q4North District820810800790East District200320280270South District240220350220West District6080240150

The heat map below shows the number of active home listings, in hundreds, in each of four real-estate districts (North District, East District, South District, and West District) over four quarters (Q1 through Q4) of last year. Each cell is labeled with its value. Select from each drop-down menu to complete the statement so that it is most accurate according to the data shown.

From one quarter to the very next quarter, the district with the largest single-quarter decrease in active listings was , a drop of hundred listings.

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Answer & Explanation

Correct answer

1: South District · 2: 130

This question asks for the biggest drop, and the word "drop" is doing all the work. The biggest single change anywhere on the map is West District going from 80 to 240, a swing of 160. That is larger than any fall on the board, but it is a rise, not a drop, so it cannot be the answer. You have to settle the direction before you compare sizes.

Look at each district for its largest fall from one quarter to the next. North District slips by only 10 each quarter, despite having the biggest numbers on the board. East District's worst fall is 40. West District's real fall, after its big rise, is 90. South District drops from 350 to 220 between Q3 and Q4, a fall of 130. That is the largest single-quarter decrease, so the answer is South District, a drop of 130.

Notice the two main decoys. North District tempts you with huge numbers, but huge numbers that barely move make a tiny change. West District tempts you with the biggest swing on the map, but that swing is an increase, and once you keep only the decreases, South District's 130 is the largest.

The lesson: when a question asks for a decrease, resolve the sign first. A rise of 160 beats a fall of 130 in size but loses on direction, and direction is what the question fixed.