Critical Reasoning

these boldfaces are toughies....

A double-blind study, in which neither the patient nor the primary researcher knows whether the patient is being given the drug being tested or a placebo, is the most effective procedure for testing the efficacy of a drug. But we will not be able to perform such a study on this new drug, since the drug will have various effects on the patients’ bodies, which will make us aware of whether the patients are getting the drug or a placebo.

The two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
(A) The first is a general consideration that introduces the argument; the second is a special situation that weighs against the first.
(B) The first is a general principle that is necessary for this argument; the second is an anti-consideration that the argument includes.
(C) The first is a premise that this argument includes; the second is a main idea that can be drawn from this argument.
(D) The first is an evidence that this argument includes; the second is a conclusion that can not be drawn from this argument.
(E) The first is a general situation that supports this argument; the second is a conclusion that can be drawn from a special fact.

explanations pls!!

entire argument is in boldface. pl correct this friend

Hi p_mashru...there are just 2 sentences in this boldface. Both in bolds

IMO E.

I have been able to eliminate all other options

OA Please

IMO A

IMO A

pls provide the explanations also!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IMO A. What is OA?

Either A or E. OA??

A double-blind study, in which neither the patient nor the primary researcher knows whether the patient is being given the drug being tested or a placebo, is the most effective procedure for testing the efficacy of a drug. But we will not be able to perform such a study on this new drug, since the drug will have various effects on the patients’ bodies, which will make us aware of whether the patients are getting the drug or a placebo.

IMO E.

I approach the question in this way ----

FIRST SENTENCE ----
Argument - In double-blind study, neither patient nor the primary researcher knows.

Conclusion - The study is the most effective procedure for testing.

SECOND SENTENCE ------
Argument - A particular drug has variouse effects on the patients bodies and will make aware.
Conclusion - The study cannot be implied in this case.

Overall Conclusion - Study cannot be successful in all the cases. This is proven by second statement.
So,i think the overall conclusion of the argument can be reached by the second statement. So, E.

Please comment if i am wrong.

i had thought A, but the oa i have says 'B'!! strange!! tutors / mods pls help!!!!!!

I think b is the right choice because -
The first is a general principle that is necessary for this argument (it tells you how double-blind studies work in principle); the second is an anti-consideration that the argument includes (this one explains why we can't use it in this special case)

thnx for ur reply diganta_sarkar, but what do we mean by "anti-consideration" here? anything that shows that it does not hold in this case???

I cant believe that the first sentence is a Principle. It is a fact or a consideration. Principle is too generic a statement and not specific to Blind Studies or anything as such. For example, " Honesty is the best policy" or "Every citizen of the country must obey the laws laid by the Constitution."

Experts please help!!!