In a certain factory, each product passes through exactly two of six p

Question

https://www.starttest.com/ITDVersions/23.0.0.0/itdmedia.aspx?data=NTg2MjAzNjk5LDIzLjAuMC4wLDE2NTMwOCwzMTQsMTksRU5VLEYyMkFENTU3LUIzRDUtNDRBRC05Njk4LUM0NEY5OUNCQzk3NSwsNzIwNTc1OTQwMzc5Mjc5MzYsMCwwLCwsMTcsMSxlZGdlLDAsMCwwLDUzNjg3MDkxMiwyMiwwLDA%3d-BW50HprkQUY%3d&cv=17&programid=314&formid=19&language=ENU&ck=72057594037927936_OVR536870912_DM22&urid=290-34-ENU-ItemPools-Da-D032023NP/GID2550.gif

In a certain factory, each product passes through exactly two of six processing lines—through one of the first lines (Lines U, V, and W), and then through one of the second lines (Lines X, Y, and Z). Each day, the surface temperature of the first 36 products from each line is recorded in sequence. The graph shows the relationship between each of yesterday's first-line temperature sequences and each of yesterday's second-line temperature sequences. Each dot represents one first-line temperature reading paired with one second-line temperature reading of the same sequence position. The shading on each dot indicates the relative position of the readings within the sequence (i.e., lighter dots correspond to later parts of the sequence).

Based on the information provided, select from each drop-down menu the option that creates the most accurate statement.

Yesterday, the greatest of the observed temperatures from any of the temperature sequences was observed in Line .

Yesterday's temperature sequence from Line was generally declining.

Based on the information provided, select from each drop-down menu the option that creates the most accurate statement.

Yesterday, the greatest of the observed temperatures from any of the temperature sequences was observed in Line  GRAPH_1_PLACEHOLDER  .

Yesterday's temperature sequence from Line  GRAPH_2_PLACEHOLDER  was generally declining.

https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/ultramsgmedia/2025/7/104644/b6ee3566ff7c27731d5662a2cc37158f

MartyMurray · Accepted Answer

In a certain factory, each product passes through exactly two of six processing lines—through one of the first lines (Lines U, V, and W), and then through one of the second lines (Lines X, Y, and Z). Each day, the surface temperature of the first 36 products from each line is recorded in sequence. The graph shows the relationship between each of yesterday's first-line temperature sequences and each of yesterday's second-line temperature sequences. Each dot represents one first-line temperature reading paired with one second-line temperature reading of the same sequence position. The shading on each dot indicates the relative position of the readings within the sequence (i.e., lighter dots correspond to later parts of the sequence).

Based on the information provided, select from each drop-down menu the option that creates the most accurate statement.

Yesterday, the greatest of the observed temperatures from any of the temperature sequences was observed in Line .

Yesterday's temperature sequence from Line was generally declining.

We see that the first lines are depicted by the columns of the graph, with their temperature readings increasing from left to right in each little graph.

The second lines are depicted by the rows of the graph, with their temperature readings increasing from bottom to top in each little graph.

Based on the information provided, select from each drop-down menu the option that creates the most accurate statement.

Yesterday, the greatest of the observed temperatures from any of the temperature sequences was observed in Line _____.

The temperature readings for the first lines go up to a maximum of a little over 20.

The temperature readings for the second lines go up to a maximum of a little over 60.

Looking for the highest temperature in any line, we see that, in all three graphs for the X line, the maximum temperatures are above 60, and those are the highest temperatures found anywhere on the graph.

Select X.

Yesterday's temperature sequence from Line _____ was generally declining.

This question is tricky because we might expect declining temperatures to be represented by patterns on the graphs that decline from left to right. However, we have to keep in mind that left to right movement on each little graph represents not passing of time but rather increases in temperature.

As the passage says, passage of time is represented in the the following way on the graph:

The shading on each dot indicates the relative position of the readings within the sequence (i.e., lighter dots correspond to later parts of the sequence).

So, darker dots represent readings taken at earlier times, and lighter dots represent readings taken at later times.

Accordingly, a graph that shows temperatures declining over the period of time of a sequence will have darker dots, indicating earlier times, for higher temperature readings and lighter dots, indicating later times, for lower temperature readings.

Such a pattern indicates that the temperatures declined as the sequence progressed.

Scanning the graphs, we see that only the graphs for line Z have such a pattern, with darker dots toward the top of the graphs for higher temperature readings and lighter dots toward the bottoms of the graphs for lower temperature readings.

Select Z.

Correct answer:  X, Z

playthegame · Answer

Great question, loved it on the mock test. I ended up choosing W instead of X but I mixed up the axes. I also kept thinking about why W was so close U and V only to realize after the test I was reading the wrong axes. The way the labels have been setup they can steer you away from how you typically read labels...at least I did, I was close nevertheless.

samarpan.g28 · Answer

Hi  playthegame , I got the second question wrong because I was mistaken about the colour of the dot. Can you please correct me if I am wrong here? We will choose Z as the answer for the second dropdown since the lowest dot has a lighter colour and it represents the second line, right? So while we look into the bottom right box, the answer for the second question will be Z, not U. Kindly let me know.

playthegame · Answer

Yes you are correct, the colors are setup in a way that can mislead you as well (or maybe not). You have look at the trend in color on all the charts and you will see that on line Z all the lighter colors are towards the bottom half of the chart. Hence, the temperatures on line Z were declining.

Sujithz001 · Answer

I'm facing difficulty with understanding this question. Can anyone please help with a video explanation? or if there's already one please link it to this thread.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Bunuel

visheshr · Answer

Took me a while to understand the graph, but here's the jist of it.

A product passes through ONLY 2 of 6 lines is the most important understanding.

So different products went through different combo's of the 2 lines
For e.g. either a product went through the combination 
(Line X, Line U)   OR   
(Line X and Line V)   OR   
(Line X and Line W)   OR  
(Line Y and Line U)   OR  
...
...
so on and so forth.

Next is simple, where just the temperatures are recorded for each of these different combination on a X, Y axis.
These products were sent to get heated in a queue from 1-36 with the last product being denoted as lightest in color and the first one as darkest.

KarishmaB · Answer

A complicated question. Here is the video solution:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05jHcRttyQc

In a certain factory, each product passes through exactly two of six p

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Graphs and Tables (G&T) Questions

In a certain factory, each product passes through exactly two of six p

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards