Verbal Reasoning Flashcards

A patient is told that a new drug reduces the risk of heart attack by 50%. If the baseline risk is 2%, what is the absolute risk reduction?

Answer: 1%

A 50% relative reduction of a 2% baseline risk equals 1% absolute risk reduction (2% × 0.50 = 1%).

Read the following: 'All doctors who graduated before 2000 are required to complete refresher training. Dr. Smith completed refresher training.' Which conclusion is most valid?

Answer: Dr. Smith may or may not have graduated before 2000

Completing refresher training does not confirm when Dr. Smith graduated, as others may also complete training voluntarily.

A clinical study states: 'Patients who exercised regularly had fewer hospital admissions.' What is the most appropriate interpretation?

Answer: There is an association between exercise and fewer admissions

Observational studies demonstrate association, not causation, so the correct interpretation is that there is an association.

A passage states: 'Screening programs are only beneficial if treatment of early-stage disease improves outcomes compared to treatment at later stages.' A screening program that detects a disease with no effective treatment would therefore be:

Answer: Potentially harmful due to anxiety with no benefit

If no effective treatment exists, early detection provides no therapeutic benefit and may cause psychological harm from anxiety.

Which of the following best describes the logical flaw in this statement: 'This hospital has the highest number of patient deaths, so it provides the worst care.'

Answer: It does not account for patient severity or case complexity

Higher death counts may reflect more severe cases or complex referrals, not necessarily poorer care quality.

A health article claims: 'Countries with more doctors per capita have higher life expectancy.' A researcher argues this shows doctors improve life expectancy. What alternative explanation best challenges this?

Answer: Wealthier countries can afford both more doctors and better living conditions

Wealth is a confounding variable that could explain both more doctors and higher life expectancy, undermining the causal claim.

In a passage, a physician argues that informed consent requires patients to understand the risks of refusing treatment, not just the risks of accepting it. Which principle best supports this view?

Answer: Patient autonomy requires complete information to make a genuine choice

Genuine autonomy depends on full information about all options, including the consequences of refusal.