full transcript

From the Ted Talk by Jeff Leek and Lucy McGowan: Can you spot the problem with these headlines? (Level 1)

Unscramble the Blue Letters


The best way to bridge this gap is to look at the original research behind a headline. We’ve come up with a simplified research sircnaeo for each of these three headlines to test your skills. Keep whactnig for the explanation of the first study; then puase at the headline to figure out the flaw. Assume all the iinforoamtn you need to spot the flaw is included.

Let’s start with this hypothetical scenario: a study using mice to test a new cancer drug. The study includes two groups of mice, one treated with the drug, the other with a pclbaeo. At the end of the trial, the mice that receive the drug are cured, while those that rveceied the placebo are not.

Open Cloze


The best way to bridge this gap is to look at the original research behind a headline. We’ve come up with a simplified research ________ for each of these three headlines to test your skills. Keep ________ for the explanation of the first study; then _____ at the headline to figure out the flaw. Assume all the ___________ you need to spot the flaw is included.

Let’s start with this hypothetical scenario: a study using mice to test a new cancer drug. The study includes two groups of mice, one treated with the drug, the other with a _______. At the end of the trial, the mice that receive the drug are cured, while those that ________ the placebo are not.

Solution


  1. information
  2. pause
  3. watching
  4. scenario
  5. placebo
  6. received

Original Text


The best way to bridge this gap is to look at the original research behind a headline. We’ve come up with a simplified research scenario for each of these three headlines to test your skills. Keep watching for the explanation of the first study; then pause at the headline to figure out the flaw. Assume all the information you need to spot the flaw is included.

Let’s start with this hypothetical scenario: a study using mice to test a new cancer drug. The study includes two groups of mice, one treated with the drug, the other with a placebo. At the end of the trial, the mice that receive the drug are cured, while those that received the placebo are not.

Frequently Occurring Word Combinations


ngrams of length 2

collocation frequency
eating breakfast 3
reduce risk 2
heart attacks 2
started eating 2


Important Words


  1. assume
  2. bridge
  3. cancer
  4. cured
  5. drug
  6. explanation
  7. figure
  8. flaw
  9. gap
  10. groups
  11. headline
  12. headlines
  13. hypothetical
  14. included
  15. includes
  16. information
  17. mice
  18. original
  19. pause
  20. placebo
  21. receive
  22. received
  23. research
  24. scenario
  25. simplified
  26. skills
  27. spot
  28. start
  29. study
  30. test
  31. treated
  32. trial
  33. watching