Read the passages given below and answer the questions that follow. The need…
2023
Read the passages given below and answer the questions that follow.
The need for surgical operation, especially an emergency operation, almost always comes as a severe shock to the patient and his family. Despite modern advances, most people still have an irrational fear of hospitals and anaesthetics. Patients do not often believe they really need surgery— cutting into a part of the body as opposed to treatment with drugs. In the early years of this century, there was little specialization in surgery. A good surgeon was capable of performing almost every operation that had been devised up to that time. Today the situation is different. Operations are now being carried out that were not even dreamed of fifteen years ago. The heart can be safely opened and its valves repaired. Clogged blood vessels can be cleaned out and broken ones mended or replaced. A lung, the whole stomach, or even part of the brain can be removed and still permit the patient to live a comfortable and satisfactory life. However, not every surgeon wants to, or is qualified to, carry out every type of modern operation.
Most people are afraid of being operated on
Answer: A. in spite of improvements in modern surgery — ConceptA literal-comprehension answer must be supported by what the passage explicitly says, not by an assumption that merely sounds plausible. For a “why”…
- A.
in spite of improvements in modern surgery
- B.
because they think modern drugs are dangerous
- C.
because they do not believe they need anaesthetics
- D.
More than one of the above
- E.
None of the above
Attempted by 1 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept
A literal-comprehension answer must be supported by what the passage explicitly says, not by an assumption that merely sounds plausible.
For a “why” question, identify the stated cause or contrast and then test each choice against the passage’s wording.
Application
The passage first acknowledges modern advances in surgery and then says that, despite those advances, most people still have an irrational fear of hospitals and anaesthetics. This directly links the continuing fear with the contrast expressed by “in spite of improvements in modern surgery.”
Contrast
“because they think modern drugs are dangerous” is not supported: drugs are presented as a treatment patients may prefer to surgery.
“because they do not believe they need anaesthetics” changes the passage’s meaning: patients may doubt the need for surgery, while anaesthetics are mentioned as something they fear.
“More than one of the above” would require at least two supported causes, but the two specific cause statements do not match the passage.
“None of the above” does not apply because the passage explicitly supports one offered statement.
Cross-check
Replacing the option wording with the passage’s contrast gives the same meaning: modern surgery has improved, yet fear persists. Therefore, the answer is “in spite of improvements in modern surgery.”