V05-08, V05-09, V05-10, V05-11

Question

When children experience emotional upset or trauma, their problems are sometimes made worse by well-meaning adults who either don’t notice their distress or insist that they express themselves through an adult medium: verbal language. Play therapy, on the other hand, recognizes that imaginative play is the mode of expression most comfortable and natural to children and focuses on helping them express their emotions. A form of psychodynamic treatment, play therapy takes for granted the fact that, once aided in expression, children are able to resolve their anxieties themselves.
 
The equipment of play therapy is simple and familiar. Dolls, play dishes, soldiers, stuffed animals, and sandboxes all have their place in the play therapy room. The job of the therapist, however, is a bit more challenging, because he or she must refrain from guiding the child in a particular direction or asking pointed questions. The therapist’s task is partly to observe the child’s play and recognize the child’s emotions and help bring them to expression. The second, very important, task is for the therapist to accept the child unconditionally.
 
A well-known example of successful play therapy is documented in Dr. Virginia Axline’s book Dibs in Search of Self. Dibs is an emotionally disturbed 5-year-old whose teachers fear he may have brain damage. In his play therapy sessions with Dr. Axline, however, a different picture emerges. Dibs’ play with a dollhouse and several dolls reveals that he feels cut off from his family and that he is angry with them for locking him in his room. This theme is repeated in play with animals in the room’s sandbox; he frees them from captivity again and again. During the sessions, Dr. Axline is careful not to express preference for any of Dibs’ activities, and most of her comments are simply reflecting back to him what he has just said. Additionally, through her choices to help him express his anger rather than offering him comfort in it, Dr. Axline fosters in Dibs a sense of emotional independence. At the end of the case study, Dibs has emerged as a content, intelligent, compassionate child.  1. According to the passage, which of the following is a reason that play therapists help disturbed children express their emotions?

(a) Children express themselves through a different medium than adults.
(b) Children sometimes experience emotional upset or trauma.
(c) The therapist’s task is to accept the child unconditionally.
(d) Therapists observe children’s behavior and recognize the emotions being expressed.
(e) Children can resolve their own anxieties once they have been aided in expression.
 E

2. It can be inferred from the passage that the author considers play therapy to be a

(a) sound and useful approach to helping emotionally disturbed children
(b) pleasant and diverting way for children to spend their time
(c) new and exciting way of understanding the experience of childhood
(d) hazardous but necessary method of reaching out to troubled children
(e) universally applicable solution to all problems with children’s behavior
 A

3. Which of the following best describes the relationship of paragraph 3 to paragraph 2?

(a) New information is introduced that qualifies earlier statements.
(b) An exception to previously stated rules is discussed.
(c) Important concepts detailed beforehand are rephrased in briefer form.
(d) General principles introduced earlier are expanded using a specific example.
(e) Concepts essential to further study of the subject are outlined.
 D

4. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(a) convince the reader that adults often misunderstand children.
(b) discuss the goals and procedures of a form of psychological treatment.
(c) demonstrate the effectiveness of an approach using examples.
(d) relate the history of an emotionally disturbed child.
(e) offer guidance to adults who wish to better understand children.
 B

