How should you read this passage to answer a general question?

alzheimer's disease

when you encounter a passage comprehension
question - or set of questions - you need to
decide several things so that you'll know how to
read the passage. here are two: is the question
general or about a detail? is the passage
narrative or expository? for this passage, you'll
be given a general question. look at the
alzheimer's disease passage and decide how
you should read it to best answer the question.

alzheimer's disease
to detect this disease early, it's necessary to
notice the warning signs. they mostly have to do
with changes in memory and other mental
processes and in personality.

types of memory loss
people with alzheimer's often become
confused and forgetful in ways that interfere with
their ability to work. also, the person may forget
parts of familiar at-home tasks, such as serving
a meal once it is prepared. the person simply
doesn't remember having made the meal.
someone suffering from this disease may be
unable to recognize his or her own street or to
know how to find his or her house from a block
away.

judgment and thinking problems
alzheimer's patients may wear highly
unsuitable clothing, such as several sweaters on
a blisteringly hot day. this behavior suggests
problems with normal judgment. most of us
commonly misplace everyday objects, such as
keys or a wallet. but, with alzheimer's, one may
place an earring in the silverware drawer, or put
a pet bowl in the freezer. a person with this
disease may be completely unable to read
numbers or make any kind of calculation.

changes in behavior
people with alzheimer's usually exhibit very
sudden mood swings. these often occur for no
apparent reason. similarly, their personalities
change more dramatically than is typical with the
normal aging process. moreover, with
alzheimer's, people may permanently lose
interest in all activities that they used to enjoy regularly.

a. read the thesis statement, the main ideas of the paragraphs, and the switchback words, because these will tell you what the overall thesis is of an expository passage.
b. read the passage carefully and pay attention to the kinds of words used, because this will give you information about the characters and setting of a narrative passage.
c. read the whole passage, regardless of what kind it is, and look for the answer to the question.