Digital SAT Reading and Writing Practice Question #1173

Economists at the Regional Development Council are analyzing the health and future prospects of the local economy. They have compiled two key datasets: a breakdown of the total regional GDP by major industry sector for the most recent fiscal year (Table 1), and a historical scatter plot showing the relationship between the regional unemployment rate and the annual GDP growth rate over the past fifteen years (Figure 1). **Table 1: Regional GDP Contribution by Major Industry Sector (Most Recent Fiscal Year)** | Industry Sector | GDP Contribution (Millions USD) | | :---------------------- | :------------------------------ | | Manufacturing | 380 | | Technology & Innovation | 450 | | Retail & Services | 270 | | Agriculture | 100 | **Figure 1: Average Annual Unemployment Rate vs. Annual GDP Growth Rate (Past 15 Years)** The x-axis represents 'Average Annual Unemployment Rate (%)' ranging from 3.0% to 8.0%. The y-axis represents 'Annual GDP Growth Rate (%)' ranging from 0.5% to 4.0%. Points are approximately: (3.5, 3.8), (4.0, 3.5), (4.5, 3.0), (5.0, 2.5), (5.5, 2.0), (6.0, 1.5), (6.5, 1.0), (7.0, 0.7). There is a clear negative linear correlation. Based on the information presented in both Table 1 and Figure 1, which of the following is the most reasonable inference regarding the regional economy?