Reading Comprehension

In April 1841, medical missionary Reverend Peter Parker, M.D., addressed an enthusiastic audience gathered at a special meeting of the Boston Medical Association. His subject was "the condition and prospects of the hospitals of China." He described his own work at the hospital he had established in the foreign factory district outside the city walls of Canton where he offered free treatment for both rich and poor. At P'u Ai I Yuan (Hospital of Universal Love, as it was known in Chinese) Parker and his colleagues used western surgical techniques as a means to facilitate religious conversion. Medicine, Parker believed, could be the "handmaid of religious truth," and he held regular religious services for his patients.
While he had, at best, modest success attracting converts to Christianity, the hospital had fostered tremendous goodwill among the Chinese. It was a bright spot amid the gloomy period of Western-Chinese tension that led to the outbreak of the Opium Wars between Great Britain and China. Forced to flee Canton because of these rising hostilities, Parker returned to the United States to raise money and interest in his operations. In the spring of 1841, he spoke to many religious societies, a few medical bodies, and even the United States Congress, where he preached to members of the House and Senate and lobbied legislators on the need for diplomatic relations with China.
In his talks, Parker described the state of medical and surgical knowledge--or, rather, scientific ignorance--in China. Despite the surgical feats of legendary ancient doctors such as Hua T'o of the third century A.D., surgery did not develop to any great extent in China. Some accounts attribute this to Confucian precepts about the integrity of the body and proscriptions against any form of mutilation or dismemberment; others emphasize the pharmacological tendencies within traditional Chinese medicine and a preference for moxas and other caustic plasters.
Whatever the cause, it was undoubtedly the case that Parker's surgical practice tapped into a huge unmet need. Almost as soon as he opened his Ophthalmic Hospital in Canton, as it was known in English, he acquired a reputation as a surgeon of such skill that the hospital quickly became a general hospital. Parker and his small staff handled thousands of cases each year, treating more than fifty thousand cases by the 1850s. His hospital became the model for other medical missions, and Parker and his British colleagues formed the Medical Missionary Society of China to coordinate the efforts of all the western hospitals springing up in the trading ports of Asia. Parker earned his reputation performing operations to remove tumors and cataracts--forms of surgery with relatively good odds of success and ones that could be accomplished quickly, important in an era without anesthetics. Because of the absence of surgery in China, a large number of patients were afflicted with mature tumors (typically five to thirty-five years old) of a size seldom seen in Europe or the United States. Parker was able to help these patients in ways previously thought impossible in China. He has thus been credited with bringing Western medicine to the most populous country on Earth.

The author mentions Hua T'o in the third paragraph most probably in order to

1)underscore the need for modernization of nineteenth century Chinese medicine

2)trace the history of important figures in Chinese medicine

3)call attention to the lack of leading physicians in nineteenth century China

4<)celebrate the historical achievements of Chinese physicians

5)defend Chinese medicine against unfair criticism

Mention of Hua T'o seems to indicate that it was due to ignorance and not lack of intellect that surgery didnot develop in China. And the reason was probably their beliefs.

I would go for
5)defend Chinese medicine against unfair criticism

I going for B because the purpose seems to be clear in terms of the tracing the history of important figures in Chinese medicine. Please post OA.

I think the answer is 3)call attention to the lack of leading physicians in nineteenth century China

My Reason:

The author mentions Hua T'o in the third paragraph most probably in order to

1)underscore the need for modernization of nineteenth century Chinese medicine --- Possible answer

2)trace the history of important figures in Chinese medicine --- No such context in the passage, ELIMINATE

3)call attention to the lack of leading physicians in nineteenth century China --- Possible answer

4)celebrate the historical achievements of Chinese physicians --- No such context in the passage, there is no celebration of any historical achievements being talked abt in the rest of the passage, ELIMINATE

5)defend Chinese medicine against unfair criticism --- No such context in the passage, no mention of any criticism, ELIMINATE

I was confused between 1 and 3, but then I read again and saw that there is no mention of Parker talking about modernizing China anywhere. The passage however talks about "state of medical and surgical knowledge--or, rather, scientific ignorance" and "Whatever the cause, it was undoubtedly the case that Parker's surgical practice tapped into a huge unmet need."
Hence I decided on 3.

all of u r wrong

IMO A.

Pleasep post the OA.

Followinf sentence is the reason of my thinking:
"In April 1841, medical missionary Reverend Peter Parker, M.D., addressed an enthusiastic audience gathered at a special meeting of the Boston Medical Association. His subject was "the condition and prospects of the hospitals of China."

IMO B...
The passage mentions nothing except the name of the person and he was involved in surgery. So B looks the only possibility to me.
Please post the OA.

could we have OA please?

IMO A. Parker talks about the state of medicine and surgery in china and then talks about Hua T. He means that despite surgical feats of doctors such as Hua T, surgery didn't develop to any great extent in china. Hence underscoring the for modernization of 19th century Chinese medicine.

According to me the answer should be A:

A. underscore the need for modernization of nineteenth century Chinese medicine : If you read the latter sentences, the author speaks that the chinese still are dependent on the traditional methods(a preference for moxas and other caustic plasters. ) so correct answer

B. trace the history of important figures in Chinese medicine : He is not tracing any important FIGURES, he just spoke about one person. Incorrect

C. call attention to the lack of leading physicians in nineteenth century China: It contradicts the statement.. insufficient

D. celebrate the historical achievements of Chinese physicians : Again plural... HE has not mentioned many achievements too,, Incorrect

E. defend Chinese medicine against unfair criticism :there is no unfair criticism at all...

IMO A...

The mention is only to bring to the notice that despite a good start of medicine in ancient China, the current situation has not progressed to an extent it should had...Hence, the author is describing the need of a modernised approach to China's medicine..

In my opinion, the answer should be B.
@mundasingh
Can you please post the official answer. It's been quite a long time.

runthegmat wrote:In my opinion, the answer should be B.
@mundasingh
Can you please post the official answer. It's been quite a long time.

oa a