The author's attitude towards professionals is best described as

SamA on March 24, 2020

Hello @awpschmitt,

For some reason I am not able to see the question that you are asking about. Will you respond and direct us to the prep test or homework where you found it? Then we will be happy to help you out. Sorry for the inconvenience, must be some kind of glitch.

Thanks!

Skylar on March 27, 2020

@awpschmitt, happy to help!

We are asked to describe the author's attitude toward professionals.

(A) is incorrect because the author is advocating against medicine being redefined as a trade and physicians being redefined as technicians for hire under contract. This is introduced in lines 5-10, as the author begins to discuss reasons why physicians should "resist such efforts to give the practice of medicine a new meaning."

(B) is incorrect because the author is advocating against professionals being seen differently in the future, not expressing sympathy for or discussing those who are currently. Moreover, the author describes how professionals are "honored" by society in the third paragraph.

(C) is incorrect because the author does not discuss/allude to feelings of surprise. Instead, the author mentions litigation and regulation in the first sentence of the passage matter-of-factly.

(D) is incorrect because we are not told that "most professionals have come to be considered as technicians" already; we are only told (in the first sentence of the passage) that there are currently attempts by certain groups to shift the view in that way.

(E) is correct because the author clearly expresses the belief that professionals are both committed and ethical. In line 58, the author says that "professing oneself a professional is an ethical act." In lines 60-64, the author states that professionals promise a "continuing devotion to a way of life, not merely...a present preference" and that being a professional is "an activity in service to some high good that insists on devotion." The author's tone and the support offered throughout the passage support this sentiment.

Does that make sense? Please let us know if you have any other questions and best of luck with your studies!