The idea of medical nanotechnology often conjures up the potentially t

Question

GMAT VERBAL Daily Challenge RC/CR/SC (2022) Project

The idea of medical nanotechnology often conjures up the potentially troubling image of tiny machines and devices that both exist and operate far outside the scope of unmagnified human vision . Yet much of what constitutes nanotechnology is purely biological in form and function. For example, strands of DNA and the proteins that make up its structure are mere nanometers thick. Many of the basic functions of life occur on the nanoscale level. Efforts to understand or affect these functions are among the primary fields of nanotechnology. Gene study and gene therapy, two byproducts of medical nanotechnology, have already proven useful for identifying and treating a number of different diseases, sometimes even before symptoms of those diseases present themselves.  Even so, genetic nanotechnology and treatments can give as much cause for concern as the idea of microscopic machines at work in the body . The possibility of altering an organism’s genetic structure has been a subject of much debate as to what extent such an alteration would be both safe and ethical.   1

In the passage above, what roles do the  highlighted  sentences serve?

A The first sentence is the main idea, and the second sentence restates the main idea.
B The first sentence makes the central argument of the passage, and the second sentence supports the argument.
C The first sentence provides the primary argument, and the second sentence is the secondary argument.
D The first sentence is a secondary argument and the second sentence is evidence against that argument.
E The first sentence introduces the topic and the second sentence is the conclusion.

2

According to the passage, all of the following statements are true EXCEPT:

A Medical nanotechnology is a field of nanotechnology that is entirely biological in practice.
B Nanotechnology has already led to medical practices that are currently in use.
C There are valid concerns regarding the use of nanotechnology.
D Some of what happens on the nanoscale is naturally occurring.
E Gene therapy is a result of medical nanotechnology.

Prateek101 · Answer

Here is how approached the 2nd question : First of all it is a "Detail Except" type question so we have everything in the passage.

According to the passage, all of the following statements are true EXCEPT:

A Medical nanotechnology is a field of nanotechnology that is entirely biological in practice.  => The passage mentions in the second statement "Yet much of what constitutes nanotechnology is purely biological in form and function." But we have no information whether this field is medical Nanotech. Therefore, this is the correct option  
B Nanotechnology has already led to medical practices that are currently in use.  => Yes info on Gene study and Gene therapy 
C There are valid concerns regarding the use of nanotechnology.  => Last statement of the passage 
D Some of what happens on the nanoscale is naturally occurring.  => This was another option I was confused with. I took a lot of time to see that in the sentence "Many of the basic functions of life occur on the nanoscale level." basic life functions could be assumed as naturally occurring. 
E Gene therapy is a result of medical nanotechnology.  => Provided in the passage

Hope this helps.

nayas96 · Answer

On reading the passage, I can understand that the author begins with the skepticality of medical nanotechnology and provides a brief explanation about the non-biological nature of nanotechnology, a positive viewpoint about medical nanotechnology by explaining the two biproducts of nano-technology - gene therapy and gene study and a negative viewpoint about medical nanotechnology by explaining the probability of degree of alteration.

In question 1, how are we concluding that the first sentence is the introductary statement and the second statement is the conclusion. If yes, Is it because of the words "Even so"?

In question 1, how are we concluding that the first sentence is the introductary statement and the second statement is the conclusion. If yes, Is it because of the words "Even so"?

carcass · Answer

#1

(E) is the best answer not only through process of elimination, but because the piece is not truly a persuasive piece. The arguments presented are mainly those of others, not the author. Because this is an informative piece, any answers indicating the existence of arguments are suspect. Only in the second highlighted sentence does the author draw a conclusion or give a slight acknowledgment of people’s concerns over medical nanotechnology. (A), (B), and (C) can be passed over quickly because the first sentence is not the main idea and its contents are contradicted by the following sentence, which is directed more at the central focus. (D) can be dismissed in that the second highlighted sentence to some degree supports people’s concerns about nanotechnology and does not refute it, as the choice suggests.

#2

A careless test taker might be tripped up here because this question is reversed from the standard form. In the answer choices, there are four true statements and one false statement. It is the false one that must be found, so each of the true ones should be evaluated and confirmed in the text. Choice (A) is the early favorite for the right answer because the second sentence mentions that much of nanotechnology is biological, but not all, and nothing else in the text gives any indication that this does not apply to medical nanotechnology as well. Choice (A) is too extreme, and it is therefore the correct answer. All other choices can be confirmed within the text through explicit or easily inferred information.

Pankaj0901 · Answer

The answer by  carcass  is not convincing.

"The arguments presented are mainly of others, not the author."  
How do we know that?  "Because this is an informative piece, any answers indicating the existence of arguments are suspect."  Not sure what does it mean.
 "Only in the second highlighted sentence does the author draw a conclusion or give a slight acknowledgment of people’s concerns over medical nanotechnology."  Is the author drawing a conclusion or giving a slight acknowledgment? - Both are very different.

Would be great if Answer E is explained in a more layman terms (dumbed version) for a person like me to understand. Thanks

Barfi · Answer

Can someone pls explain why E is the correct answer choice for question 1?

In the passage above, what roles do the highlighted sentences serve?

A The first sentence is the main idea, and the second sentence restates the main idea.
B The first sentence makes the central argument of the passage, and the second sentence supports the argument.
C The first sentence provides the primary argument, and the second sentence is the secondary argument.
D The first sentence is a secondary argument and the second sentence is evidence against that argument.
E The first sentence introduces the topic and the second sentence is the conclusion.

How can one decipher whether the 1st sentence is the main idea or simply an introduction? Isn't nanotechnology and its perception (1st line) the main point of the argument? Further, to which explanations are provided to counter/elaborate on that.

VerbalBot · Answer

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The idea of medical nanotechnology often conjures up the potentially t

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