Home Video Game Systems of the 1970s and 1980s
| System | Manufacturer | System Type | Approximate Number of Units Sold Worldwide |
|---|---|---|---|
| ColecoVision | Coleco | Console | 2,000,000 |
| Intellivision | Mattel | Console | 3,000,000 |
| MSX | ASCII Corp. | Computer | 4,000,000 |
| Game & Watch | Nintendo | Handheld | 18,600,000 |
A student is writing a research paper on the global rise of the home video game industry during the 1970s and 1980s. The student is surprised by differences in the number of units sold by some systems compared to those sold by others. Most remarkably, the _____
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement?
Explanation
Context: A student surveying home game systems of the 1970s and 1980s is struck by how far apart the sales totals are, and "most remarkably" calls for the widest gap. The table lists ColecoVision at 2,000,000 units, Intellivision at 3,000,000, MSX at 4,000,000 and Game & Watch at 18,600,000.
Answer: A) Game & Watch sold approximately 18,600,000 units, whereas the ColecoVision sold only approximately 2,000,000 units.
Why? Both figures match their rows, and the pairing sets the table's best seller against its worst, a spread of about 16,600,000 units. That is the largest disparity the data allow, which is what "most remarkably" demands.
Traps:
- B) The figures are misassigned: 4,000,000 belongs to the MSX, not Game & Watch, and 3,000,000 belongs to Intellivision, not ColecoVision.
- C) These numbers are correct for the MSX and Intellivision, but a gap of 1,000,000 units is the narrowest in the table, hardly a remarkable difference.
- D) The MSX sold 4,000,000 units; 18,600,000 is Game & Watch's total, so this comparison rests on a swapped figure.