Father of Surgery
Abu al-Qasim Khalaf ibn al-Abbas Al-Zahrawi, also known as Albucasis, is considered by many people to be the "Father of Modern Surgery." Al-Zahrawi was born in Spain in 936 CE, a time when Spain was part of the Islamic empire. One of Al-Zahrawi's greatest contributions was the Kitab al-Tasrif, a 30-volume encyclopedia of medical information.
The Kitab al-Tasrif took Al-Zahrawi over 50 years to complete. It contains information about a wide variety of illnesses, injuries, medical conditions, treatments, and surgical procedures. His book includes discussions of dentistry, obstetrics, ophthalmology, urology, and cranial surgery, among many others. He even provides illustrations for over 200 different surgical instruments. In the Kitab, Al-Zahrawi presents the first description of ectopic pregnancy and provides the first evidence that hemophilia is a genetic condition.
Surgeons continued to use the information in the Kitab al-Tasrif well into the 1700s. In fact, some of Al-Zahrawi's practices are still being used to this very day. For example, Al-Zahrawi developed a technique to treat gynecomastia (enlarged breast tissue) in men that is still in practice today. Finally, the Kitab also includes something vital for all modern practitioners to keep in mind: a reminder that patients are human beings who must be treated regardless of their wealth or social status.
Question: What can be inferred from the passage?

Question

Father of Surgery
Abu al-Qasim Khalaf ibn al-Abbas Al-Zahrawi, also known as Albucasis, is considered by many people to be the "Father of Modern Surgery." Al-Zahrawi was born in Spain in 936 CE, a time when Spain was part of the Islamic empire. One of Al-Zahrawi's greatest contributions was the Kitab al-Tasrif, a 30-volume encyclopedia of medical information.
The Kitab al-Tasrif took Al-Zahrawi over 50 years to complete. It contains information about a wide variety of illnesses, injuries, medical conditions, treatments, and surgical procedures. His book includes discussions of dentistry, obstetrics, ophthalmology, urology, and cranial surgery, among many others. He even provides illustrations for over 200 different surgical instruments. In the Kitab, Al-Zahrawi presents the first description of ectopic pregnancy and provides the first evidence that hemophilia is a genetic condition.
Surgeons continued to use the information in the Kitab al-Tasrif well into the 1700s. In fact, some of Al-Zahrawi's practices are still being used to this very day. For example, Al-Zahrawi developed a technique to treat gynecomastia (enlarged breast tissue) in men that is still in practice today. Finally, the Kitab also includes something vital for all modern practitioners to keep in mind: a reminder that patients are human beings who must be treated regardless of their wealth or social status.
Question: What can be inferred from the passage?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

We can infer that the study of medicine today could have been different without Al-Zahrawi's contributions. For example, treatments for various diseases could have been presented or discovered later, or doctors could have been led to different findings if Al-Zahrawi's information had never been available.
Without Al-Zahrawi, doctors would have never understood surgical procedures. Although Al-Zahrawi provided unprecedented information that is still being used today, we cannot infer that this never would have happened without him. For example, it could be possible that another doctor or a group of doctors could have arrived at Al-Zahrawi's findings, albeit later and perhaps more inefficiently.
The Kitab must be studied by modern practitioners in the medicinal field. While the text explains that the Kitab provides vital information for practitioners, it cannot be inferred that practitioners must study the Kitab. For example, practitioners could study other books that have information that was originally written in the Kitab.
No one will be able to replace or advance Al-Zahrawi's findings or contributions regarding surgery. It is possible and also likely that modern doctors could advance Al-Zahrawi's original treatments with technological advances. Although he was the first to provide some of this information, it cannot be inferred that it will never be advanced.

Father of Surgery Abu Al-Qasim Khalaf Ibn Al-Abbas Al-Zahrawi, Also Known as Albucasis