MCAT Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills Question 81: Answer and Explanation

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Test Information

Question: 81

2. The author characterizes Hispanics as which of the following?

  • A. A large, diverse minority of Spanish speaking people in the United States with unusually strong community bonds
  • B. A population whose various members face similar obstacles in the health care system
  • C. A group whose known epidemiological cancer data may be lacking
  • D. A heterogeneous people who are represented well in clinical trials

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

C This is an Inference question.

A: No. "Hispanics" are described as a large, diverse group of people (paragraph 1). However, the author never states or suggests that Hispanics speak Spanish. Be careful not to use outside knowledge or assumptions when picking an answer choice. Furthermore, while the author does discuss measures that would help to "create strong community bonds" (paragraph 4), the passage does not suggest that Hispanics have unusually strong community bonds compared to other groups.

B: No. The passage states the opposite of this statement: the use of the " 'Hispanic' category" assumes all the people "experience similar barriers" in health services (paragraph 2). However, "each group has specific characteristics that make them different and independent from one another" (paragraph 3).

C: Yes. The last line of paragraph 1 states that "The data available regarding the incidence, morbidity, and mortality from cancer in Hispanics are scarce, scattered, outdated, and often incomplete."

D: No. The author states that the Hispanic population is indeed heterogeneous, but notes in paragraph 3 that they are actually underrepresented in clinical trials. This is another example of an "opposite" Attractor.

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