Set 6: Cross-Text Connections
Explanation
PASSAGE
Text 1 The Placebo Effect demonstrates the power of the mind over the body. Patients given inert substances often show real physiological improvement simply because they believe they are being treated. Text 2 The existence of the Placebo Effect complicates clinical trials. To prove a new drug works, it must outperform the placebo significantly, meaning the drug's chemical effect must be stronger than the patient's psychological expectation.
Based on the texts, how does the phenomenon in Text 1 function as a hurdle in Text 2?
Detailed Answer Explanation
This question asks you to compare perspectives from two passages. Text 1: Body improves on belief (Baseline). Text 2: Must outperform placebo (Hurdle). Function: Raises baseline/Harder to prove efficacy. Understanding how the authors relate to each other's views is essential. Identify whether they agree, disagree, or address different aspects of the topic. Focus on their specific claims and conclusions. When comparing texts, first identify each author's thesis or main argument. Then determine how these positions interact: do they complement each other, contradict each other, or address different aspects of the same issue? The relationship between texts reveals deeper meaning.
Key Evidence:
• "show real ... improvement"
• "complicates clinical trials"
• "must outperform"
Why others are wrong: D (Improvement.), C (Complicates.), A (Must outperform.).
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