While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Chronic lower back pain affects approximately 540 million people worldwide.For...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Chronic lower back pain affects approximately 540 million people worldwide.
- For decades, physicians have routinely prescribed extended bed rest as the primary treatment for acute lower back pain episodes.
- A comprehensive 2018 meta-analysis conducted by Dr. Sarah Chen and her research team challenged this conventional approach.
- The study analyzed data from over 15,000 patients across multiple clinical trials.
- Patients who maintained normal activity levels during acute episodes showed significantly faster recovery times than those prescribed bed rest.
- The research indicated that prolonged inactivity may actually worsen outcomes and delay healing.
The student wants to specify what treatment approach the 2018 research suggests is most effective. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
According to a 2018 meta-analysis, the most effective treatment for acute lower back pain may be maintaining normal activity levels, contrary to the traditional prescription of extended bed rest.
Physicians have routinely prescribed extended bed rest for acute lower back pain, but this approach may not be optimal.
Dr. Sarah Chen's 2018 research team analyzed data from over 15,000 patients across multiple clinical trials.
The 2018 study found that prolonged inactivity may worsen outcomes and delay healing in back pain patients.
Looking at this Rhetorical Synthesis question, I need to determine which choice best helps the student specify what treatment the 2018 research recommends as most effective.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Chronic lower back pain affects approximately 540 million people worldwide." |
|
| "For decades, physicians have routinely prescribed extended bed rest as the primary treatment for acute lower back pain episodes." |
|
| "A comprehensive 2018 meta-analysis conducted by Dr. Sarah Chen and her research team challenged this conventional approach." |
|
| "The study analyzed data from over 15,000 patients across multiple clinical trials." |
|
| "Patients who maintained normal activity levels during acute episodes showed significantly faster recovery times than those prescribed bed rest." |
|
| "The research indicated that prolonged inactivity may actually worsen outcomes and delay healing." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A 2018 meta-analysis challenges the traditional treatment of bed rest for acute lower back pain, finding that maintaining normal activity levels leads to better outcomes.
Argument Flow: The notes establish the widespread nature of lower back pain, then present the long-standing medical practice of prescribing bed rest. A 2018 study by Dr. Chen challenges this approach with substantial evidence, showing that patients who remain active recover faster and that inactivity may actually harm recovery.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
The student has a specific goal: "The student wants to specify what treatment approach the 2018 research suggests is most effective."
What's being asked? Which choice most effectively uses the research notes to specify the treatment approach the 2018 research recommends.
What type of answer do we need? A statement that clearly identifies what the 2018 research suggests as the most effective treatment, using relevant information from the notes.
Any limiting keywords? "Most effectively uses relevant information" means we need a choice that both accurately represents the research findings and directly addresses the student's goal of specifying the recommended treatment.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer must directly specify what treatment the 2018 research suggests is most effective
- Based on our analysis, the 2018 study found that maintaining normal activity levels led to significantly faster recovery compared to bed rest, and that prolonged inactivity may worsen outcomes
- So the right answer should clearly state that the 2018 research suggests maintaining normal activity levels as the most effective treatment, ideally contrasting this with the traditional bed rest approach that was challenged
According to a 2018 meta-analysis, the most effective treatment for acute lower back pain may be maintaining normal activity levels, contrary to the traditional prescription of extended bed rest.
✓ Correct
- Directly specifies that the 2018 meta-analysis found maintaining normal activity levels as the most effective treatment
- Explicitly contrasts this with the traditional bed rest prescription that was challenged
- Uses relevant information from multiple notes and perfectly accomplishes the student's goal of specifying what treatment the 2018 research suggests
Physicians have routinely prescribed extended bed rest for acute lower back pain, but this approach may not be optimal.
✗ Incorrect
- States that bed rest "may not be optimal" but fails to specify what the 2018 research actually suggests as the most effective treatment
- Doesn't mention the key finding about maintaining normal activity levels
Dr. Sarah Chen's 2018 research team analyzed data from over 15,000 patients across multiple clinical trials.
✗ Incorrect
- Only mentions the methodology (15,000 patients across trials) without any treatment recommendations
- Provides no information about what treatment approach the research suggests is most effective
The 2018 study found that prolonged inactivity may worsen outcomes and delay healing in back pain patients.
✗ Incorrect
- Mentions that prolonged inactivity may worsen outcomes but doesn't specify what treatment the research recommends instead
- Uses relevant information but doesn't accomplish the goal of specifying the most effective treatment approach