The dosage for any prescribed medicine is the result of compromise. All drugs are potentially poisonous, suggesting that the least...
GMAT Reading Comprehension : (RC) Questions
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The dosage for any prescribed medicine is the result of compromise. All drugs are potentially poisonous, suggesting that the least possible amount should be administered. On the other hand, drugs become diluted in the blood and large amounts are degraded, taken up by healthy tissue, or excreted without reaching the site of disease. Physicians must balance these opposing considerations in determining effective doses.
To reduce the risks and inefficiency associated with such determinations, ways are now being developed to deliver the needed dose of medicine to diseased tissues while bypassing healthy ones. One promising approach is the loading of medication into liposomes—microscopic sacs (vesicles) made of the same phospholipids that constitute cell membranes.
A British scientist, Alec D. Bangham, inadvertently produced the first liposomes in 1961 while experimenting with the effect of phospholipids on blood clotting. Because liposomes are made of the same substance as cell membranes, researchers assumed that the liposomes would be nontoxic and would escape recognition and removal by the body's immune system; the vesicles might therefore have the opportunity to interact with targeted cells in ways that would cause the vesicles to release their cargoes.
If these assumptions were correct and if liposomes could, as expected, be readily loaded with drugs, all that would be needed to complete this ideal drug-delivery system would be the attachment of tissue-specific molecules to the outside of the drug-laden vesicles. The liposomes, which were also expected to protect their loads from dilution or degradation, would be attached to the target tissues by the tissue-specific molecules.
Research has shown that liposomes can be loaded with drugs, are nontoxic, protect their loads, and can deliver concentrated doses of medication. Unfortunately, liposomes are for the most part unable to leave the circulatory system and hence are unlikely to reach most cell types. Unencapsulated, or free, drugs typically diffuse through capillary walls into tissues, but liposomes are too large to pass through the walls of most capillaries. In addition, the body's immune system does recognize the liposomes and attempts to remove them from circulation.
Ques. 1/4
The second paragraph serves primarily to
Solution
1. Passage Analysis:
Progressive Passage Analysis
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| The dosage for any prescribed medicine is the result of compromise. | What it says: When doctors decide how much medicine to give, they have to balance opposing factors. What it does: Introduces the central problem/tension that the entire passage will address Source/Type: Author's factual statement about medical practice Connection to Previous Sentences: This is our opening - establishes the foundation concept Visualization: Doctor thinking: "Should I give 10mg or 50mg? There are competing concerns I need to balance." Reading Strategy Insight: Key opening signal - the word "compromise" tells us we'll learn about opposing forces that need balancing |
| All drugs are potentially poisonous, suggesting that the least possible amount should be administered. | What it says: Medicine can be dangerous, so doctors want to use as little as possible What it does: Explains one side of the compromise mentioned in sentence 1 Source/Type: Medical fact Connection to Previous Sentences: This directly explains what "compromise" means - gives us the first competing factor Visualization: Side 1 of the balance scale: "Use LESS medicine" (weight = safety concerns) Reading Strategy Insight: Feel confident here - this is just explaining the setup, not adding complexity |
| On the other hand, drugs become diluted in the blood and large amounts are degraded, taken up by healthy tissue, or excreted without reaching the site of disease. | What it says: Much of the medicine gets wasted and never reaches the sick parts of the body What it does: Explains the other side of the compromise Source/Type: Medical fact about drug distribution Connection to Previous Sentences: The phrase "On the other hand" signals this is the opposing force to sentence 2. Now we have both sides of the compromise from sentence 1 Visualization: Side 2 of the balance scale: "Use MORE medicine" (weight = effectiveness concerns) 100mg given → 80mg diluted in blood → 15mg absorbed by healthy tissue → 4mg excreted → only 1mg reaches diseased tissue Reading Strategy Insight: The compromise is now complete: Less medicine = safer but less effective; More medicine = more effective but more dangerous |
| Physicians must balance these opposing considerations in determining effective doses. | What it says: Doctors have to weigh safety vs. effectiveness when deciding doses What it does: Restates and summarizes the problem we just learned about Source/Type: Author's summary statement Connection to Previous Sentences: This is NOT new information! This restates sentence 1's "compromise" using the specific details from sentences 2-3. The author is helping us by giving a clear summary Visualization: Doctor with balance scale: Safety (left) vs. Effectiveness (right), trying to find the middle point Reading Strategy Insight: Feel relieved here - this is simplification, not new complexity. We now fully understand the basic problem |
| To reduce the risks and inefficiency associated with such determinations, ways are now being developed to deliver the needed dose of medicine to diseased tissues while bypassing healthy ones. | What it says: Scientists are working on ways to send medicine directly to sick parts while avoiding healthy parts What it does: Introduces the proposed solution to the compromise problem Source/Type: Author's statement about current research Connection to Previous Sentences: This builds directly on the problem established in sentences 1-4. This is the logical next step: "Here's the problem, now here's what people are doing about it" Visualization: Smart delivery system: Medicine bypasses healthy tissue (liver, kidneys, etc.) and goes straight to tumor/infection What We Know So Far: Problem defined and solution direction established What We Don't Know Yet: What this "way" actually is Reading Strategy Insight: This transitions from problem to solution - expect details about the solution next |