Bunuel · Answer

Since this question uses the phrase  according to the passage , the answer is stated in the passage. Aside from the general tone in the passage that play therapy is intended to help children, only this line relate a specific reason:  play therapy takes for granted the fact that, once aided in expression, children are able to resolve their anxieties themselves .   This is stated in the first paragraph, but is not a  reason  for play therapists to help children express emotion. 
 Though true, this is not directly stated as a  reason . 
 This information comes from the second and third paragraphs, but is a method not a  reason . 
 Though this is an activity of the therapist, it is not a  reason  for helping the child express emotion. 
 This option correctly identifies that fact that the purpose of helping children express their emotions through play therapy is to allow them to  resolve their anxieties themselves .     An inference is drawn from stated information and, in this case, must come from information in the entire passage. The first paragraph relates the reasons for play therapy, and the second and third paragraphs describe its general principles, both abstractly and then using examples. Since the author goes into so much detail about play therapy, it is likely that he or she regards it as something  sound and useful .   The passage contains only information about what play therapy is and how it can be successful; therefore it is reasonable to conclude that the author regards it as a  sound and useful approach . 
 The passage is not concerned with whether play therapy is  pleasant  or  diverting . 
 It is not stated in the passage that play therapy is  new . 
 The passage places confidence in play therapy and does not infer that it is  hazardous . 
 The first paragraph states that play therapy is useful mostly for children who have experienced  emotional upset or trauma .     To answer this question, review paragraphs 2 and 3 to determine their main ideas. Paragraph 2 discusses in general terms the equipment of play therapy and the responsibilities of the therapist. Paragraph 3 covers these same topics, but using the example of Dr. Axline’s work with the child Dibs.   New information is introduced, but it does not  qualify earlier statements . 
   An exception  to rules is not discussed. 
   Important concepts  reappear, but they are expanded, not presented in  briefer form . 
 The general principles of play therapy equipment and responsibilities of the therapist are expanded using the example of Dr. Axline’s work with Dibs. 
 The purpose of paragraph 3 is not to outline  concepts essential to further study .     To answer this question, consider the passage as a whole and determine its main point. The first paragraph introduces the need for and goals of play therapy. The second and third paragraphs discuss the equipment and responsibilities of the therapist, first generally, then using the example of a specific case study.   This idea is mentioned in the first paragraph, but is not the main idea of the passage. 
 The first paragraph introduces the goals of play therapy, and the second and third paragraphs discuss the procedures. 
 Though the effectiveness of treatment is demonstrated in the third paragraph, this is not the main idea of the entire passage. 
 Dibs’ history is not the main idea of the entire passage. 
 Though this may be possible for those who learn about play therapy, it is not the primary purpose of this particular passage.

ramarao443 · Answer

I think this is a high-quality question and I agree with explanation. I have a concern of pronoun usage in the last sentence of last paragraph -----"Additionally, through -her- choices to help -him-(i assume this should be -her-) express -his-( same,-her-) anger rather than offering -him-(same,-her-) comfort in it, Dr. Axline fosters in Dibs a sense of emotional independence"-------

please comment on it

please comment on it

Banach334 · Answer

I havent chosen answer D because i was confused by the word "examples". there is just one example so i thought this is a trap and chose A because there was no other convincing choice. Am i super pedantic or is the word "examples" incorrect and there should be "example" ?

paddy41 · Answer

I chose A for the same reasoning. There is just one example.

sayantanc2k · Answer

V05-10 Option D amended. Thank you for pointing out.

Temurkhon · Answer

in my understanding discussing is considering strong and weak sides of the subject.
Paragraph 1 introduces new method, par.2 describes the equipment and par.3 gives successful example. Where is discussion?

Vikram_Katti · Answer

Option B states - "psychological treatment."

Whereas Paragraph 1 states - "psychodynamic treatment" are these the same?

I will like to differ with option B being correct due to the above gap.

prachi18oct · Answer

How do we infer that psychological & psychodynamic have same meaning?

alainca · Answer

There is a typo in "A well-known example of successful play therapy is documented in Dr. Virginia Axline’s book Dibs in Search of Self. Dibs is an emotionally disturbed 5-year-old whose teachers fear he may have brain damage."

"whose teachers fear he may have brain damage?"

Is not "whose teachers fear may have brain damage" correct?

"whose teachers fear he may have brain damage?"

Is not "whose teachers fear may have brain damage" correct?

alainca · Answer

I don't agree that the primary purpose of the passage is to discuss the goals and procedures of a form of psychological treatment. Please list for me the goals of play therapy discussed in the section. The goal of any therapy is to help the patient. What other goals are discussed, unique to play therapy? Thank you.

Bhawna Morwani · Answer

I chose option C : "The therapist’s task is to accept the child unconditionally" for the question, "According to the passage, which of the following is a reason that play therapists help disturbed children express their emotions?". The question states which of the following is a reason that "play therapists" help disturbed children express their emotions. The answer that has been stated is "Children can resolve their own anxieties once they have been aided in expression." This is the outcome of the therapy but can this outcome directly be attributed to the therapists role? I chose "The therapist’s task is to accept the child unconditionally." because the passage clearly states that out of the two tasks that therapists have to do, one is this. Overall, the therapy results in outcome: Children can resolve their own anxieties.

Could you please clarify why this is not right and the answer stated is right in this context. Thanks!

