All across Europe, midwives are the most common choice for prenatal ca

Question

Competition Mode Question

All across Europe, midwives are the most common choice for prenatal care and delivery. In America, however, midwives are the minority, with most women choosing obstetricians to help them deliver their babies. But using midwives could save millions of dollars a year in healthcare costs.

All of the following information would be helpful in evaluating this argument EXCEPT

A. a comparison of the cost of an obstetrician birth and a midwife birth
B. a comparison of the percentage of costly procedures such as episiotomies and Caesarian sections in midwife- and obstetrician-led births
C. a description of the author’s experience with a midwife
D. a comparison of the procedures in an obstetrician birth and midwife birth
E. a description of how midwives are used in healthcare systems in other countries

joohwangie · Answer

IMO, C

A. a comparison of the cost of an obstetrician birth and a midwife birth--- comparison, directly related, helpful
B. a comparison of the percentage of costly procedures such as episiotomies and Caesarian sections in midwife- and obstetrician-led births-- comparison helpful
C. a description of the author’s experience with a midwife- not really related with the cost between the two. just the author's experience with a midwife, not the midwife experience
D. a comparison of the procedures in an obstetrician birth and midwife birth-- somewhat helpful
E. a description of how midwives are used in healthcare systems in other countries --related helpful

madgmat2019 · Answer

All across Europe, midwives are the most common choice for prenatal care and delivery. In America, however, midwives are the minority, with most women choosing obstetricians to help them deliver their babies. But using midwives could save millions of dollars a year in healthcare costs.

All of the following information would be helpful in evaluating this argument EXCEPT

DESCUSSION IS ABOUT america and europe

A. a comparison of the cost of an obstetrician birth and a midwife birth......HELPFUL
B. a comparison of the percentage of costly procedures such as episiotomies and Caesarian sections in midwife- and obstetrician-led births.....HELPFUL
C. a description of the author’s experience with a midwife.....HELPFUL
D. a comparison of the procedures in an obstetrician birth and midwife birth.....HELPFUL
E. a description of how midwives are used in healthcare systems in other countries ........DESCUSSION IS ABOUT america and europe......details of other countries doesnt help the argument.....

OA:E

eakabuah · Answer

The right answer is option C in my view.

The author might have made the argument out of bias that may be due to an encounter with a midwife. However, as long as we are evaluating the argument, we need facts, not personal sentiments in order to properly evaluate the argument. The evaluation has to be objective. So, the author can be a midwife, but does what he or she says hold water? Can millions of dollars of healthcare costs be saved yearly when midwives are used for prenatal care and delivery? Thats what is important. So the author's experience with a midwife is of no relevance in the evaluation.

Raxit85 · Answer

Imo C.

All across Europe, midwives are the most common choice for prenatal care and delivery. In America, however, midwives are the minority, with most women choosing obstetricians to help them deliver their babies. But using midwives could save millions of dollars a year in healthcare costs.

Conclusion of the author: On general, midwives could save millions of dollars a year in healthcare costs for prenatal care and delivery.

As this is except type of question, there are 4 options which could impact (strengthen and weaken the conclusion if its assumption/required information is taken to two extremes) and one option is irrelevant/does not impact the conclusion.

All of the following information would be helpful in evaluating this argument EXCEPT

A. a comparison of the cost of an obstetrician birth and a midwife birth - if cost comparison of midwife and obstetrician is provided then, it can impact the conclusion. Hence, incorrect.
B. a comparison of the percentage of costly procedures such as episiotomies and Caesarian sections in midwife- and obstetrician-led births - Again cost details of midwife and obstetrician, so it it can impact the conclusion. Hence, incorrect.
C. a description of the author’s experience with a midwife - Irrelevant. Hence, it's correct.
D. a comparison of the procedures in an obstetrician birth and midwife birth - if comparison of practices of midwife and obstetrician is provided then, it can impact the conclusion. Hence, incorrect.
E. a description of how midwives are used in healthcare systems in other countries - If midwives are used as obstetrician in other countries then opting for midwives can not save the money and if midwives are not used as obstetrician in other countries, then penny will be saved. So, it impacts the conclusion. Hence, incorrect.

ArtVandaley · Answer

I will vote for E. How it happens in other countries has no bearing on the argument

Posted from my mobile device

unraveled · Answer

All across Europe, midwives are the most common choice for prenatal care and delivery. In America, however, midwives are the minority, with most women choosing obstetricians to help them deliver their babies. But using midwives could save millions of dollars a year in healthcare costs.
All of the following information would be helpful in evaluating this argument EXCEPT

Something that helps evaluate the cost or suggests other things that would help evaluate is wrong.

A. a comparison of the cost of an obstetrician birth and a midwife birth - WRONG. Helps by comparing.
B. a comparison of the percentage of costly procedures such as episiotomies and Caesarian sections in midwife- and obstetrician-led births - WRONG. Helps by comparing.
C. a description of the author’s experience with a midwife - WRONG. Author's experience helps evaluate overall view including cost.
D. a comparison of the procedures in an obstetrician birth and midwife birth - CORRECT. Procedure comparison hardly gives any picture on cost front.
E. a description of how midwives are used in healthcare systems in other countries - WRONG. Helps by explaining how midwives are used in healthcare system.

IMO Answer D.

exc4libur · Answer

ARGUMENT
  in the EU midwives are mostly used for prenatal care and delivery, while in the US obstetricians are mostly used; 
  using midwives could save millions in healthcare costs.

EVALUATE
A. "birth cost comparison" would help evaluate: ie. if midwives birth costs more than obst., then the argument falls, if it costs less, then the argument stands.
B. "comparing the percentage of costly procedures" would help evaluate the arg: ie. if midwives have a greater % than obst., then the arg falls, if not then it stands.
D. "comparison of procedures" would help evaluate the arg: ie. if midwife procedures take longer, are expensive, or even dangerous, then the arg falls, if not then it stands.
E. "a description of how midwives are used in healthcare systems in other countries" would help evaluate the arg: ie. if midwives in EU are an exception to the rule, then the arg falls, if not then it stands.

Answer (C)

Bunuel · Answer

Official Explanation

Correct Answer: C

All of the choices except c provide information that would help evaluate the conclusion that using midwives could save millions of dollars a year in healthcare costs. Only choice c is irrelevant. The authors own experience with a midwife may or may not be typical and does not address the issue of whether or not midwives are more cost effective.

VerbalBot · Answer

Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot: 

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

 This post was generated automatically.

All across Europe, midwives are the most common choice for prenatal ca

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

All across Europe, midwives are the most common choice for prenatal ca

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards