The document is a study guide for an article about the placebo effect. It contains questions to assess comprehension of the article. The questions cover translating titles, completing statements, quoting passages, summarizing sections, identifying main ideas, and filling in a table with information from studies mentioned in the article. The questions indicate the article discusses how the placebo effect works, biochemical differences between those who do and do not respond to placebos, and that short-term depression is more likely to improve with placebo treatment than long-term depression.

1. 1
The Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel
The Academic Unit for English Studies
The Placebo Effect
1) The Title, Subtitle and Topic
a) Translate the title of the article. (3 pts)
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b) Translate the subtitle of the article. (5 pts)
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c) The topic of the article is (Circle ONE answer): (2 pts)
1) treating high blood pressure and heart disease.
2) the effectiveness of placebo treatments.
3) the influence of antibiotics on treatment of colds.
4) reasons for not utilizing placebos in medicine.
2) Extra-Textual Material
Complete the following sentences in English. (6 pts)
The room-cleaners in the informed group were told that:
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The researchers concluded that:
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2. 2
3) Introduction
a) Quote one sentence which provides anecdotal background information. (2 pts)
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b) Quote one sentence which provides a definition of a term. (2 pts)
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c) Quote the most explicit statement of purpose. (4 pts
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d) Explain the stated or implied purpose of the article in Hebrew. (6 pts)
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) End of the Article
a) Translate the subtitle of the end of the article. (2 pts)
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b) Quote a main conclusion from paragraph 5. (1 pt)
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c) Quote a recommendation for application from paragraph 3. (1 pt)
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3. 3
d) Put a V next to the 3 (THREE) main points of the end of the article. (12 pts)
___ 1) The question is raised as to whether physicians should prescribe placebos.
___ 2) Medical science no longer doubts the legitimacy of utilizing placebos.
___ 3) Physicians still face dilemmas as to the use of placebos in their practice.
___ 4) Physicians should not offer placebos to their patients until more research is completed.
___ 5) Placebos are often more expensive than conventional treatments.
___ 6) If physicians can view placebos as an effective treatment option, they will be more
comfortable with the idea of offering them to their patients.
5) Body of the Article:
a) Skim the body of the article. Match the intra-textual subtitles to the following main
ideas and translate them.
Main idea:
Subtitle in English: ___________________________ (2 pt)
Subtitle in Hebrew: ___________________________ (1 pt)
Main idea:
Subtitle in English: ___________________________ (2 pt)
Subtitle in Hebrew: ___________________________ (1 pt)
Main idea:
-
Subtitle in English: ___________________________ (2 pt)
Subtitle in Hebrew: ___________________________ (1 pt)

4. 4
b) Complete the following summary of the section "Determining a Diagnosis”. Use
ONE word only in each space!
Subtitle in Hebrew: ___________________________ (1 pt)
(6 pts)
It is important for the physician to provide a diagnosis. The (1) ____________________
should then be enabled to make an informed (2) ______________________. Physicians,
however, should not offer (3) _____________________ options. They should, however,
provide the patient with (4) ____________________ needed in order to help him/her make a
decision. When a patient sees a physician – an expert - he expects the physician to provide
(5) _______________________. After all, if people decide to treat themselves, they do not
go to experts
6) Circle True or False. Support your answer by quoting a key sentence or phrase from
the article. (6 pts)
TRUE FALSE
Patients who receive placebos in placebo study trials receive no real health benefits.
Quote____________________________________________________________________
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7) Circle True or False. Support your answer by quoting (in English) a key sentence or
phrase from the article. (6 pts)
TRUE FALSE
Researchers have located biochemical differences between patients suffering from clinical
depression who respond to placebo treatments and those who do not.
Quote____________________________________________________________________
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5. 5
8) Translation
a) Translate the paragraph below. (9 pts)
These findings, which have been confirmed in our laboratory and by other researchers,
indicate that depressed patients who respond to placebos differ biochemically from those who
do not. I wondered if they differed in other ways as well. As it turns out, they do. People
suffering from short-term depression, lasting less than three months, for instance, are more
likely to benefit from a placebo. But longer-term depression, lasting more than a year or so,
often does not improve after placebo treatment.
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b) The above paragraph says that: (Circle ONE) (2 pts)
1)The condition of people suffering from long-term depression is more likely to
improve after treatment with placebos.
2) People suffering from biochemical conditions are more likely to benefit from
placebo treatment.
3) The success of placebo treatment can only be measured after a year has gone by.
4) The condition of people suffering from short-term depression is more likely to
improve after treatment with placebos.

6. 6
9) Fill in the table in English. (12 pts)
Brown refers to several studies which describe the positive impact of treatment involving the
use of placebos. Note the diseases or illnesses from which the subjects of the studies suffered.
When were the studies conducted? Who did the research? What were the findings?
Disease/
Illness
When was the study
conducted?
Who did the
research?
Findings
High blood
pressure;
asthma;
coughing
early 1950s
Angina
pectoris
76% of patients
operated on improved;
100% of patients who
received placebos
improved
Asthma
1968
Depression
Brown and colleagues
Physical
complaints
but no
identifiable
disease
Doctors at University
of Southampton

7. 7
10) Circle 2 (TWO) correct answers according to the text. (6 pts)
1) Patient who think that the treatment they are receiving will help them are no more
likely to feel better than those who do not expect the treatment to help.
2) Patients who receive bad news from doctors may feel better just because they have
received an authoritative medical report and are no longer uncertain about their
condition.
3) Some treatments using placebos have been proven to be effective.
4) The author agrees with the idea that if a condition improves with placebos,
it is probably "all in the head."