PrepTest 134

Incorrect. If lower hospitals can better tailor meals to the dietary needs of patients, that could very well have a positive impact on recovery rates, so this answer can contribute to an explanation of why patients at such hospitals are more likely to recover.

Incorrect. If the larger hospitals have patients with higher stress levels, that could absolutely explain why they have worse health outcomes.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Bizarro Paradox

Stimulus Summary:
Large, urban hospitals have a higher death rate than smaller, rural hospitals.

Answer Anticipation:
This Paradox is completely about the comparison between the two types of hospitals, showing that they're different in a key metric—recovery rates. Since the paradox is about a difference between them, the correct answers should highlight a relevant difference between these two types of hospitals.

We could anticipate a few, but there will be at least 4 of them in this Bizarro Paradox question, so we'll probably find the correct answer faster by heading straight to the answer choices at this point.

Answer Explanation:
This answer brings up a difference, but it then tells us that it isn't relevant—that prestige of the doctor's school isn't related to recovery rates. Since this answer brings up an irrelevant difference, it doesn't contribute to an explanation for the difference between the two types of hospitals, and it is therefore correct in this Bizarro Paradox question.

Key Takeaway:
Paradox questions frequently feature unexpected differences. When that happens, answers that resolve/explain the paradox will bring up other relevant differences.

Also, note that these answers rely on connections that are a little "looser" than other question types. For example, with (B), a correct answer in a Strengthen/Weaken question might address a jump between stress and overall health. For Paradox questions, however, answers that provide a resolution only need to provide enough information that could explain it, not that are logically airtight. Shift your mindset slightly for this question type.

Incorrect. If patients at larger hospitals are released more quickly and on—site supervision for shorter periods of time than at smaller hospitals, then that could absolutely contribute to a lower recovery rate. Someone who is sent home but then has a complication is more likely to succumb to that complication than someone who has a complication at a hospital with doctors around, or even to have that complication noticed before it gets serious.

Incorrect. This answer brings up a relevant difference—less time to give instructions means a higher likelihood of the medication being taken incorrectly, which would impact recovery rates.