Victory for the ACT Student Text 15e

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becomes an extension of the physician; the ’ƒ›‡” ‰‡‡”ƒŽŽ› ‡‡–• ‘•– ‘ˆ –Š‡ „‘ƒ ϐ‹†‡ bills generated by the doctor/hospital; and, for the most part, the patient plays a passive role. In routine or minor illnesses, or just plain worries, the patient’s options are, of course, much greater with respect to use and price. In illnesses that are more serious, however, such choices tend to evaporate, and it is for In lines 1–2, the phrase replete with most 1.

EXPLANATIONS 1. (A) Reading/Craft and Structure/ Vocabulary The passage discusses the variety of economic relationships in the healthcare sector that turn ordinary relationships upside down. For example, the decisions are primarily made not by the consumer (patient) or payer (government or insurance) but by the provider, namely, the doctor. According to the passage, these strange relationships are the norm in healthcare. So, to be “replete with” such ”‡Žƒ–‹‘•Š‹’• ‡ƒ• –‘ „‡ Dzϐ‹ŽŽ‡† ™‹–Šdz them. 2. (H) Reading/Key Ideas and Details/Main Idea Surveying the opening words of each choice, we can eliminate (J), and probably (F) and (G) as well. As for (J), although a reader might use the information supplied in the passage to support some action, the primary purpose of the passage itself is not to “urge” or persuade. Similarly, although someone might use the information supplied to criticize doctors, criticism is not the author’s primary goal. Eliminate (F) because the author may be said to investigate or analyze an issue, but he does not ever speculate. 3. (A) Reading/Key Ideas and Details/Implied Idea In the second paragraph, the author states that it is the physician who is the real “consumer.” It is not surprising that physicians would make key decisions. Ž–Š‘—‰Š –Š‡ ƒ—–Š‘” †‘‡• ‘– •’‡…‹ϐ‹…ƒŽŽ› say so, we may infer that physicians control power because they control the money, (A). (B) mentions a related issue, but the author states that carriers are generally rubber stamps, paying whatever the physician approves. Thus, it is the these illnesses that the bulk of the healthcare †‘ŽŽƒ” ‹• •’‡–Ǥ ‡˜‡–›Ǧϐ‹˜‡ –‘ ‡‹‰Š–› ’‡”…‡– of healthcare expenditures are determined by physicians, not patients. For this reason, economy measures directed at patients or the public are relatively ineffective. 60

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nearly means: Ǥ ϐ‹ŽŽ‡† ™‹–ŠǤ B. restricted by. C. enriched by. D. damaged by.

2. The author’s primary purpose is to: F. speculate about the relationship between a patient’s ability to pay and the treatment received. G. criticize doctors for exercising too much control over patients. H. analyze some important economic factors in healthcare. J. urge hospitals to reclaim their decision-making authority. 3. It can be inferred that doctors are able to determine hospital policies because: A. it is doctors who generate income for the hospital. B. most of a patient’s bills are paid by health insurance. C. hospital administrators lack the expertise to question medical decisions. D. a doctor is ultimately responsible for a patient’s health.