Recessions, broadly defined, are periods of negative economic growth,

Question

https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?mode=view&id=54460 Recessions, broadly defined, are periods of negative economic growth, whereas expansions are periods of positive economic growth. The graph shows data about two leading newspapers—the Finance Times and the Metro Journal —and the number of stories per month in each about economic growth that were primarily about recession. It also shows when economic recessions occurred in the nation where the newspapers are based. For each of the following, use the drop-down menu to create the most accurate statement on the basis of the information provided. Suppose the number of stories per month in the two newspapers about economic growth that were primarily about expansion tends to increase steeply and steadily after a recession ends and to decrease sharply when a recession begins. Then, during the period shown on the graph, one might reasonably expect the number of stories about economic growth primarily about expansion to have been highest in GRAPH_1_PLACEHOLDER . If, from 1975 to 1976, the Finance Times had fewer stories overall about economic growth than the Metro Journal did, then most likely the Finance Times also had fewer stories GRAPH_2_PLACEHOLDER than the Metro Journal did. 4.jpg

chetan2u · Accepted Answer

The Official solution is a bit skewed for the first blank.
Below is the likely solution...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4PtPQhq-B8

mSKR · Answer

Information given in argument: 
Recessions: periods of negative economic growth(marked in graph)
Expansions :periods of positive economic growth
Given: number of stories per month in each about economic growth that were primarily about recession

Question: Find out number of articles about economic growth primarily about expansion highest in ?

We need to find out in which year number of article increase steeply and steadily after a recession ends and to decrease sharply when a recession begins”
The graph is about economic growth that were primarily about recession

So we need to reverse the statement, we need to look in the graph: 
in which year number of article decrease steeply and steadily after a recession ends and to increase sharply when a recession begins”

1994: decrease sharply but it not near to recession ;before 1994 has already decreased sharply
1997: lowest value but I need to find the steepest decrease value and should be near to recession
 2000: it is increasing ; next recession is 2002-2003 – matching criteria

2 . If, from 1975 to 1976, the Finance Times had fewer stories overall about economic growth than the Metro Journal did, then most likely the Finance Times also had fewer stories_____________than the Metro Journal did.

The graph is about economic growth primarily about recession.
1975: have more articles from finance times than metro journal  primarily about recession.
Overall finance times have lower stories

It means: metro journal should have more articles primarily about expansions during that time

A. Primarily about recessions
B. Published during recessions
 C. Primarily about expansions-CORRECT 
D. Published during expansions

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

The statement suggests that, in the two newspapers, increases in numbers of stories about economic growth primarily about expansion are negatively correlated with increases in numbers of such stories primarily about recession. Therefore the number of such stories primarily about expansion would likely be highest when the number of those primarily about recession is lowest. Of the available options, the number of economic growth stories primarily about recession is lowest in 2000.

The correct answer is 2000.

There is nothing in the information provided to indicate how many total stories about economic growth the two newspapers published. The graph does indicate that for 1975 and 1976, the Finance Times had many more stories about economic growth primarily about recession than did the Metro Journal. If the Times had fewer stories about economic growth overall, then the Journal had a greater total number of the remaining types of stories about economic growth. Therefore it is likely that the Journal had more such stories primarily about expansion than did the Times.

The correct answer is primarily about expansions.

Apt0810 · Answer

1)C,per the question the stories should decrease once the recession begins and Increase when it ends so the year 2000 fulfills that criteria since after 2000 the recession occurred,this satisfying the above condition.

2)C,since Financial times showed almost negative news so Financial times had fewer stories primarily about expansion than Metro journal

Posted from my mobile device

sayan640 · Answer

MartyMurray   GmatKnightTutor   GMATNinja   egmat ,  GMATGuruNY   BrentGMATPrepNow   Bunuel  can any one of you please provide your explanations for this question ?

egmat · Answer

This seems like an interesting question. Here is a quick and dirty solution. Let me know if this helps:  GFE | Mocks | GITA | GC (loom.com)

Let me know if this helps!

-Rajat

sayan640 · Answer

sayan640 · Answer

Thank you  egmat  Sir. Now I understood. The farther it goes from the year of recession ( year 1990 approx ) , the more number of stories about expansion get published. The farthest is the year 2000. Hence that's the answer.

egmat · Answer

@ sayan640 -  please do not call me "Sir". Just Rajat works! Also, take a look at the recording below if you need help with more such questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAHDaA2L1hk

-Rajat

sayan640 · Answer

Thank you Rajat  egmat

Posted from my mobile device

playthegame · Answer

chetan2u

Hello, I think this question is available on the additional practice questions for data insights. So don't think the Focus tag is correct.

egmat · Answer

This is a great Multi-Source Reasoning question that tests your ability to interpret graphs and apply logical reasoning. Let me walk you through how to approach both parts systematically.

Question 1: Finding the Peak Expansion Coverage Year

Let's think about what the question is really asking. You're told that expansion stories "increase steeply and steadily after a recession ends" and "decrease sharply when a recession begins."

Here's what you need to see: If expansion stories build up during good times and crash during recessions, then they'd be highest right  before  the next recession starts.

Step 1:  Look at the graph and identify the longest period without a grey shaded area (recession).

Step 2:  Notice the expansion from 1991 (when a recession ends) to 2001 (when the next one begins). This is roughly 10 years - by far the longest expansion period shown.

Step 3:  Since expansion stories accumulate throughout this period and would peak just before the 2001 recession, the answer is  2000 .

Question 2: Understanding Story Composition (1975-1976)

This one requires some careful logical reasoning. Notice how during 1975-1976 (a recession period), the Finance Times line is  higher  than Metro Journal's line on the graph.

Here's the key insight: The graph shows only recession-focused articles. If Finance Times had:
- More recession articles (as shown on the graph)
- But fewer total articles overall (as stated in the question)

Then mathematically, Finance Times must have had  significantly  fewer expansion articles!

Think of it this way:
 Total = Recession + Expansion

If  FT_{total} < MJ_{total}  and  FT_{recession} > MJ_{recession} 
Then  FT_{expansion}  must be much less than  MJ_{expansion}

The answer is  primarily about expansions .

You can check out the  step-by-step solution on Neuron by e-GMAT  to master the systematic framework for handling inverse relationships in data interpretation questions. You can also explore other GMAT official questions with detailed solutions on Neuron for structured practice  here , including advanced techniques for quickly identifying patterns in cyclical data and alternative approaches to verify your answers.

Recessions, broadly defined, are periods of negative economic growth,

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GMAT Graphs and Tables (G&T) Questions

Recessions, broadly defined, are periods of negative economic growth,

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