Victory for the ACT Student Text 15e

138 • R EADING

EXPLANATIONS physician, not the carrier, who has the real power. As for (C), the passage never mentions anything about the expertise of hospital administrators nor anything related to that topic. Finally, (D) is arguably an explanation to the question, but it is not the one given by the author. The author cites economic factors, not professional ones; though this may be a true statement, it is not a response to the question that is being asked. 4. (G) Reading/Key Ideas and Details/Explicit Detail The reference you need is in the second paragraph. The author states that it is the physician who makes the purchasing decisions on behalf of the patient. One example is whether to schedule a return visit. Thus, when the doctor tells a patient to make another appointment, the doctor is effectively telling the patient to buy more of his services. As for (F), the author does not indict the motives of the doctor. A doctor may believe that a patient badly needs another visit, but this does not mean that the doctor is taking advantage of the patient’s concern for his or her own health. As for (H), there is no hidden meaning in the doctor’s statement. Finally, (J) is certainly not the meaning of the statement. The doctor is requesting that the patient return to him or her, not that the patient see another doctor. 5. (A) Reading/Key Ideas and Details/ Application The author concludes the passage with the statement that, because of the factors cited, cost control measures aimed at patients are ineffective. Patients do not decide what medical services to buy. ‘‰‹…ƒŽŽ›ǡ –Š‡ ƒ—–Š‘”…‘—Ž† „‡ Ž‡ƒ†‹‰ up to a discussion of a plan to solve this problem. (B) would not be a logical extension of the argument. Though the passage discusses medicine, it analyzes the economics of healthcare, not medical knowledge. (C) goes beyond the scope of the passage. The passage focuses •’‡…‹ϐ‹…ƒŽŽ› ‘ –Š‡ ’”‘„Ž‡ ‘ˆ…‘•– control in the healthcare industry. Finally, as for (D), although in the real world medical malpractice suits may be tied to

According to the author, when a doctor tells a patient to “return next Wednesday,” the doctor is in effect: F. taking advantage of the patient’s concern for his health. G. instructing the patient to buy more medical services. H. warning the patient that a hospital stay might be necessary. J. advising the patient to seek a second opinion.

4.

5. The author is most probably leading up to: A. a proposal to control medical costs. B. a discussion of a new medical treatment. Ǥ ƒ ƒƒŽ›•‹• ‘ˆ –Š‡…ƒ—•‡• ‘ˆ ‹ϐŽƒ–‹‘ ‹ the United States. D. a study of lawsuits against doctors for malpractice.