| One promising approach is the loading of medication into liposomes—microscopic sacs (vesicles) made of the same phospholipids that constitute cell membranes. | What it says: One solution is putting medicine inside tiny bags made of the same stuff as cell walls What it does: Introduces the specific solution (liposomes) and gives basic definition Source/Type: Factual description of scientific approach Connection to Previous Sentences: This answers "what is the way?" from sentence 5. "One promising approach" directly follows "ways are being developed" Visualization: Tiny bubble-like containers (size of viruses) filled with medicine, floating in bloodstream. Container walls look identical to human cell walls What We Know So Far: Specific solution identified and basically defined What We Don't Know Yet: How/why this solves the targeting problem Reading Strategy Insight: Technical term introduced with immediate definition - this shows author is helping, not trying to confuse |
| A British scientist, Alec D. Bangham, inadvertently produced the first liposomes in 1961 while experimenting with the effect of phospholipids on blood clotting. | What it says: A scientist accidentally discovered liposomes in 1961 during unrelated blood research What it does: Provides historical background/discovery story Source/Type: Historical fact Connection to Previous Sentences: This gives background on liposomes from sentence 6. This is supporting detail, not a new concept Visualization: 1961 lab: Scientist studying blood clotting, notices tiny bubble-like structures forming, realizes he's found something new Reading Strategy Insight: This is just interesting background - don't worry about memorizing the name or date. Focus stays on liposomes as a solution |
| Because liposomes are made of the same substance as cell membranes, researchers assumed that the liposomes would be nontoxic and would escape recognition and removal by the body's immune system; the vesicles might therefore have the opportunity to interact with targeted cells in ways that would cause the vesicles to release their cargoes. | What it says: Scientists thought: since liposomes look like cell walls, the body won't attack them and they can sneak up to target cells and release medicine What it does: Explains the theoretical reasoning behind why liposomes should work Source/Type: Researchers' assumptions/hypotheses Connection to Previous Sentences: This builds on the "same phospholipids" detail from sentence 6. Shows the logical chain: same material → body won't recognize → can reach targets Visualization: Liposome disguised as regular cell approaches diseased tissue. Immune system (white blood cells) ignore it because it "looks friendly." Liposome docks with target cell and opens up to release medicine. Reading Strategy Insight: Note that these are "assumptions" - this suggests we'll learn whether they were correct |
| If these assumptions were correct and if liposomes could, as expected, be readily loaded with drugs, all that would be needed to complete this ideal drug-delivery system would be the attachment of tissue-specific molecules to the outside of the drug-laden vesicles. | What it says: If the assumptions work out and you can easily put drugs in liposomes, you'd just need to attach targeting molecules to make a perfect delivery system What it does: Describes the complete theoretical system and what would make it "ideal" Source/Type: Researchers' theoretical model Connection to Previous Sentences: This builds on sentence 8's assumptions by adding the final piece needed. "If these assumptions" directly refers back to sentence 8 Visualization: Liposome with medicine inside + GPS-like molecules attached to outside = targeted missile that finds specific diseased tissue Reading Strategy Insight: The repeated "if" signals this is still theoretical - expect reality check coming soon |
| The liposomes, which were also expected to protect their loads from dilution or degradation, would be attached to the target tissues by the tissue-specific molecules. | What it says: The liposomes would also protect the medicine from getting diluted or broken down, and the targeting molecules would stick them to the right tissues What it does: Restates and completes the ideal system description Source/Type: Researchers' expectations Connection to Previous Sentences: This restates sentence 9's "ideal system" and connects back to sentence 3's problem of "dilution" Visualization: Protected medicine inside liposome (like armor protecting contents) + targeting system = medicine stays strong and goes exactly where needed Reading Strategy Insight: This ties back to the original problem - liposomes theoretically solve both the targeting AND the dilution issues |
| Research has shown that liposomes can be loaded with drugs, are nontoxic, protect their loads, and can deliver concentrated doses of medication. | What it says: Studies proved that several parts of the theory work: you can put drugs in them, they're safe, they protect medicine, and they can deliver strong doses What it does: Reports positive research results for most of the theoretical benefits Source/Type: Research findings/evidence Connection to Previous Sentences: This tests the assumptions from sentences 8-10. Most of the "ifs" from earlier sentences are confirmed as true Visualization: ✓ Drug loading works ✓ Safe for body ✓ Medicine stays protected ✓ Strong doses delivered Reading Strategy Insight: This is mostly good news - the theory largely worked. But notice what's NOT mentioned yet... |
