Questions 71 -80 are based on the following passage.
The field of medicine has always attracted its share of quacks and charlatans —
disreputable women and men with little or no medical knowledge who promise quick
cures at cheap prices. The reasons why quackery thrives even in modern times are
easy to find.
To begin with, pain seems to be a chronic human condition. A person whose body
or mind “hurts” will often pay any amount of money for the promise of relief. Second,
even the best medical treatment cannot cure all the ills that beset men and women.
People who mistrust or dislike the truths that their physicians tell them often turn to
more sympathetic ears.
Many people lack the training necessary to evaluate medical claims. Given the
choice between (a) a reputable physician who says a cure for cancer will be long,
expensive and may not work at all, and (b) a salesperson who says that several bottles
of a secret formula “snake oil” will cure not only cancer but tuberculosis as well,
some individuals will opt for “snake oil”.
Many “snake oil” remedies are highly laced with alcohol or narcotic drugs.
Anyone who drinks them may get so drunk or stoned that they drown their pains in
the rising tide of pleasant intoxication. Little wonder that “snake oil” is a popular
cure-all for minor aches and hurts! But let there be no misunderstandings. A very few
“home remedies” actually work. However, most remedies sold by quacks are not only
useless, but often can be harmful as well.
71. In this passage, a quack or a charlatan is .
A. someone who has a special ability
B. someone who has little knowledge
C. someone who is not a good doctor
D. someone who pretends to be a doctor
72. The sentence “pain seems to be a chronic human condition” means .
A. pain seems to be very serious
B. pain seems to be very difficult
C. pain seems to last for a long time
D. pain seems to be always happening
73. Quackery thrives even in modern times because .
A. patients pay any amount of money
B. patients do not like their physicians
C. quacks say that they can help patients
D. best medical treatment costs very much
74. People who seek the advice of quacks and charlatans are .
A. those who are poorly educated
B. those who are highly educated
C. those who dislike medical treatments
D. those who mistrust physicians’ truths
75. To evaluate medical claims, one must .
A. turn to reputable doctors B. make an adequate choice
C. have the necessary training D. disbelieve promise of relief
76. According to the author, a very few home remedies are .
A. useless B. harmful
C. pleasant D. effective
77. Which of the following statements is not true?
A. quacks are really sympathetic B. “snake oil” does not work
C. doctors cannot cure all ills D. patients are often impatient
78. Many individuals opt for “snake oil” because .
A. they are misled by a secret formula
B. they cannot afford a treatment
C. they lack medical knowledge
D. they do not trust physicians
79. “Snake oil” is a popular cure-all for minor aches and hurts
because .
A. it has actually worked B. it has some fruit stones
C. it has been misunderstood D. it has alcohol or narcotic drugs
80. Which of the following would be the best title of this passage?
A. Distrust of Physicians B. Medical Treatment
C. Snake Oil Remedies D. Guard Against Quackery
