PrepTest 147, Section 3, Question 14
The following passage is based on an article(425 more words not shown)
The author's primary purpose in(4 more words not shown)
- Aexplain the difference(17 more words not shown)
- Bargue for a(18 more words not shown)
- Cdemonstrate that a(21 more words not shown)
- Ddemonstrate the need(19 more words not shown)
- Eargue for a(13 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
We've already identified the recommendation: use clinical equipoise instead of theoretical equipoise. The author explains that exact balance within every researcher is difficult to achieve and maintain, then proposes a standard based on reasonable disagreement in the wider expert community.
What we’re looking for
For a purpose question, we want what the author is doing with that comparison: arguing for a less restrictive interpretation, not merely defining two terms.
Working the answers
- A
The author does explain the two conceptions and their effects, but this description leaves out the point of doing so. The discussion supports adopting clinical equipoise rather than remaining neutral between the alternatives.
- BCorrect
Clinical equipoise is the proposed, less restrictive interpretation of the ethical requirement. The author argues that it would preserve rigorous standards without unreasonably limiting research, unlike the strict conception typically employed.
- C
This reverses the direction. The author thinks the existing strict standard impedes research and advocates a change to address that problem. The proposed change is not presented as a threat to obtaining valuable information.
- D
The goal isn't simply to have researchers examine their standards more closely. The author has a particular replacement in mind and argues for it. Greater scrutiny alone would not capture that recommendation.
- E
This concerns the ethical conditions for conducting trials, not the scientific techniques used to gather evidence. Changing when participation is ethically permissible is different from changing how results are measured.
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