Clinical trials are the key to obtaining information about the safety

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION



THE PROMPT


• This sentence is sneaky. Then again, so are SC writers.
→ The word if is not present.
→ But the phrase without volunteers to take part reveals that this sentence is describing a hypothetical or an alternative situation.
In other words, the sentence describes what would happen if there were no volunteers.
→ The conditional is therefore necessary.

• Type 2 conditionals:
→ describe a hypothetical situation and its probable result
[If THIS thing were to happen] or [equivalent], then THAT thing would happen.

→ usually use would in the result clause (main clause, THEN clause), but can also use modals such as could or might to express varying degrees of certainty

→ the present conditional form of any verb is composed of two elements:
would + the bare infinitive of the main verb (the infinitive without "to")
would go (not would to go)
would seek (not would to seek)

THE OPTIONS


• the singular pronoun it disagrees with its plural antecedent clinical trials
• the simple future tense will be is incorrect; we need would be
• if forced, in order to introduce examples, choose such as over like. See Notes, below.
ELIMINATE A

• these should point to a noun
→ these is a determiner or a demonstrative adjective.
→ no official question of which I am aware has ever used these as a stand alone pronoun
→ but recently, a correct official question used this as a stand alone pronoun. These is the plural form of this.

• the phrase with volunteers to take part in these being absent is wordy and awkward.
Compared to the correct option, the phrase is just crap.
But we haven't seen the correct option's wording yet, so
KEEP B tentatively and look for a better answer

• including is a fairly common way to introduce examples, but in this case, the meaning is absurd: cancer, MS, and arthritis are most certainly not disease treatments.
Yes, we understand that including refers to the diseases themselves, but we should avoid illogical writing
• the future tense will be is incorrect; we need the conditional would be
ELIMINATE C


• I see no errors
→ the conditional would be is used
→ the plural pronoun them agrees with the plural antecedent clinical trials
→ without volunteers to take part in [the trials] is the most effective wording in this case because we need to express a contrary to fact situation and in English, "without" is a good way to express the hypothetical nature of the claim

• Option D is better than option B - ELIMINATE B
→ (D) uses them to refer correctly back to clinical trials and thus avoids the problem of whether these can be used as a stand alone pronoun
→ (D)'s phrasing is more direct and clear.
-- without volunteers to participate in them (D)
-- with volunteers to take part in these being absent (B)
The second phrase is a hot mess.
If you are reading in English (ahem), it should take you 2 seconds to decide that D is superior to B
KEEP

• without voluntary participation is not as good as similar phrasing in option D
→ without voluntary participants [implied: in clinical trials] would be better
• the present tense are is fatal. We need the conditional, would
ELIMINATE E

The answer is D.

NOTES

Hidden conditionals or hypotheticals

Two kinds of conditionals can get hidden fairly easily: zero conditionals and type 2 conditionals.

Zero conditionals (scientific truths, general facts) often do not contain an IF/THEN structure, but they lurk around.
I wrote about hidden zero conditionals in this post, here.

If you see a verb split between will and would, start thinking about conditionals and hypotheticals.
I wrote about Type 2 conditionals here.

Hypothetical statements occasionally hide themselves.
We find ourselves in a contrary-to-fact (hypothetical) situation without a clause such as "If we were."
In those cases, use would.

LIKE v. SUCH AS distinction? Still true?

If at all possible, I would follow the guideline that we use such as to introduce examples.
We do not use like to do so. Like is used for comparisons.

Some controversy exists about whether GMAC has abandoned the distinction between such as and like.

This issue is not easily settled.
At least one official question uses "like" in the non-underlined portion of the question.
That question is here.
We don't have a choice. The word "like" introduces examples.
[Sidebar. In CR and RC, I have seen "like" used to introduce examples.
Do not rely on prose in CR, RC, or the official guides as an example of GMAC's position on an SC issue.]

