Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis implemented strict handwashing protocols at Vienna General Hospital in the 1840s. He required all medical staff to...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis implemented strict handwashing protocols at Vienna General Hospital in the 1840s. He required all medical staff to wash their hands with chlorinated lime solution before examining patients. Semmelweis had observed that mortality rates dropped dramatically when doctors followed these hygiene practices. Initially, his colleagues dismissed his methods as unnecessary and time-consuming. Most physicians of the era believed that disease spread through "bad air" rather than contact transmission. However, as evidence mounted supporting germ theory, medical institutions gradually recognized the value of Semmelweis's approach. His hygiene protocols were therefore _______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
rejected by most physicians throughout his career.
eventually accepted by the medical community.
identical to standard practices of the time.
based on the prevailing "bad air" theory.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis implemented strict handwashing protocols at Vienna General Hospital in the 1840s." |
|
| "He required all medical staff to wash their hands with chlorinated lime solution before examining patients." |
|
| "Semmelweis had observed that mortality rates dropped dramatically when doctors followed these hygiene practices." |
|
| "Initially, his colleagues dismissed his methods as unnecessary and time-consuming." |
|
| "Most physicians of the era believed that disease spread through bad air rather than contact transmission." |
|
| "However, as evidence mounted supporting germ theory, medical institutions gradually recognized the value of Semmelweis's approach." |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Semmelweis's handwashing protocols, initially dismissed by his colleagues, were eventually recognized as valuable when evidence supporting germ theory accumulated.
Argument Flow: The passage follows a classic narrative. It establishes Semmelweis's innovative hygiene protocols and their effectiveness, then shows initial resistance from the medical community due to prevailing beliefs about disease transmission. Finally, it presents the turning point where mounting evidence for germ theory led to gradual acceptance of his approach.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The passage shows a clear progression: Semmelweis had effective methods, initially dismissed by colleagues, but then evidence for germ theory mounted and institutions gradually recognized his value
- So the logical conclusion should reflect this shift from rejection to acceptance
- The right answer should indicate that his protocols ultimately gained acceptance or recognition
rejected by most physicians throughout his career.
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests his methods were rejected throughout his career, which contradicts the passage's statement that institutions gradually recognized his value
eventually accepted by the medical community.
✓ Correct
- This perfectly captures the logical progression from initial dismissal to gradual recognition, aligning with the passage's statement that institutions recognized the value of his approach
identical to standard practices of the time.
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests his protocols were the same as standard practices, contradicting the premise that his methods were initially dismissed as unnecessary
based on the prevailing "bad air" theory.
✗ Incorrect
- This claims his protocols were based on the bad air theory, but the passage shows his approach was different from the prevailing bad air belief