Eclampsia in pregnancy is especially prevalent among women who are ser

Question

Eclampsia in pregnancy is especially prevalent among women who are seriously malnourished. In order to achieve early detection of eclampsia in these individuals, public health officials distributed pamphlets explaining the importance of early detection of this potentially fatal disease.

Which of the following, if true, is the best criticism of the use of the pamphlet as a method of achieving the public health officials’ goal?

(A) Many prenatal diseases produce symptoms that cannot be detected by the patient.

(B) Once Eclampsia has been detected, the effectiveness of treatment can vary from person to person.

(C) The pamphlet was sent to all town residents, including those individuals who are not pregnant.

(D) Eclampsia is much more common in very young and very old mothers, rather than in those at the height of their productive years.

(E) Pregnant women who are seriously malnourished are often homeless and thus unlikely to receive and read the pamphlet.

TommyWallach · Accepted Answer

Hey All,

You guys are totally on top of the explanation here, but I would exhort you to always put your explanations and considerations in the terms of a format that you can repeat again and again. Otherwise, you're just depending on your gut to get you through.

So let's try and outline this sucker:

Conclusion: Pamphlets explaining importance of early detection will achieve more early detection
Premise: Disease prevalent among malnourished
Assumption: People will actually get the pamphlets/read them/take them seriously (malnourished?)

Okay. So let's look at what we found just by looking at the passage. Well, the conclusion SEEMS pretty airtight, doesn't it? If you tell people how bad smoking is, fewer people smoke. So the pamphlet seems pretty straightforward. As far as I can see, the only thing that would weaken this would take on the assumption that people will actually GET/READ/UNDERSTAND the pamphlets.

Another thing worth noting is that seemingly innocuous bit about "malnourished" people. Sure, it could just be a red herring, but there are far fewer of those on the GMAT than most people think. So we should definitely keep in mind that we were given that premise. Maybe there was a reason...

(A) Many prenatal diseases produce symptoms that cannot be detected by the patient.
PROBLEM: A few things. "Many prenatal diseases" does not necessarily imply eclampsia. Also, even if some symptoms can't be detected, the pamphlet is likely going to describe the ones that CAN be detected (otherwise, what would be the point?).

(B) Once Eclampsia has been detected, the effectiveness of treatment can vary from person to person.
PROBLEM: The conclusion here is about detection only, not saving lives or improving general health.

(C) The pamphlet was sent to all town residents, including those individuals who are not pregnant.
PROBLEM: This actually STRENGTHENS the argument. The more people who get the pamphlet, the better.

(D) Eclampsia is much more common in very young and very old mothers, rather than in those at the height of their productive years.
PROBLEM: Age isn't really relevant to our discussion. We care equally much about all people.

(E) Pregnant women who are seriously malnourished are often homeless and thus unlikely to receive and read the pamphlet.
ANSWER: Uh-oh. Now the intended demographic (the malnourished...see how it came up?) won't get the pamphlets at all, so it's unlikely they can help.

Again, your thinking on this was great, but as you may notice in my posts on this forum, I always try to tie everything to a process that you can recreate over and over again. Don't get lazy on these! Take notes! : )

-t

angel2009 · Answer

I've narrowed down between A & E.
Now I think A comes after E. I mean to say the plan to send the pamphlets by officer and then the detection matters.
SO if the patients mostly prone to the disease even failed to receive the pamphlet then the officers plan will fail at the very initial phase of implementation

Gazzar · Answer

I think it's "E", since if its true that the seriously malnourished are often homeless and unlikely to receive the pamphlet which would make a less desirable method of achieving the goal.

"A" is logic too, but the pamphlet could mainly stress the importance of early detection, it could encourage pregnant women to do further check-ups and to be knowledgeable about the dangers, besides although many of "diseases produce symptoms that cannot be detected by the patient" some may be detectable by the patient, so it would be useful anyway.

scofield1521 · Answer

(A) Many prenatal diseases produce symptoms that cannot be detected by the patient. ----Talking about other diseases. (B) Once Eclampsia has been detected, the effectiveness of treatment can vary from person to person. ----effectiveness.. we are not talking about that but effectiveness of pamphlets (C) The pamphlet was sent to all town residents , including those individuals who are not pregnant. ----Ok.. sent to all the residents. It doesnot weaken the argument. (D) Eclampsia is much more common in very young and very old mothers , rather than in those at the height of their productive years. ----So... Where are the pamphlets? (E) Pregnant women who are seriously malnourished are often homeless and thus unlikely to receive and read the pamphlet. ----Yess!!

JarvisR · Answer

Eclampsia in pregnancy is especially prevalent among women who are seriously malnourished . 
In order to achieve early detection of eclampsia in these individuals,  public health officials distributed pamphlets explaining the importance of early detection of this potentially fatal disease .

Which of the f...ollowing, if true, is the   best criticism of the use of the pamphlet ] as a method of achieving the public health officials’ goal?
We need to find an option that criticizes the use of pamphlet. If we can show/prove that there are less chances of these distributed pamphlets to reach intended audience then our purpose will be solved. 
(A) Many prenatal diseases produce symptoms that cannot be detected by the patient. 
(B) Once Eclampsia has been detected, the effectiveness of treatment can vary from person to person. 
(C) The pamphlet was sent to all town residents, including those individuals who are not pregnant.  
(D) Eclampsia is much more common in very young and very old mothers, rather than in those at the height of their productive years.  
 (E) Pregnant women who are seriously malnourished are often homeless and thus unlikely to receive and read the pamphlet.

egmat · Answer

The Goal: Get pamphlets to seriously malnourished pregnant women for early eclampsia detection.

Why E is correct: 
E says: Seriously malnourished pregnant women are often HOMELESS.
Homeless = No address = No mailbox = Pamphlets never arrive!

If the pamphlets never reach the target group, the method fails completely. This is the most fundamental criticism possible.

Why A is wrong: 
A says: "MANY prenatal diseases" can't be detected by patients.

Two fatal flaws:
It says "many diseases" — not specifically ECLAMPSIA
Even if true, pamphlets could tell women to see a DOCTOR for detection (not self-detect)

A is too vague and doesn't specifically attack this plan.

Simple Test:
E shows: The pamphlets won't REACH the people ✓
A shows: Something general about diseases (not this situation) ✗

Eclampsia in pregnancy is especially prevalent among women who are ser

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

Eclampsia in pregnancy is especially prevalent among women who are ser

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