Many people believe that GMAC will abandon this preference soon.
Before I saw OG VR 2020, I might have agreed.
I thought that one question would disappear from OG VR 2020.
The question explicitly tests such as and like to introduce examples, although both incorrect options that use like have an additional error.
The question did not disappear from OG VR 2020.

Its official explanation states:
The preferred way to introduce examples is with the phrase "such as," rather than with the word "like," which suggests a comparison.

Spoiler alert: two incorrect answers to an official question are revealed


At this point I would not use such as/like as the only basis upon which to eliminate an answer, but if you narrow the answers down to two, choose the one that uses "such as."

• THIS [and THESE?] as a standalone pronoun

THESE is the plural form of this. Some controversy exists: can this and these be used as standalones?
Answer: almost never.

I base my analysis of these on analysis of its singular counterpart, this.

THIS without a clear reference is almost always wrong.
-- This is a "determiner." It "points" to the noun in question -- determines for us that it is this noun, not that one.
-- Typically, GMAC requires "this" to "point" to a noun: this red chair near me, not that white couch on the other side of the room. (This and that, used in this way, are also called "demonstrative adjectives." To demonstrate is to show, and adjectives modify nouns.)
-- For the first time that I know of, OG 2020 published a question in which THIS was a standalone pronoun rather than a demonstrative adjective accompanied by a noun.
-- That is, GMAC allowed THIS to refer to a situation described but not actually named by a noun.
Spoiler alert: if you click on the link, the correct answer to a new official question is revealed
You can find that official question
-- be on the lookout. GMAC has signaled that "this" as a standalone is okay.
-- perhaps these, standing alone, will also be okay. Eliminate other worse errors.

I doubt that GMAC will start allowing THIS or THESE as standalone pronouns on a routine basis, but be aware that GMAC seems to have signaled that this, standing alone, is allowed.

COMMENTS

Nipungupta9081 , chrtpmdr , and Abhajadon , welcome to SC Butler.

I am glad to see new people—the more, the merrier.
I am always glad to see returning participants, too.

I like the variety of styles and the different ways of thinking that I see on display in these posts.
Some of these answers are very good indeed.
Kudos go to correct answers that contain clear explanations.

Clinical trials are the key to obtaining information about the safety and efficacy of new medications, and without volunteers to take part in it, there will be no new treatments for serious diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis.

A) without volunteers to take part in it, there will be no new treatments for serious diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis

Incorrect Use of Like

B) with volunteers to take part in these being absent, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis

with volunteers to take part in these being absent is wordy and awkward.

C) in the absence of the participation by volunteers, there will be no new serious disease treatments, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis

Best Guess and Choice

D) without volunteers to participate in them, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis

Tense Error, what is them refferring to


E) without voluntary participation, there are no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis[/quote]

Tense Error

Clinical trials are the key to obtaining information about the safety and efficacy of new medications, and without volunteers to take part in it, there will be no new treatments for serious diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis.

A) without volunteers to take part in it, there will be no new treatments for serious diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis // avoid using "like" to give examples. "without volunteers to take part in it" sounds awkward. "without participation" is better. "it" does not have a logical antecedent."

B) with volunteers to take part in these being absent, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis // "would" is unwarranted. "these" is a dangling pronoun. "being" is unnecessary because continuity is not intended.

C) in the absence of the participation by volunteers, there will be no new serious disease treatments, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis // true

D) without volunteers to participate in them, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis // "would" is unwarranted.

E) without voluntary participation, there are no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis // "are" is unwarranted. Future time is intended.

Posted from my mobile device
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A) without volunteers to take part in it, there will be no new treatments for serious diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis

=> ( We need to use 'such as' for giving examples)

B) with volunteers to take part in these being absent, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis

=> Incorrect use of 'being'
=> Per the original meaning, the second part should be in simple future form.

