BillyZ wrote:
Over the past three decades, the number of hospital beds available for inpatient psychiatric treatment in the United States has declined from 4 per 1,000 population to 1.3 per 1,000 population. Over the same period in Japan, beds increased from 1 per 1,000 population to 2.9 per 1,000 population. Also during this period, annual mortality rates for persons with mental disorders have risen substantially in the United States, while declining in Japan.
Which of the following, if true, would cast the most serious doubt on the conclusion that the reduction in hospital beds is principally responsible for the increase in mortality in the United States?
(A) The number of hospital beds available for inpatient psychiatric treatment in Canada has declined over the past three decades, with no increase in mortality.
(B) Due to advances in medical care and training over the past three decades, outpatient treatment is more effective than inpatient treatment for many mental disorders.
(C) The incidence of mental disorders in Japan has been decreasing, even as the country has increased the number of beds available for inpatient psychiatric treatment.
(D) Over the past three decades, Japan has offered state-sponsored health insurance to all citizens, while the United States has not.
(E) Over the past three decades, the incidence of mental disorders that are more likely to end in death has risen in the United States and declined in Japan.
Source :
Manhattan GMAT Foundations of Verbal, 6th Edition
Modified from the
https://gmatclub.com/forum/over-the-pas ... 8195bc60d6OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
(E) Over the past three decades, the incidence of mental disorders that are more likely to end in death has risen in the United States and declined in Japan:
The question asks you to cast doubt on, or weaken, the conclusion that the reduction in hospital beds for inpatient psychiatric treatment in the United States is the primary cause for the increase in mortality among this population.
Did you notice where the conclusion to this argument was stated? It was actually in the question, not the main body of the argument. The GMAT sometimes structures arguments in this manner so don’t be surprised to find a conclusion as part of the question.
In order to weaken the idea that the reduction in beds is the cause, you could find another plausible cause for the increase in mortality rate. There are many possible alternatives: an increase in poverty or illegal drug use, a change in treatment plans or health insurance policies, and so on.
Note that, though the body of the argument addresses both the United States and Japan, the conclusion is limited specifically to the United States. Expect a trap or two in the answer choices revolving around Japan.
Answer (A) goes outside the scope of the argument by discussing Canada. While it might be true that Canada and the United States are similar in various ways, data about Canada does not weaken the conclusion about the United States.
Likewise, answer (B) brings up the idea of outpatient treatment, but the argument specifically refers to inpatient treatment. Further, this choice might explain why the number of inpatient hospital beds has declined, but it does not address the mortality issue.
Answer (C) is the Japan trap. The conclusion relates specifically to the situation in the United States. The knowledge that the incidence of mental disorders in Japan has been decreasing does not apply to the claim about the United States.
Answer (D) is tempting. Perhaps mortality is higher in the United States because not as many people have access to health insurance? Here’s the catch: This lack of access has existed over the entire three-decade period. So why did the United States have an increase in mortality during this period?
Choice (E) is the correct answer. If certain types of mental disorders that are more likely to result in death are on the rise in the United States, but not in Japan, then that provides an alternative reason why the United States had an increase in mortality rates. The number of beds might have had nothing to do with it.
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