Question

use the text below to answer the question.

an even better type of experiment is known as a double - blind test. in this case, neither the scientists nor the subjects know if they are in the control group or not. let’s say scientists are testing a new medicine. first, they find a hundred people who suffer from a certain illness. each is told that they are receiving a new drug. they are all given identical pills to take once a day for a set number of days. half of the subjects receive the real medicine, while the other half receives a fake pill called a placebo. a placebo is like a sugar pill: there is no medicine in it at all. the test is double - blind because neither group knows if they received the real medicine or the placebo.

which of the following best describes the group that receives a placebo in a double - blind test?

a they are the control group but dont know it.

b they are getting more of the medicine.

c they are taking the real medicine.

d they are aware the pill is fake.

Explanation:

• Option A: The text says in a double - blind test, half get real medicine (experimental group) and half get placebo (control group as they don't get the real treatment), and neither group knows which they got. So the placebo group is the control group but doesn't know it.
• Option B: The placebo has no medicine, so they aren't getting more medicine.
• Option C: The placebo group gets a fake pill, not the real medicine.
• Option D: The test is double - blind, so they don't know the pill is fake.

Answer:

A. They are the control group but don't know it.