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GMAT

GMAT - Reading Comprehension - Test 19

in Reading Comprehension
Read the passage and choose the option that best answer each question.
 
Gastrostomy tubes are commonly used to provide nutrition and hydration for patients unwilling or unable to maintain an adequate oral intake. Among hospitalized patients aged 65 years or older in the United States , the number undergoing placement of a gastrostomy tube increased from 61000 in 1988 to 121000 in 1995. In 1990 and

1. The passage is primarily concerned with

A. the morbidity and mortality rates associated with the use of gastrostomy tubes
B. the proliferation of the use of gastronomy tubes in patients aged 85 years or older
C. whether physicians adequately discuss the benefits and burdens of tube feeding with patients or surrogate decision-makers before gastrostomy tubes are inserted
D. the growing number of patients undergoing placement of a gastrostomy tube
E. the complications that often follow the insertion of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube

2. According to the passage, the high mortality rate following gastrostomy found in research cited in paragraph two is not necessarily a direct result of the placement of a gastrostomy tube because

A. tube insertion itself is only rarely associated with fatal complications
B. 30-day and 1-year mortality was 24% and 63% respectively in 1991 among Medicare beneficiaries
C. only cases in which the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube was incorrectly place were examined
D. all the patients in the studies mentioned suffered from life threatening diseases
E. most of the patients in the studies mentioned suffered from life threatening diseases

3. It can be inferred from the passage that

A. there are alternatives to the use of gastrostomy tubes to provide nutrition but not hydration for patients unwilling or unable to maintain an adequate oral intake.
B. there are alternatives to the use of gastrostomy tubes to provide hydration but not nutrition for patients unwilling or unable to maintain an adequate oral intake.
C. there are alternatives to the use of gastrostomy tubes to provide nutrition and hydration for patients unwilling or unable to maintain an adequate oral intake.
D. the alternatives to gastrostomy tubes do not provide adequate nutrition and hydration
E. the alternatives to gastrostomy tubes provide more adequate nutrition and hydration than the gastrostomy tubes

4. The author uses the word ?only? in line ??? [third line from the end] most likely in order to

A. highlight the oddity of the decision of the patients
B. emphasize the relatively low percentage of patients that would opt for a gastrostomy tube if given the choice
C. point out the limited value of inserting a gastrostomy tube
D. distinguish the primary factor in the decision making process of brain damaged patients
E. single out a unique merit of gastrostomy tubes for brain damaged patients