The Rule of the Vital Few
Written by Studio AM.
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In some situations, results are not shared out evenly. A few sources account for a large share, making the outcome lopsided. A small part of the causes tends to produce a large part of the effects. This rough pattern is known as the 80/20 rule, or the Pareto principle.
The numbers are not exact, and they are not magic. The point is only that effort and result are often unequal. A few products may bring in most of a company's sales. A handful of streets may see most of a city's traffic. A short list of tasks may deliver most of what you truly care about, while many other tasks each contribute a smaller amount.
Seen this way, the rule is a tool for choosing. If a small share of your work produces most of the value, the smart move is to find that share and protect it, rather than treating every task as equal. Check the actual pattern before applying the rule. Some infrequent tasks, such as safety checks, remain essential even when they produce no obvious short-term result.
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Questions
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Question 1 of 4
The passage mainly explains
The answer is B: why a few causes often produce most results
The passage explains the 80/20 pattern of uneven results and how to use it to choose where to focus.
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Question 2 of 4
According to the passage, what does the 80/20 rule say about causes and effects?
The answer is B: A few causes often produce most effects
The text states 'A small part of the causes tends to produce a large part of the effects'.
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Question 3 of 4
Why does the passage call the rule 'a tool for choosing'?
The answer is B: Because spotting the high-value share lets you aim your effort there
If a small share produces most value, you can 'find that share and protect it': the rule guides where to spend effort.
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Question 4 of 4
In this passage, 'lopsided' most nearly means
The answer is B: uneven, tilted to one side
Set against 'shared out evenly', 'lopsided' means uneven and tilted toward one side.
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