C) in the absence of the participation by volunteers, there will be no new serious disease treatments, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis

=> The modifier including should modify diseases not treatments

D) without volunteers to participate in them, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis

=> Per the original meaning, the second part should be in simple future form. Using 'would' change the tense of the sentence

E) without voluntary participation, there are no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis Correct
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Clinical trials are the key to obtaining information about the safety and efficacy of new medications, and without volunteers to take part in it, there will be no new treatments for serious diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis.

Clinical trials are plural, the pronoun to be use in place of plural noun must signify plural only.

A) without volunteers to take part in it, there will be no new treatments for serious diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis (it is singular hence incorrect)

B) with volunteers to take part in these being absent, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis. (The author want to signify that Without volunteers no new treatment will be available. With volunteers, no treatment available is making sentence ambiguous.) (Incorrect)

C) in the absence of the participation by volunteers, there will be no new serious disease treatments, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis. (No new is modifying serious diseases not treatment to be availed) (incorrect)

D) without volunteers to participate in them, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis (Correcting all, them is plural, clear meaning)

E) without voluntary participation, there are no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis. (Without voluntary participation in what and by whom, the sentence lacks the subject, creating ambiguity) (Incorrect)

IMO D

Posted from my mobile device
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IMO D

Option A - without volunteers to take part in it, there will be no new treatments for serious diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis. - INCORRECT USE OF LIKE HERE. ( x )

Option B - with volunteers to take part in these being absent, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis.- makes the statement WORDY. ( x )

Option C - in the absence of the participation by volunteers, there will be no new serious disease treatments, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis. - MODIFIER ERROR. ( X )

Option D - without volunteers to participate in them, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis. Since THEM ( antecedent ) goes for Clinical Trials - both are PLURAL. ( ✔ )

Option E - without voluntary participation, there are no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis. Creates AMBIGUITY. ( X )

Concept 1: like is used to show comparisons and not examples. For examples, we use such as.
Concept 2: Volunteers take part in Clinical trials. So we need a plural pronoun.
Concept 3: being can only be used with Role and cannot modify Verb

A) without volunteers to take part in it, there will be no new treatments for serious diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis
Incorrect use of pronoun.

B) with volunteers to take part in these being absent, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis
Here absent is used as verb and not a role. being can only be used with Role and cannot modify Verb

C) in the absence of the participation by volunteers, there will be no new serious disease treatments, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis
Generally, including is not a preferred choice for giving examples. But since there are no other solid reasons to eliminate it, we will keep this option for now.
EDIT: including is modifying there will be no new serious disease treatments and not exactly the diseases.

D) without volunteers to participate in them, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis
This option is much more clearer than Option C. It handles the pronouns and examples correctly. So, if Option E is not better than D, C, I will go with Option D as my answer.

E) without voluntary participation, there are no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis
Here are uses the wrong verb. Here we want a conditional verb. The treatments will be developed in the future. We are not saying about the current treatments.

So, now we have 2 options C and D. From the logic given in E, we can eliminate Option C (will be makes the case of no treatments sure, But there could be a chance that even without active participation, a treatment is developed in future).

Clinical trials are the key to obtaining information about the safety and efficacy of new medications, and without volunteers to take part in it, there will be no new treatments for serious diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis.

A) without volunteers to take part in it, there will be no new treatments for serious diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis
"it" referring back to what?medications? also "like" shouldn't be used to provide examples .hence wrong

B) with volunteers to take part in these being absent, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis
again "these " is referring back to which closest noun?also "being" seems odd,might hold on to this option for further

C) in the absence of the participation by volunteers, there will be no new serious disease treatments, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis
"including" modifying treatment,wrong again

D) without volunteers to participate in them, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis
" them" same error as A and B

E) without voluntary participation, there are no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis
Correct

D) without volunteers to participate in them, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis

E) without voluntary participation, there are no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis

narrowed it down to those two answer choices. I don't see a problem with the usage of 'them' in answer choice D). Pronoun ambiguity is rarely, if ever, a deciding factor on GMAT sentence correction questions. If one takes a look at the main clause, there is one noun and one noun in a prep phrase. :

a) clinical trials
b) of new medications

Clinical trials is the subject of the sentence. While this does not guarantee that them has to refer to clinical trials, it still gives a hint to which noun the pronoun might refer to. Further, and of more importance, is logical meaning. If you read the sentence, would you actually be confused if the author is talking about the participation in trials or the participation in new medications? A participation in new medications is not logical by any means, thus I don't see that there could a case to be made for pronoun ambiguity.

