Bunuel wrote:
In recent years the fashion industry has become increasingly unable to ignore the reality of eating disorders among models. Although models are, as a group, thin beyond the “normal” standards of society, many have succumbed to nutritionally deficient eating habits in order to sustain unnatural weights, even for their super-physiques. The fashion industry has, in recent years, begun addressing the issue more openly. Some countries have gone so far as to establish rules that require models to maintain a certain BMI if they expect to walk the runways. Additionally, the industry recently held an international conference on the issue of eating disorders. But the overall mood there was one of resistance, among models as well as designers. Most of the models claim that they are just naturally very thin and are modeling for that very reason. They admit that some do develop eating disorders, but claim these disorders are often based on individual problems and not on the industry. Among the designers, the resistance was equally palpable. Most resented the interference and claimed that the fashion world has always relied on thin models and that it is unfair to single out a single industry for eating disorders, because eating disorders are connected to personal issues. Overall, the hope within the industry is that there will be awareness about eating disorders but not extra rules: models should know that help is available should they need it and that the industry will support them as they seek treatment.
Which of the following best expresses the main point of the passage above?
(A) The fashion industry believes that eating disorders are inevitable and thus cannot be entirely eliminated among models.
(B) The fashion industry does not feel responsible for eating disorders among models, claiming that eating disorders arise from personal situations and should be treated individually.
(C) The fashion industry believes that models need to be thin, and many of the models are naturally and not unhealthily thin.
(D) The fashion industry resents the intrusion because it ultimately hopes that the models will recognize when they have a problem and seek help by themselves.
(E) The fashion industry knows that any rules established to combat eating disorders by requiring a healthy BMI will ultimately be ignored.
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
Overview: Questions is based on a passage about the presence of eating disorders in the fashion industry, particularly among models. The author notes that the fashion industry cannot ignore the reality of eating disorders but that there are a variety of objections to restrictions on the fashion industry, objections from both models and designers. Models often complain that they are naturally thin, while designers point out that eating disorders are not unique to the fashion industry; they claim that eating disorders are connected to personal concerns that cannot be addressed with rules regarding weight or BMI requirements. The passage concludes by noting that the industry is inclined to accept “awareness about eating disorders but not extra rules,” that resources for dealing with eating disorders will be available, and that models should seek help when they realize they have a problem. Question asks the student to determine the main point of
the passage.
The Correct Answer:D There are several important details in the passage that contribute to the main point: (1) the fashion industry is not happy with the idea of further restrictions about weight and eating disorders, (2) the industry wants to provide awareness about eating disorders, (3) the industry wants the models to seek help by themselves. The correct answer will pull these three details into a summary statement. Answer choice (D) is the only answer choice to combine all three and thus restate the main point of the passage, so it is the correct answer.
The Incorrect Answers:A Although the response from designers suggests that they believe eating disorders are related to factors other than fashion and thus cannot simply be eliminated by changing weight requirements among models, there is nothing in the passage to suggest that the industry as a whole believes eating disorders are “inevitable” and impossible to eliminate. Answer choice (A) cannot be correct.
B Answer choice (B) expresses one part of the discussion in the passage: the viewpoint of models and designers on the source of eating disorders. It does not, however, express the main point of the passage, which notes that the industry is open to providing awareness but wants models to seek help on their own. Answer choice (B) is incorrect because it focuses on a secondary detail instead of the main point.
C As with answer choice (B), answer choice (C) expresses a supporting detail of the main point: that the industry tends to seek out models who are naturally thin and that they are not necessarily thin in an unhealthy way. But answer choice (C) does not go one step further to apply this to the bigger issue at hand, about how the industry would prefer eating disorders to be treated. Answer choice (C) is thus incorrect since it focuses on a secondary detail.
E There it nothing in the passage to suggest that rules for BMI will be ignored; in fact, the passage notes, “Some countries have gone so far as to establish rules that require models to maintain a certain BMI if they expect to walk the runways.” This indicates that the rules for BMI are being observed, and that this is a source of frustration for designers and models in the fashion industry, because they believe that BMI is not a sufficient indicator of healthy weight. Answer choice (E) is clearly incorrect.