The results of randomized clinical trials testing the efficacy of common medical interventions sometimes fail to _______ conclusions that practitioner...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The results of randomized clinical trials testing the efficacy of common medical interventions sometimes fail to _______ conclusions that practitioners reach based on their real-world observations of patients. While there are several possible reasons for this, one is that practitioners may overlook confounding variables that account for the results they attribute to the interventions in question.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
circumvent
corroborate
disseminate
implement
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The results of randomized clinical trials testing the efficacy of common medical interventions sometimes fail to" |
|
| [MISSING WORD] |
|
| "conclusions that practitioners reach based on their real-world observations of patients." |
|
| "While there are several possible reasons for this, one is that practitioners may overlook confounding variables that account for the results they attribute to the interventions in question." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[MAIN CLAIM]
Clinical trials ≠ practitioner conclusions
↓
[EXPLANATION]
Practitioners overlook confounding variables
Main Point: Clinical trial results sometimes contradict what medical practitioners conclude from their real-world patient observations.
Argument Flow: The passage presents a disconnect between formal clinical trials and practitioner observations, then offers one explanation for why this gap exists - practitioners may not account for confounding variables that actually explain their observed results.
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
- Looking at our passage analysis, we need a word that describes what clinical trials sometimes fail to do with practitioner conclusions
- The second sentence explains that practitioners might be wrong because they overlook confounding variables - this suggests the clinical trials are more rigorous and accurate
- The relationship is: Clinical trials (more reliable) sometimes fail to support/confirm what practitioners think they see (less reliable due to confounding variables)
- The right answer should mean "support," "confirm," or "validate" - showing that clinical trials sometimes fail to back up what practitioners conclude from their observations
circumvent
✗ Incorrect
- "Circumvent" means to avoid or bypass something
- This doesn't make sense - clinical trials don't try to avoid practitioner conclusions
- Creates an illogical relationship between trials and conclusions
corroborate
✓ Correct
- "Corroborate" means to confirm or support with evidence
- Perfectly fits our prethinking - clinical trials sometimes fail to confirm what practitioners conclude
- Creates the logical contrast: rigorous trials vs. potentially flawed observations
- What trap this represents: Students might miss this if they don't recognize that the passage is showing clinical trials as more reliable than practitioner observations
disseminate
✗ Incorrect
- "Disseminate" means to spread or distribute information
- Clinical trials don't spread practitioner conclusions - they test interventions
- Completely wrong function for the context
implement
✗ Incorrect
- "Implement" means to put something into practice
- Clinical trials don't put practitioner conclusions into practice - they test medical interventions
- Wrong relationship entirely