Question

Fill in the blank with a suitable option:
According to chart 2, the years 2000-2010 were characterized by ______________.

• A. less growth in metropolitan areas of all sizes than had taken place in the 1990s
• B. more growth in small metropolitan areas than in large metropolitan areas
• C. a significant decline in the population of small metropolitan areas compared to the 1980s
• D. roughly equal growth in large metropolitan areas and non-metropolitan areas

Answer 1

The correct option is A less growth in metropolitan areas of all sizes than had taken place in the 1990s

Here, Chart 2 shows that the growth of all metropolitan areas in the 1990s was higher than the growth in all metropolitan areas in the 2000s: large metro areas experienced a growth of 14.3% in the 1990s versus a growth of 10.9% in the 2000s, small metro areas experienced a growth of 13.1% in the 1990s versus a growth of 10.3% in the 2000s, and non‑metro areas experienced a growth of 9.0% in the 1990s versus a growth of 4.5% in the 2000s. So, option A is the correct answer.

Options B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately characterize the U S growth rate by metro size from 2000‑2010 as illustrated in Chart 2.