Para 1 Summary – Author talks about how health care services has improvement since WWII resulting in increased life expectancy. On the other side it has to face criticism for its meaningless spending on its hi-tech aspects thus straining doctor-patient relationships. The last line gives an insight in author’s take on all of this development to say constructively that all that pessimism is psychological not a reality.
Para 2 Summary – Author mentions that people(any practitioner) could do any anything on his own as if there are unlimited resources but on failing just don’t take responsibility believing whatever costs incurred is up to government or the insurance providers. The concept of “full-cost reimbursement” added fuel to the populating problem leading to the problem of overcapitalization which consequently increased cost without much benefits since most of the resources remained unused. Author’s tone looks positively concerned.
Para 3 Summary – Author here breaks down whatever he/she discussed in above two paragraphs to say that too much of expectation of health care has cause pessimism; he/she talks why, actually health care s required and claims that there is vast scope of improvement. He/she goes into minor but important details - medical science’s limitations and unwillingness of people in accepting realties. He/she refutes that everything has been tried by giving examples of Kaiser Foundation and Puget Sound in which conventional practices are encouraged. He/she finally gives an opinion about health care that neither improvements in medical scence nor people got a fair trial dismissing that everything has been done and pessimism among people is rightfully okay.
Summary – Author right from the start of the passage looks in a positive frame of mind such that he/she writes a critique here and thinks that health care situation is not that dark as it looks and suggests some finer balancing acts.
1. The author implies that the Kaiser Foundation and Puget Sound plans (Highlighted) differed from other plans byMarked E which is wrong. This question requires understanding of passage. After POE finally reached to options A and E and eliminated A since capital investment s the cause o pessimism and other problem. A little careful observation after the highlighted text in para 3 i.e. “supported and encouraged the continuation of conventional practices and subsidized their shortcomings” helps to mark a right answer. A. Encouraging capital investment
B. Requiring physicians to treat the poor
C. Providing incentives for cost control –
CORRECT.D. Employing only dedicated and idealistic doctors
E. Relying primarily on public funding -
WRONG.2. The author mentions all of the following as consequences of full-cost reimbursement EXCEPTEverything is mentioned in passage except E.A. Rising operating costs
B. Underused hospital facilities
C. Overcapitalization
D. Overreliance on expensive equipment
E. Lack of services for minorities –
CORRECT. Refer Para 2.3. The tone of the passage can best be described asMarked D which is wrong. After POE let with only B and D and marked D because of word ‘Cautious’. A. Light-hearted and amused – WRONG.
B. Objective but concerned –
CORRECT. In every para author looks particular about his/her concerns.C. Detached and unconcerned – WRONG. Opposite.
D. Cautious but sincere –
WRONG. The presence of word ‘sincere’ makes this option wrong. Realized it in an afterthought.E. Enthusiastic and enlightened – WRONG.
4. According to the author, the “pessimism” (Highlighted) is partly attributable to the fact thatA. There has been little real improvement in health-care services – WRONG. Opposite to what passage mentions.
B. Expectations about health-care services are sometimes unrealistic –
CORRECT. First line para 3 though it creates a little doubt or being so straight forward.C. Large segments of the population find it impossible to get access to health-care services – WRONG. It might be true in real life but passage does not mentions it to be the reason behind pessimism.
D. Advances in technology have made health care service unaffordable – WRONG. Similar reasoning as that of option C.
E. Doctors are now less concerned with patient care - WRONG. Similar reasoning as that of option C.
5. The author cites the prepaid plans (Highlighted) asA. Counterexamples to the claim that nothing has worked –
CORRECT. Author refers to these examples as something which is opposite to pessimism in existence.B. Examples of health-care plans that were over-funded – WRONG. Opposite to what the highlighted portions seeks to communicate as put together by author.
C. Evidence that health-care services are fragmented – WRONG. For reasons similar to that of option B.
D. Proof of the theory that no plan has been successful – WRONG. For reasons similar to that of option B.
E. Experiments that yielded disappointing results – WRONG. Irrelevant.
6. It can be inferred that the sentence “Humpty Dumpty cannot always be put back together again” means thatAn understanding of the context in which the sentence is used by author would help to answer correctly. Just before the sentence author raises his concerns on limitation of medical science so that’s most suitable context since that is what is not in man’s control.
A. The cost of health-care services will not decline – WRONG. Not the context
B. Some people should not become doctors – WRONG. Out of scope.
C. Medical care is not really essential to good health – WRONG. Out of scope.
D. Illness is often unpleasant and even painful – WRONG. It’s the closest to being right answer but not. Here author does not says that medical science would reverse the pain and remove the unpleasantness of patients thus does mentions that “too many patients and families are unwilling to accept such realities”.
E. Medical science cannot cure every ill –
CORRECT. As explained above.7. With which of the following descriptions of the system for the delivery of health-care services would the author most likely agree?A. It is biased in favor of doctors and against patients. – WRONG. Not claimed by author anywhere in the passage.
B. It is highly fragmented and completely ineffective – WRONG. ‘Completely’ makes this option wrong.
C. It has not embraced new technology rapidly enough – WRONG. Opposite to what author mentions and accepts.
D. It is generally effective but can be improved –
CORRECT. In para 3 author mentions “vast room for improvement” suggesting this is the right answer.E. It discourages people from seeking medical care – WRONG. Author talks about affordability of health care services not that system ‘discourages’ people.
8. The author’s primary concern is toA. Criticize physicians and health-care administrators for investing in technologically advanced equipment – WRONG. Author’s tone is not biased.
B. Examine some problems affecting delivery of health-care services and assess their severity –
CORRECT. Author balances things out in the passage and makes suggestions accordingly by giving examples. C. Defend the medical community from charges that health-care has not improved since World War II – WRONG. Author does not take any side.
D. Analyze the reasons for the health-care industry’s inability to provide quality care to all segments of the population – WRONG. Out of scope.
E. Describe the peculiar economic features of the health-care industry that are the causes of spiralling medical costs – WRONG. Limited scope covered.
Took 17:35 minutes.
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Pain + Reflection = Progress | Ray Dalio
Good Books to read prior to MBA