First, let's look at the information given. The hospital auditor notes that the Rodriguez family stipulated the funds they donated were to be used to minimize patients' suffering. The hospital auditor then concludes that the clinic is violating this stipulation since they are using some of the donated funds to research diagnostic techniques rather than using the money directly on patients. The clinic administrator argues that the development of new technologies will ultimately lead to less patient suffering through early diagnosis.
We are then asked to identify the main point at issue between the two arguments.
(D) "whether the neurological clinic is adhering to the conditions the Rodriguez family placed on the allocation of the funds they donated to the clinic" is correct. The hospital auditor claims that funding diagnostic techniques does not minimize patient suffering and is therefore a misapplication of the donor stipulation. The clinic administrator argues that diagnostic techniques do help to minimize patient suffering. Based off this, we can infer that the clinic administrator believes the stipulation is being met. Therefore, the hospital auditor and clinic administrator disagree about whether the stipulation is being upheld, which is what (D) states.
Let's look at why the other answer choices are incorrect.
(A) is incorrect because the difference between a treatment that "lessens" suffering and one that is "completely eliminating" patient suffering is beyond the scope of the passage. The given stipulation only specifies that the funds should "reduce" patient suffering, so complete elimination is irrelevant. (B) is incorrect because "adequate" treatment is irrelevant to the passage. Again, we are only concerned with lessened suffering. (C) is incorrect because the hospital auditor explicitly states this, and the clinic administrator does not argue it. Therefore, we have no information to point to a disagreement regarding this claim, which is treated as a fact. (E) is incorrect because the family's anticipations are beyond the scope of the question. It does not matter what the family expected, just what they stipulated.
Does that help? Let us know if you have any other questions!
