Calculate the Shaded Region: Rectangle Grid Proportion Problem

Let's begin:

Step 1: Upon examination, the diagram divides the rectangle into 7 vertical sections.

Step 2: The entire shaded region spans the full width, essentially covering all sections, so the shaded number is 7.

Step 3: The fraction of the total rectangle that is shaded is $\frac{7}{7}$.

Step 4: Simplifying, $\frac{7}{7}$ becomes $1$.

Therefore, the solution is marked by the choice: Answers a + b.