The following question was posted on TestCircle.com. The answer and explanation do not seem to match the question. I originally thought the answer was A as it was not mentioned in the explanation, but that does not make any sense. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.
Question 27: Many people in the medical community think that the benefits of medication far outweigh the benefits of therapy. A recent study, in which patients were treated for major depression, compared three approaches: antidepressant medication, cognitive therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy. Researchers were surprised to find that each of the treatments was equally effective in treating depression.
The author is arguing that
A. Not only are pharmaceuticals and professional therapists helpful, but patients play a significant role in helping each other
B. People in the medical community think that the benefits of medication far outweigh therapy for people who suffer severe clinical depression
C. Conventional studies of measuring treatment for depression tend to focus on medication or cognitive therapy, while ignoring interpersonal therapy altogether
D. Interpersonal psychotherapy is a highly underestimated form of therapy often overshadowed by an overreliance on medication in the field of psychology
E. People suffering from depression need a combination of all three forms of therapy to maximize recovery
Answer 27: The correct answer is (C).
Explanation: We're being asked to support, or strengthen, the author's argument. Choice (B) is not the author's main point. Choice (C) is too extreme with its word choice ignoring. Same with choice (D) and it use of overreliance. Choice (E) is never mentioned. When asked for the author's main point, be careful not to be misled by choices that simply restate a part of the author's argument.
Question 27: Many people in the medical community think that the benefits of medication far outweigh the benefits of therapy. A recent study, in which patients were treated for major depression, compared three approaches: antidepressant medication, cognitive therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy. Researchers were surprised to find that each of the treatments was equally effective in treating depression.
The author is arguing that
A. Not only are pharmaceuticals and professional therapists helpful, but patients play a significant role in helping each other
B. People in the medical community think that the benefits of medication far outweigh therapy for people who suffer severe clinical depression
C. Conventional studies of measuring treatment for depression tend to focus on medication or cognitive therapy, while ignoring interpersonal therapy altogether
D. Interpersonal psychotherapy is a highly underestimated form of therapy often overshadowed by an overreliance on medication in the field of psychology
E. People suffering from depression need a combination of all three forms of therapy to maximize recovery
Answer 27: The correct answer is (C).
Explanation: We're being asked to support, or strengthen, the author's argument. Choice (B) is not the author's main point. Choice (C) is too extreme with its word choice ignoring. Same with choice (D) and it use of overreliance. Choice (E) is never mentioned. When asked for the author's main point, be careful not to be misled by choices that simply restate a part of the author's argument.
