While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: Hospital-acquired infections affect thousands of patients annually and can...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Hospital-acquired infections affect thousands of patients annually and can lead to serious complications.
- Healthcare workers sometimes fail to follow proper hand hygiene protocols between patient interactions.
- Studies show that inadequate handwashing is a primary factor in spreading infections within medical facilities.
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can eliminate most harmful bacteria when used correctly.
- Some hospitals have installed automated sanitizer dispensers near patient rooms and high-traffic areas.
- Facilities with comprehensive hand hygiene programs report significantly lower infection rates.
The student wants to explain why hand hygiene programs are effective. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Healthcare workers sometimes fail to follow proper hand hygiene protocols, leading hospitals to install automated sanitizer dispensers.
Hospital-acquired infections affect thousands of patients and can be prevented through comprehensive hygiene programs.
Because inadequate handwashing is a primary factor in spreading infections, and sanitizers eliminate harmful bacteria, comprehensive hand hygiene programs effectively reduce infection rates.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can eliminate most harmful bacteria when used correctly by healthcare workers.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Hospital-acquired infections affect thousands of patients annually and can lead to serious complications." |
|
| "Healthcare workers sometimes fail to follow proper hand hygiene protocols between patient interactions." |
|
| "Studies show that inadequate handwashing is a primary factor in spreading infections within medical facilities." |
|
| "Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can eliminate most harmful bacteria when used correctly." |
|
| "Some hospitals have installed automated sanitizer dispensers near patient rooms and high-traffic areas." |
|
| "Facilities with comprehensive hand hygiene programs report significantly lower infection rates." |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Hospital-acquired infections can be significantly reduced through comprehensive hand hygiene programs that address the root causes of infection spread.
Argument Flow: The notes establish a clear problem-solution structure. They first present the serious problem of hospital infections and identify inadequate handwashing as a primary cause. They then describe solution components (sanitizers that eliminate bacteria and automated dispensers for better implementation) before providing evidence that comprehensive programs successfully reduce infection rates.
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
- To explain why hand hygiene programs are effective, we need to show the complete causal chain
- The right answer should connect three key elements: first, identify what causes the problem (inadequate handwashing spreads infections), second, explain how the solution addresses this cause (sanitizers eliminate the harmful bacteria), and third, demonstrate that this approach works (comprehensive programs reduce infection rates)
Healthcare workers sometimes fail to follow proper hand hygiene protocols, leading hospitals to install automated sanitizer dispensers.
✗ Incorrect
- This explains what hospitals do in response to poor hygiene practices but doesn't explain why the programs are effective
- It stops at describing the response rather than the effectiveness mechanism
Hospital-acquired infections affect thousands of patients and can be prevented through comprehensive hygiene programs.
✗ Incorrect
- This states that infections can be prevented through hygiene programs but doesn't explain the "why"
- There's no mechanism showing how or why the programs work
Because inadequate handwashing is a primary factor in spreading infections, and sanitizers eliminate harmful bacteria, comprehensive hand hygiene programs effectively reduce infection rates.
✓ Correct
- Provides the complete causal explanation: inadequate handwashing causes infection spread (the problem), sanitizers eliminate bacteria (the mechanism), so comprehensive programs reduce infections (the result)
- This directly matches our prethinking by showing the full logical chain from cause to solution to effectiveness
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can eliminate most harmful bacteria when used correctly by healthcare workers.
✗ Incorrect
- Only explains one component (how sanitizers work) without connecting it to overall program effectiveness
- Doesn't address why comprehensive programs as a whole are effective