Directions 152 - 158: Read the given passage carefully to answer the following…
2025
Directions 152 - 158: Read the given passage carefully to answer the following questions. Each question will have five alternatives as its answer. Choose the correct option as your answer.
In the realm of medical science, the administration of medications and treatments is a crucial process that directly impacts patient outcomes. Traditionally, the two most common methods of drug delivery have been through injections and oral capsules. Each method has distinct advantages and disadvantages, and recent advancements in research, particularly from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), are poised to revolutionise this aspect of healthcare. For many patients, the mere thought of needles can evoke a sense of dread and anxiety. This fear, known as needle phobia, is a significant barrier to effective medical treatment for a considerable portion of the population. Injections, although effective in delivering drugs quickly into the bloodstream, come with the disadvantages of pain, the risk of infection at the injection site, and the necessity for medical professionals to administer the medication. These factors contribute to decreased patient compliance and increased healthcare costs. On the other hand, oral capsules offer a more convenient and generally painless option, as they can be self-administered without the need for a healthcare provider. Capsules are particularly advantageous for their ease of use and non-invasive nature. However, they are not suitable for all types of medications. Many drugs degrade in the acidic environment of the stomach or are not absorbed efficiently in the gastrointestinal tract, making capsules an unreliable method for drugs requiring precise dosing. Recognising these challenges, researchers at MIT have been at the ___________ drug
delivery technologies. One of their most notable advancements is a new capsule-based technology designed to administer insulin for patients with Type-1 diabetes. This groundbreaking innovation addresses several limitations associated with traditional methods of insulin delivery. Type-1 diabetes requires continual management of blood glucose levels through the administration of insulin. Historically, this has been achieved through regular injections, which can be burdensome and painful for patients. The MIT research
team focused on creating a capsule that could deliver insulin effectively without the discomfort associated with needles. The technology involves a specially engineered capsule that houses a tiny, spring-loaded needle made of insulin. When the capsule reaches the stomach, the needle is injected directly into the stomach lining, painlessly delivering the insulin into the bloodstream. This method leverages the stomach's thick lining, which is less sensitive to pain than the skin, and ensures that the insulin is released in a controlled manner. The capsule's design ensures that the insulin remains stable in the stomach's acidic conditions and is protected until it is absorbed. This innovation holds the potential to transform the management of Type-1 diabetes, making treatment more accessible and less intimidating for patients. The pros of this new technology are evident. It reduces the pain and anxiety associated with needle injections, increases patient compliance, and eliminates the need for frequent doctor visits for insulin administration. Moreover, it opens the door to the oral delivery of other biologic drugs that currently require injections, such as certain cancer medications and vaccines. However, this new technology is not without its challenges and limitations. Ensuring the consistent production of these advanced capsules on a large scale is complex and may pose significant manufacturing challenges. Additionally, long-term studies are necessary to fully understand the capsule's effects on the stomach lining and its efficacy in various patient populations. Furthermore, the cost of developing and producing such sophisticated drug delivery systems might initially be higher than traditional methods, potentially making it less accessible to underprivileged communities. Despite these potential obstacles, the ongoing research and development at MIT represent a significant leap forward in medical science. As technology progresses, the hope is that such innovations will become more cost-effective and widely available, ultimately improving the quality of life for millions of patients worldwide. The new capsule-based drug delivery system exemplifies how thoughtful, patient-centred medical advancements can overcome longstanding barriers in healthcare, offering a glimpse into a future where painful injections could be a distant memory.
152 According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of injections as a drug delivery method?
- A.
Pain at the injection site
- B.
Risk of infection
- C.
Necessity for medical professionals to administer the medication
- D.
Decreased patient compliance
- E.
Supply chain issues
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: E
Concept: A "NOT stated" / "except" question in reading comprehension is a literal-detail question: the passage explicitly lists a set of facts about the subject, four options restate facts that genuinely appear in the text, and exactly one option is a detail the passage never attributes to that subject at all. The method is to build a checklist of every fact the passage states about the subject, then match each option against that checklist -- the option matching no line in the passage is correct, regardless of whether it sounds plausible in real life.
Application: The passage states, about injections: "...come with the disadvantages of pain, the risk of infection at the injection site, and the necessity for medical professionals to administer the medication. These factors contribute to decreased patient compliance and increased healthcare costs." This single sentence accounts for four of the five options: pain at the injection site, risk of infection, the need for a professional to administer it, and decreased patient compliance (given as a direct consequence of those disadvantages). No sentence anywhere in the passage links injections to supply-chain or manufacturing-scale problems -- that limitation is raised later in the passage, but only for the new MIT capsule technology, not for injections.
Cross-check:
Pain at the injection site -- stated directly ("disadvantages of pain").
Risk of infection -- stated directly ("the risk of infection at the injection site").
Necessity for medical professionals to administer the medication -- stated directly.
Decreased patient compliance -- stated as a direct consequence of the disadvantages just listed.
Supply chain issues -- never attributed to injections anywhere in the passage; the passage's manufacturing/scale-up concern applies only to the new capsule technology.
Result: Since four options each map to an explicit passage statement about injections and one does not, "Supply chain issues" is the option that is NOT a disadvantage of injections according to the passage.