| Unfortunately, liposomes are for the most part unable to leave the circulatory system and hence are unlikely to reach most cell types. | What it says: But there's a big problem: liposomes get stuck in blood vessels and can't reach most tissues What it does: Reveals the major limitation that undermines the targeting goal Source/Type: Research findings Connection to Previous Sentences: This contrasts sharply with sentence 11's positive results. "Unfortunately" signals we're learning what went wrong with the ideal system Visualization: Liposomes floating in bloodstream but unable to squeeze through blood vessel walls to reach diseased tissue outside vessels Reading Strategy Insight: This explains why the targeting benefit from sentences 8-10 doesn't work in practice |
| Unencapsulated, or free, drugs typically diffuse through capillary walls into tissues, but liposomes are too large to pass through the walls of most capillaries. | What it says: Normal medicine can squeeze through tiny blood vessel walls, but liposomes are too big to fit What it does: Explains the mechanism behind the problem in sentence 12 Source/Type: Scientific explanation Connection to Previous Sentences: This explains WHY liposomes "are unable to leave the circulatory system" from sentence 12. Same problem, more detailed explanation Visualization: Small drug molecules (size of marbles) easily slip through capillary wall gaps, but liposomes (size of basketballs) get stuck trying to fit through the same gaps Reading Strategy Insight: Feel confident - this is just explaining the previous sentence in more detail, not adding new complexity |
| In addition, the body's immune system does recognize the liposomes and attempts to remove them from circulation. | What it says: Also, the immune system actually DOES attack liposomes, contrary to what scientists expected What it does: Reveals the second major problem that contradicts earlier assumptions Source/Type: Research findings Connection to Previous Sentences: This directly contradicts sentence 8's assumption that liposomes "would escape recognition and removal by the body's immune system." The assumption was wrong Visualization: White blood cells (immune system) identifying and attacking liposomes, trying to remove them from bloodstream What We Know Now: Liposomes work for drug loading and protection, but fail at the crucial targeting function due to size limitations and immune recognition Reading Strategy Insight: This completes the "reality vs. theory" comparison. The passage has come full circle from problem → proposed solution → why the solution doesn't fully work |
Answer Choices Explained
A
explain the difficulties encountered in prescribing effective drug doses
Why It's Wrong:
- The difficulties in prescribing effective doses were already explained in the first paragraph
- The second paragraph moves beyond explaining the problem to introducing a solution
- This choice focuses on problem explanation rather than solution introduction
Common Student Mistakes:
- Didn't I see information about drug delivery challenges in the second paragraph? → Yes, but that information explains why liposomes seemed promising, not why dosing is difficult
- Isn't the passage still discussing the same medical problem? → The passage shifts from explaining the problem to proposing a solution
B
introduce liposomes as a possible solution to a problem faced by physicians
Why It's Right:
- The paragraph begins with "One promising approach" - directly introducing a solution
- It defines what liposomes are and explains why researchers thought they could solve the targeting problem
- It bridges from the general "ways are being developed" to the specific solution the passage will examine
- The entire theoretical framework establishes liposomes as a potential answer to the dosage compromise problem
Key Evidence: "One promising approach is the loading of medication into liposomes" followed by detailed explanation of why researchers believed this would solve the targeting problem established in paragraph one.
C
discuss the reasons for the effectiveness of liposomes in delivering drugs
Why It's Wrong:
- The paragraph describes the theoretical expectations, not proven effectiveness
- Actual research results about effectiveness come in the third paragraph
- The word "Unfortunately" in the third paragraph shows the effectiveness discussion reveals problems, not successes
Common Student Mistakes:
- Doesn't the paragraph explain how liposomes work to deliver drugs? → It explains how researchers hoped they would work, not their actual effectiveness
- Isn't protecting drug loads from dilution a form of effectiveness? → That's part of the theoretical promise, but proven effectiveness is discussed later
D
define the term "liposome"
Why It's Wrong:
- While the paragraph does define liposomes, this is not its primary purpose
- The definition serves the larger goal of introducing liposomes as a solution
- Much more content focuses on the theoretical framework than just the definition
Common Student Mistakes:
- Isn't the definition of liposomes a major part of this paragraph? → Yes, but that definition serves to introduce them as a solution, not as an end in itself
- Don't I need to understand what liposomes are? → Absolutely, but the author defines them in service of presenting them as a promising approach
E
summarize early researchers' findings about liposomes
Why It's Wrong:
- The paragraph presents researchers' theoretical expectations and assumptions, not findings from studies
- Actual research findings are reported in the third paragraph with "Research has shown"
- The historical mention of Bangham is about the discovery, not research findings about effectiveness
Common Student Mistakes:
- Doesn't the paragraph mention Bangham's research? → That describes the accidental discovery, not findings about liposome effectiveness
- Aren't the assumptions mentioned based on research? → The assumptions are what researchers hoped would be true, not what studies had proven
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