Question

Instructions: The following bar graph gives the production, exports and per-capita consumption of rice in country A, for the five years from 2006 to 2010 (Production and Exports in million kg; Per capita in kg). Consumption = Production - Exports. Per Capita Consumption = Consumption ÷ Population.

Year-wise data read from the chart: Production (2006-2010): 192.5, 208, 238, 225, 207 million kg. Exports (2006-2010): 120, 120, 130, 120, 80 million kg. This gives Consumption (2006-2010): 72.5, 88, 108, 105, 127 million kg.

In which year was the percentage increase in the consumption of rice over the previous year the highest?

• A. 2007
• B. 2008
• C. 2009
• D. 2010

Hint:

A smaller raw increase can still be the largest percentage increase if it started from a smaller base; check 2008 against 2010 carefully.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Find the year-on-year percentage change in consumption.
Consumption: 2006 = 72.5, 2007 = 88, 2008 = 108, 2009 = 105, 2010 = 127 (all in million kg).

Step 2: Compute each year's percentage change over the previous year.
2007 vs 2006: \(\dfrac{88-72.5}{72.5}\times100\approx21.4\%\).
2008 vs 2007: \(\dfrac{108-88}{88}\times100\approx22.7\%\).
2009 vs 2008: \(\dfrac{105-108}{108}\times100\approx-2.8\%\) (a decrease).
2010 vs 2009: \(\dfrac{127-105}{105}\times100\approx21.0\%\).

Step 3: Compare.
The highest positive percentage increase is in 2008, at about 22.7%.

Step 4: Final Answer.
The consumption increase was highest in 2008, so option B is correct.