Now, the second split is the conditional and that is what makes me more suspicious. I tend to prefer the would because the author writes about a hypothetical sitation - "If there are no participants = there would be no new treatments". I like the use of the conditional so I settled for D). E) is my opinion too 'absolute', meaning that if the author doesn't use the conditional I would still like him to use "will" instad of presenting a factual statement.

Tricky question!
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Clinical trials are the key to obtaining information about the safety and efficacy of new medications, and without volunteers to take part in it, there will be no new treatments for serious diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis.

A) without volunteers to take part in it, there will be no new treatments for serious diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis

B) with volunteers to take part in these being absent, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis

C) in the absence of the participation by volunteers, there will be no new serious disease treatments, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis

D) without volunteers to participate in them, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis

E) without voluntary participation, there are no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis[/quote]


A) "without volunteers to take part in it" creates a pronoun issue as singular pronoun 'IT" refers to the plural "Clinical trials"

B)" these being absent", these creates ambiguity, "Being absent," tells me that this is a current event or they are absent today or something, that alters the meaning of the sentence.

C) " in the absence of participation by volunteers" is unnecessarily wordy, "including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis" makes it sound like cancer is a treatment of disease and not the disease itself.

D) correct pronoun is used, "such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis" correctly illustrates cancer as a disease

E) "voluntary participation" of whom ? also this changes the tense of the second part of sentence by using "are" which is suppose to happen in the future.

hence my answer is D

There are few observations that should stand out to you. 1. The first half of the sentence is a stand alone sentence. 2. The "it" after the and is incorrect. We need a plural because the non underline portion has trials. 3. diseases 'like' is incorrect. We need to use such as for examples.

Keeping that in mind, let's eliminate A and evaluate all other options.



Firstly, "These" is almost certainly never used as a pronoun in GMAT. Secondly, the wording is too awkward. 'with volunteers being absent' is quite an indirect way of saying what could be said in a quite straight forward manner.



The initial half is still an indirect way (but better than B for sure) and the 'including' to introduce examples is not the best approach either. Hence we can eliminate C.


I pick D as the correct answer because nothing obvious is wrong about it.



My biggest concern is the tense. I am absolutely certain that we need future tense and hence this is incorrect.

IMO D.
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Clinical trials are the key to obtaining information about the safety and efficacy of new medications, and without volunteers to take part in it, there will be no new treatments for serious diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis.


A) without volunteers to take part in it, there will be no new treatments for serious diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis ----> The original sentence has two obvious issue :
the use of pronoun it to refer to the clinical trials and the use of like to give examples, which in most of the cases is incorrect in GMAT.

B) with volunteers to take part in these being absent, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis.------> This choice has fixed the like problem and has used such as to give an example. but "With ....being absent" looks awkward.

C) in the absence of the participation by volunteers, [u]there will be no new serious disease treatments[/u], including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis ----> Meaning change.

D) without volunteers to participate in them, there would be no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis---->Correct choice(fixed both pronoun and like issue. The sentence has used would which is correct as we are talking about the conditional event.


E) without voluntary participation, there are no new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis.----> Change of meaning with the change in tense to simple present tense, it should be would.

Regards,
agar123

Can someone clarify why "them" in D not referring to new medications/properly referring to clinical trials?

I'd crossed everything else out due to tense and ended up with D by process of elimination, but I waffled around because I'd eliminated this earlier too due to thinking them was improperly used.

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