The table below lists operational data for seven regional hydroelectric power stations: | Station Name | River System | Installed Capacity (MW) | Annual Generation (GWh) | Operating Efficiency (%) | |---|---|---|---|---| | Apex Dam | Columbia | 450 | 1,800 | 88% | | Beacon Hydro | Snake | 320 | 1,44

The table below lists operational data for seven regional hydroelectric power stations: | … — GMAT

The table below lists operational data for seven regional hydroelectric power stations:

Station Name	River System	Installed Capacity (MW)	Annual Generation (GWh)	Operating Efficiency (%)
Apex Dam	Columbia	450	1,800	88%
Beacon Hydro	Snake	320	1,440	92%
Crest Falls	Columbia	500	1,950	85%
Delta Flow	Missouri	280	1,120	90%
Eagle Ridge	Snake	400	1,600	86%
Frontier Hydro	Missouri	350	1,470	91%
Glacier Peak	Columbia	420	1,764	89%

Statement: If the table is sorted in ascending alphabetical order by River System, and any ties in River System are broken by sorting Operating Efficiency in descending order, Beacon Hydro will appear immediately above Eagle Ridge in the sorted list.

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Answer

True

Sorting primarily by River System (alphabetical) places the two Snake stations at the bottom of the table. Breaking the tie by sorting Operating Efficiency descending places Beacon Hydro (92%) above Eagle Ridge (86%), confirming Beacon Hydro immediately precedes Eagle Ridge.

Step-by-Step Solution

Group rows by the primary sort key: River System in ascending alphabetical order.

The river systems are ordered as Columbia, then Missouri, then Snake.

Alphabetical sorting orders C before M, and M before S.

Sort the entries within each river system group by the tie-breaker rule: Operating Efficiency in descending order.

Columbia group: Glacier Peak (89%), Apex Dam (88%), Crest Falls (85%). Missouri group: Frontier Hydro (91%), Delta Flow (90%). Snake group: Beacon Hydro (92%), Eagle Ridge (86%).

Descending efficiency puts higher percentage values above lower percentage values within each group.

Combine the ordered groups to form the complete sorted list.

Position 1: Glacier Peak, Position 2: Apex Dam, Position 3: Crest Falls, Position 4: Frontier Hydro, Position 5: Delta Flow, Position 6: Beacon Hydro, Position 7: Eagle Ridge.

Evaluating positions shows Beacon Hydro (6th) is placed directly above Eagle Ridge (7th).

Key Concept

Sorting and Multi-Column Ordering

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