Scientists running a medical study hypothesize that an experimental treatment substantially decreases swelling in individuals with joint disease. The ...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Scientists running a medical study hypothesize that an experimental treatment substantially decreases swelling in individuals with joint disease. The trial results demonstrating reduced inflammation indicators and enhanced joint function _______ their theory regarding the treatment's efficacy.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
validate
refute
observe
challenge
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Scientists running a medical study hypothesize that an experimental treatment substantially decreases swelling in individuals with joint disease." |
|
| "The trial results demonstrating reduced inflammation indicators and enhanced joint function" |
|
| "_______ their theory regarding the treatment's efficacy." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Scientists tested their hypothesis that a treatment reduces swelling, and the trial results showed positive outcomes.
Argument Flow: The passage presents a scientific hypothesis about a treatment's effectiveness, then provides trial results that show the treatment worked as expected, leading to some conclusion about what these results mean for their theory.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The scientists had a hypothesis that the treatment would decrease swelling
- The trial results showed reduced inflammation and better joint function - exactly what they predicted
- When results match predictions, they support or confirm the original theory
- The right answer should indicate that the positive results support or confirm their theory about the treatment working
validate
✓ Correct
- "Validate" means to confirm or prove the correctness of something
- The trial results showing reduced inflammation and enhanced function directly support what the scientists hypothesized would happen
- This perfectly matches our prethinking that positive results should confirm their theory
refute
✗ Incorrect
- "Refute" means to deny or contradict something
- The results actually support the hypothesis rather than contradicting it
observe
✗ Incorrect
- "Observe" means to notice or see something
- While scientists do observe results, this doesn't capture what the results do TO their theory
- The sentence needs a word showing the relationship between results and theory, not just the act of noticing
challenge
✗ Incorrect
- "Challenge" means to question or dispute something
- The positive results support rather than question the hypothesis