Answers and Explanations

Data Interpretation Practice Set

1. D
   This question asks about total revenues, so you should refer to the left bar graph. Each bar in the graph has two components, but you want to look at the total height of the bars for 2004 and 2007 because the question asks about total revenues. Total revenues for 2004 appear to be $3 billion, and for 2007 they appear to be about $7.5 billion. So the increase is roughly $7.5 billion − $3 billion = $4.5 billion. Answer choice (D) is correct.
2. E
   You have to refer to both bar graphs to answer this question. First, refer to the right bar graph to find the lone year in which food-related profits increased over the previous year—the only year in which the unshaded portion of the bar increases in size is 2008. Now that you’ve zeroed in on the year, refer to the left bar graph to determine the total revenues for that year, which appear to be about $8 billion. Answer choice (E) is correct.
3. C

   This is a percent question, so start with the bar graphs. You need the figures from both food-related and non-food-related sources, so look at the total height of the bars. From the right bar graph, the total profits for 2008 appear to be $800 million; from the left bar graph, total revenues for that year appear to be $8 billion (i.e., $8,000 million). Now, convert the part/whole into a percent:

   
4. E
   First, find the year for which revenues from non-food-related operations surpassed $4.5 billion on the left bar graph. Finding the correct bar is made more difficult by the fact that you have to deal with the shaded portion, which is at the top of the bar, not at the bottom. Looking carefully, you should then see that 2007 is the year in question. The question asks for total profits, so once again refer to the right bar graph, and you’ll see the profits for that year are around $800 million. This matches answer choice (E).
5. 600
   Finally, you have a question that refers to the pie chart. You are asked about revenues from frozen food operations, and the pie chart tells you that frozen foods represent 20 percent of all food-related revenues for 2009. To convert this into an amount, you need to locate the amount of food-related revenues for 2009. Once again, refer to the left bar graph, where you’ll find that food-related revenues in 2009 were $3 billion, or $3,000 million. Then calculate that 20 percent of $3,000 million is $600 million.