Could you please clarify why this is not right and the answer stated is right in this context. Thanks!

amargad0391 · Answer

Hey Guys,

Between B and C . I chose C because the passage tells us about an approach (play therapy) along with an example in 3rd paragraph. 
i thought psychological and psycho-dynamic are two different treatments. Later i realized "emotional upset" is psychological.

saranglakhanee · Answer

A form of psychodynamic treatment, play therapy takes for granted the fact that, once aided in expression, children are able to resolve their anxieties themselves.

The only definition of play therapy provided is - a form of 'psychodynamic' treatment. No mention of the word psychological. Please explain.

rjimenezmartin91 · Answer

I don't agree with the explanation of this question.

The question clearly focuses on the reasons why therapist are helping children to express their emotions. The reason is because they don't force them to express themselves as adults and the objective is that children can resolve their own anxieties once they have been aided in expression. But the question is asking for the reasons not the objective, hence correct answer should be A.

GmatDisciple · Answer

This is certainly a high-quality question.

Although I got this right the first time, while reviewing the same I realized that the first question could be interpreted in two ways:
 i) What is play therapists' purpose of helping children express their emotions? (intended meaning)
ii) What is the reason that play therapists are more effective at helping children express their emotions?

I feel the second interpretation makes the question more ambiguous leading to confusion among choices A, D and E.

Did anyone else also interpret the question this way or am I reading too much into this?
Thanks!

shabuzen102 · Answer

Same. I tried to answer this question by rephrasing it "Why do play therapists help disturbed children express their emotions?" (and my answer was it's their job!!!, or because they like to do that?). I couldn't find a good answer. I don't think this is a high-quality question since the way it's phrased is very off.

hero_with_1000_faces · Answer

AjiteshArun   MentorTutoring  guys could you please help me out.

psychodynamic treatment, play therapy  takes for granted  the fact that, once aided in expression, children are able to resolve their anxieties themselves.

How is it possible that when play therapy takes  children ability to self-heal   for granted and that same ability becomes a reason for helping children. I feel very confused.

(e) Children can resolve their own anxieties once they have been aided in expression.

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  hero_with_1000_faces . I understand the confusion. I spent a little more time than I would typically on an RC question debating between (A) and (E) before I settled on (E). Since the question is asking about  a reason , I found it useful to preface each answer with  because  and evaluate that way.

This could suggest that it takes a professional such as a play therapist to allow children to express their emotions in a way that, in turn, allows the adult to help the child. At the same time, this answer choice feels one step removed, more like it answers a  what  condition than a  why . That is, does this information answer the question of  why   play therapists help disturbed children express their emotions ? I am not so sure. I  yellow-lighted  this answer and moved on, looking for other options that might prove easier to argue against.

We know children can sometimes experience these things. This is a fact, rather than an explanation. An easy elimination.

We gain some insight into the aim or goal of the therapist, but none whatsoever about the reason for the therapist to help the child in the first place. Keep moving.

The connection to the question is tenuous, here outlining what a therapist does in general, but providing little in the way of  why  a therapist would choose to help a child. A similar if spur-of-the-moment comparison would be something like saying that someone knows how to run, but the question is asking about why that person chooses to run marathons. Another weak link.

If, as you have singled out already,  play therapy takes for granted the fact that, once aided in expression, children are able to resolve their anxieties themselves , then we can assume that play therapists must also believe that it takes  aid , namely their professional aid, to allow children to resolve their issues. This  does  provide a reason for play therapists to offer their services. I think you overlooked the trigger in the chain of events:  once aided in expression . Without that aid, according to the tenets of play therapy, children will not be able to resolve their own anxieties. Between this answer choice and (A), this one offers a more direct and compelling reason for play therapists to ply their trade.

I hope that helps. If you have further questions, feel free to ask. Thank you for tagging me.

- Andrew

hero_with_1000_faces · Answer

Thanks for your detailed answer andrew.  MentorTutoring 
Still some confusion:

The question states that "which of the following is a reason that play therapists help disturbed children express their emotions?"
Ill try to reword the question stem - "Why do play therapists help children"

play therapy takes  for granted the fact that , once aided in expression, children are able to resolve their anxieties themselves .

My confusion is when the This therapy do not appreciate something as much as they are supposed to (take for granted) i.e children can resolve issues once aided, how can it become a reason for the practitioners of such therapist to do so. Why would they do it ? they might do it, but the tone makes it as if it is not the reason.

Am I overthinking ? guess we shouldn't fret much on unofficial questions.

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