Q17

[jennifer]

17. Would it be fair to say that questions such as this one about the final paraphgraph are main point questions?

[bbirdwell]

In a way, yes, but they're more like the main point of the paragraph than the main point of the passage. Think of it as an inference question. Take the preceding statements into account and make the next logical step -- baby step.

[didi0504]

Could you please explain this question and the approach you would take to find the answer?
I am having a hard time answering this type of questions.

Thanks!

[bbirdwell]

My approach would be just what I stated above. It's essentially an inference question, so I would put together the important information, taking into account the context of the passage, and make a tiny, baby step forward, almost restating what has already been said.

Here, the paragraph says that male and female prescriptions were quoted indiscriminately, and that no special comment was made about the female writings.

The passage is about women doctors. A logical statement to follow the paragraph would say something like "the fact that women were doctors was not a big deal."

Answer choice (B) says exactly this, except it brings up Plato. So then I go back to double check and make sure Plato thought the same thing. Sure enough, he did (paragraph 2).

(A) is not even close. There is no biographical information about the women.
(C) is the opposite of what we want.
(D) is unsupported.
(E) is also opposite, in a way. The picture is not conflicting. All the evidence cited in the passage is on the same side of the argument.