While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:In 1892, German physician Alois Alzheimer began studying patients with...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- In 1892, German physician Alois Alzheimer began studying patients with severe memory loss and behavioral changes.
- He initially believed these symptoms indicated a form of early-onset senility affecting younger patients.
- Alzheimer documented the case of Auguste Deter, a 51-year-old woman with progressive cognitive decline.
- When Deter died in 1906, Alzheimer examined her brain tissue under a microscope.
- He discovered distinctive protein plaques and tangles that had not been seen in normal aging.
- The condition was later named "Alzheimer's disease" after him, though it was initially called "presenile dementia."
The student wants to emphasize the role an initial misunderstanding played in the study of a medical condition. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Believing the symptoms indicated early-onset senility, Alzheimer studied what would later be recognized as a distinct disease bearing his name.
Alzheimer discovered distinctive protein plaques and tangles in Auguste Deter's brain tissue that differed from normal aging.
In 1892, Alzheimer began studying patients with memory loss and documented the case of Auguste Deter.
The condition initially called "presenile dementia" was later renamed "Alzheimer's disease" after the German physician.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "In 1892, German physician Alois Alzheimer began studying patients with severe memory loss and behavioral changes." |
|
| "He initially believed these symptoms indicated a form of early-onset senility affecting younger patients." |
|
| "Alzheimer documented the case of Auguste Deter, a 51-year-old woman with progressive cognitive decline." |
|
| "When Deter died in 1906, Alzheimer examined her brain tissue under a microscope." |
|
| "He discovered distinctive protein plaques and tangles that had not been seen in normal aging." |
|
| "The condition was later named 'Alzheimer's disease' after him, though it was initially called 'presenile dementia.'" |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Alzheimer's study of what he initially misunderstood as early-onset senility led to the discovery and identification of a distinct disease that now bears his name.
Argument Flow: The notes trace how Alzheimer began studying patients in 1892 under the mistaken belief that their symptoms represented early-onset senility. Through careful documentation of cases like Auguste Deter and microscopic brain examination, he discovered unique pathological features that revealed this was actually a distinct condition, eventually recognized as Alzheimer's disease.
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 correct answer needs to clearly identify the initial misunderstanding (Alzheimer thinking the symptoms were early-onset senility)
- Show how this misunderstanding led him to study the condition
- Connect to the eventual discovery that it was actually a distinct disease
Believing the symptoms indicated early-onset senility, Alzheimer studied what would later be recognized as a distinct disease bearing his name.
- Directly states the misunderstanding ("Believing the symptoms indicated early-onset senility")
- Shows how this belief led to action ("Alzheimer studied")
- Reveals the eventual recognition ("what would later be recognized as a distinct disease bearing his name")
- Perfectly emphasizes how the initial wrong assumption drove the research
Alzheimer discovered distinctive protein plaques and tangles in Auguste Deter's brain tissue that differed from normal aging.
- Focuses entirely on the scientific discovery (protein plaques and tangles)
- Completely ignores the initial misunderstanding about early-onset senility
In 1892, Alzheimer began studying patients with memory loss and documented the case of Auguste Deter.
- Provides basic chronological information
- Mentions nothing about the misunderstanding that drove the research
The condition initially called "presenile dementia" was later renamed "Alzheimer's disease" after the German physician.
- Focuses on the naming evolution
- Doesn't explain the misunderstanding that led to studying the condition