Between 1984 and 1989, occupancy rates in college dormitories averaged 91 percent of capacity, while admission rates remained constant at an average of 200 students per 1,000 rooms per year. Between 1989 and 1994, however, occupancy rates rose to an average of 98 percent of capacity, while student admission rates declined to 150 per 1,000 rooms per year.

If the information above is true, it would most clearly support which of the following statements?
(A) The average length of time that students remained in campus housing increased between 1989 and 1994.
(B) The proportion of students living in campus housing was greater in 1994 than in 1989.
(C) Student admission rates tend to decline whenever campus-housing occupancy rates rise.
(D) Campus dormitories built prior to 1989 generally had fewer rooms than did campus dormitories built after 1989.
(E) The more rooms campus housing has, the higher its occupancy rate is likely to be.
_________________

Thanks,
PraPon

VOTE: vote-best-gmat-practice-tests-excluding-gmatprep-144859.html
Tough RCs: Passage1 | Passage2 | Passage3 | Passage4 | Passage5 | Passage6 | Passage7

The stimulus offers facts about the occupancy rates in college dormitories for two time periods – 1984-1989 and 1989-1994. The more recent time period had an increase in occupancy rates at the same time fewer students were admitted. Here, a strong connection between the two statements allows us to predict that the increase in occupancy rates during 1989-1994 must be caused by more current students remaining in the dormitories. The increase in occupancy rates cannot be caused by more new students because there were fewer students admitted.

Choice (A) states that the average length of time that students remained in campus housing increased between 1989 and 1994. This matches with above explanation and is the correct answer.

Choice (B) says that the proportion of students living in campus housing was greater in 1994 than in 1989. This is an irrelevant comparison; we are concerned with the percentage of rooms that are occupied, not the percentage of students who live in dormitories.

Choice (C) mentions that student admission rates tend to decline whenever campus-housing occupancy rates rise. This is outside of the scope; we can’t infer anything about how admission and occupancy rates typically behave from this specific example.

Choice (D) indicates that campus dormitories built prior to 1989 generally had fewer rooms than did campus dormitories built after 1989. This makes an irrelevant comparison – the number of rooms is not an issue, as the stimulus gives us the information as a “"per 1,000”" rate.

Choice (E) suggests that the more rooms campus housing has, the higher its occupancy rate is likely to be. This doesn't follow from the stimulus – again, the rate of occupancy makes the actual number of rooms irrelevant.
_________________

Thanks,
PraPon

VOTE: vote-best-gmat-practice-tests-excluding-gmatprep-144859.html
Tough RCs: Passage1 | Passage2 | Passage3 | Passage4 | Passage5 | Passage6 | Passage7

addmission rate - number of students admitted to the dormitory/1000 rooms
occupancy rate is the percentage of rooms that remain occupied in a particular time period.
even though number of students admitted decreased, their stay at the dormitory increased hence the occupancy rate increased.
Answer - A