Reading comp PrepTest 147 · Section 3 · Question 16

Incorrect. (Line 6) The passage notes that "special issues arise" in clinical trials, but it never states that the issues addressed by theoretical equipoise are all of the ethical issues. This answer is too extreme in stating that there are "no ethical problems," even if it meets the stricter standard of theoretical equipoise.

Incorrect. (Lines 27-32) The passage notes that such evidence could tip the evidence in favor of one treatment. From there it says "if the standard of theoretical equipoise is adhered to" (Lines 29-30) then the clinical trial would need to shut down. However, the passage argues that the standard isn't adhered to as it's "hardly attainable in practice" (Lines 20-21). If this answer said that theoretical equipoise would suggest it should be shut down, then this answer would be correct. But there's no sign that this actually happens in practice.

Correct. Question Type:
Must Be True

Strategy Overview:
Use what we know about the passage overall to analyze answers, and for the ones that line up with our understanding, use our notes and the passage itself to confirm/rule them out

Answer Anticipation/Relevant Lines:
This question stem gives us no guidance as to the topic of the correct answer, so we'll have to head straight to the choices and analyze them as we go. Let's prioritize ones that line up with our understanding of the passage's main point, and then head to the passage to find details that back up or allow us to eliminate each one.

Answer Explanation:
(Lines 50-53) Our note for the last paragraph said that it discussed good-faith disagreement allowing ethical participation in a clinical trial. Digging in, we find that in Lines 50-53, where the Author notes that having a "decided treatment preference" is "no ethical bar" to participating. This answer paraphrases that idea, making it the correct answer.

Key Takeaway:
Note that several wrong answers here don't really line up with the point of the passage. (A) makes theoretical equipoise sound good. (D) says that clinical equipoise presents stricter standards than theoretical equipoise. When working through a question like this under time constraints, those are great answers to defer on, investing your time in looking for details confirming the answers that do line up with the main point of the passage instead.

Incorrect. (Line 17; Lines 37-38) The Author notes that theoretical equipoise might be "too strict," and that clinical equipoise is preferable because it maintains ethical standards while not "unreasonably constricting" trials. As such, the passage argues that theoretical equipoise is stricter than clinical equipoise, and thus trials that meet the former might not meet the latter. (In fact, that's kinda the whole point of developing clinical equipoise!)

Incorrect. (Lines 35) The Author says that clinical equipoise "should be developed"—in other words, it doesn't exist yet. It'd be hard to try to conduct comparative clinics to a standard that doesn't yet exist!