Hi everyone,
Got 6/7 correct in 10:45 minutes, including 4:05 minutes to read and 6:40 minutes to answer the questions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------P1In paragraph one the author talks about problems related to diabetes. She claims that such problems are related to the control of blood glucose. As a matter of fact, in diabetic patients the pancreas does not work properly, leading to hyperglicemia. Then the author proceed by proposing a solution.
Purpose: To highlight a possible cause to problems related to diabetes and to propose a solution.
P2In this paragraph the author presents 3 solutions to the problem and claims that such solution are still not accepted.
Purpose: to present 3 solutions and claim that such are not still accepted.
P3In paragraph 3 the author talks about the procedures adopted fo the transplant. Just one patient survived and surgeons are starting to understand that there are some problems.
Purpose: To present the up to date situation about transplants procedures.
P4In the last paragraph the author talks about the different cases. Some people survived for a long period of time and that is encouraging. But many others died quite soon also because they had complications of their own. Conclusion: transplant could be too much for the patient.
Purpose: To give a prospect of the patients and the causes for which they survived (or not) the transplant.
Main pointThe main point of this passage is to talk about a new way to tackle the complications of diabetes and discuss the attempts made so far in this direction.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1. Which of the following best states one of the main conclusions of the passage?
Pre-thinking
Main point question
The main point of this passage is to talk about a new way to tackle the complications of diabetes and discuss the attempts made so far in this direction.
(A) Although the techniques for pancreas transplants appear to be theoretically correct, there are problems that must be solved before the operation can be used as a treatment for diabetes.
Sounds correct and broad enough.(B) Although the techniques for pancreas transplants are still being developed, the experimental results show that the operation will be a successful treatment for diabetes in the near future.
Not really. If unsure look at the last few lines of the passage.(C) Although pancreas transplants are reliable, many diabetics are reluctant to undergo the operation because of the side effects of immunosuppressive drugs.
too much of a detail(D) Although pancreas transplants alone are not generally successful, the operation can be used in conjunction with other procedures to treat diabetes.
never discussed(E) Although pancreas transplants have not been successful in treating diabetes, research indicates that other procedures may soon be developed.
not discussed --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. According to the passage, widely spaced doses of insulin can cause.
Pre-thinking
Detail question
From P1:
But the diabetic generally receives only one large dose daily. The diabetic’s blood glucose concentration can thus fluctuate greatly during the interval between doses, and it has been suggested that the complications result from the periods of high concentrations of blood glucose
(A) reversal of normal kidney function
(B) delay in the onset of diabetes
(C) radical changes in the concentration of blood glucose
(D) restoration of normoglycemia
(E) marked variations in the islets of Langerhans
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3. According to the passage, a periodic high concentration of blood glucose in diabetics is a possible cause of
Pre-thinking
Detail question
From P1:
The complications frequently accompanying diabetes, such as impairment of vision and of kidney function, are now thought to result from the lack of continuous control of blood glucose concentrations.
(A) deterioration of the pancreas
The pancreas is the organ that tries to control the levels of blood glucose and in the passage nowhere it is mentioned that blood glucose affects the pancreas. OUT(B) damage to the eyes and kidneys
Mentioned. Those are complications of diabetes, which in turn is related to anomalous concentrations of blood glucose(C) rejection of transplanted organs
out of context (see last paragraph)(D) inadequate secretion of insulin
Opposite. The insulin affects the concentration of blood glucose and not the opposite!(E) increased production of blood cells
Never mentioned --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4. It can be inferred from the passage that one of the important contributing causes of the failure of most pancreas transplants has been the
Pre-thinking
Inference question
From P4:
Rather, most of the patients were already so severely debilitated by the complications of diabetes that they could not withstand the surgery and the immunosuppressive regimen required to prevent rejection.
(A) reluctance of patients to cooperate with physicians
(B) imperfect techniques used in the operations
(C) scarcity of immunosuppressive drugs
(D) unavailability or healthy pancreases
(E) weakened condition of the patients
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5. The author provides information that would answer which of the following questions?
Pre-thinking
Detail question
I.What is hyperglycemia?
From P1:
The diabetic’s blood glucose concentration can thus fluctuate greatly during the interval between doses, and it has been suggested that the complications result from the periods of high concentrations of blood glucose (hyperglycemia).
II.What is one cause of hyperglycemia?
Same as for statement IIII.What are some of the organs that can be adversely affected by hyperglycemia?
From P1:
The complications frequently accompanying diabetes, such as impairment of vision and of kidney function, are now thought to result from the lack of continuous control of blood glucose concentrations.
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and III only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6. On the basis of the information in the passage, which of the following can be inferred about the islets of Langerhans?
Pre-thinking
Inference question
From P2:
transplantation of islets of Langerhans, that portion of the pancreas that actually secretes insulin;
I.They are important for the normal control of blood glucose concentration.
Of course, otherwise we would not need to transplant them.II.They can be transplanted independently of other pancreatic cells.
Yes, this condition is necessary. Otherwise such methodology would not be considered by the author as a successful one.III.They regulate immunosuppressive reactions.
Cannot be inferred(A) I only
(B) III only
(C) I and II only
(D) I and III only
(E) I, II, and III
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. The passage suggests that the author considers the data concerning the success of pancreas transplants to be
Pre-thinking
Inference question
Many inferences: encouraging, scarce, helpful to evaluate future steps.....
(A) invalid
(B) indirect
(C) inaccurate
(D) insufficient Yes, the author uses the word meager
(E) inappropriate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------It's a great day to be alive!