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2026年4月托福机经套卷(第2套)Read an Academic Passage5 道题

The Power of Placebos

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The Power of Placebos The placebo effect challenges conventional ideas about medical treatment efficacy. What is a placebo? █ A patient's condition sometimes improves if they believe that they are receiving an effective treatment, even if they are in fact receiving a sugar pill. █ In this example, the sugar pill, which has no active ingredient, is a placebo. Surprisingly, this effect can sometimes rival real medications in clinical trials. █ Recent studies suggest that the placebo effect might be rooted in the brain's complex chemistry. █ When a patient anticipates positive effects, their brain can release chemicals like endorphins, which may cause genuine physiological changes. In one study, patients receiving placebo "painkillers" reported pain relief comparable to the one produced by actual painkillers, highlighting the brain's powerful role. Some researchers propose using the placebo effect deliberately to enhance therapy outcomes, arguing that the mind-body connection should be tapped into more. However, ethical considerations arise: deceiving patients could undermine trust in healthcare. For example, even when a placebo leads to measurable improvement, knowingly administering it without full disclosure may violate principles of informed consent, raising questions about autonomy and transparency in patient care. This delicate balance between harnessing the placebo effect and maintaining ethical standards continues to be a topic of debate.
Question 1查看单题
How does the placebo effect challenge traditional views on treatment?
ABy showing that patients should have more say in selecting their medications
BBy suggesting that a patient's belief can be as powerful as a medicine
CBy questioning existing measurements of the effectiveness of a treatment
DBy pointing out a possible way to reduce the costs of clinical trials
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正确答案：B
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Question 2查看单题
What does paragraph 2 indicate about the placebo effect?
AIt affects patients much more powerfully than actual painkillers do.
BIt may be related to the release of endorphins in the brain.
CIt has not been connected by researchers to any physiological changes.
DIt is enhanced when it is accompanied by actual painkillers.
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正确答案：B
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Question 3查看单题
The word "deliberately" in the passage is closest in meaning to
Aon purpose
Bwith caution
Cefficiently
Dregularly
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正确答案：A
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Question 4查看单题
Why does the author mention "autonomy and transparency in patient care"?
ATo argue for the use of the placebo effect
BTo highlight an ethical challenge in using the placebo effect
CTo suggest that trust is less important than other considerations in healthcare
DTo explain how the placebo effect is misunderstood
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正确答案：B
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Question 5查看单题
There are four locations █ in the passage that indicate where the following sentence could be added.
Researchers have long been puzzled by the mechanisms behind this phenomenon.
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