The value of evidence

The deciding clue is “[1] _____ the unexpected results, the research team revised its explanation.”. Use having + past participle to express a completed action explicitly preceding the main-clause event. In this task, the completed sentence is “Having examined the unexpected results, the research team revised its explanation.”.

The deciding clue is “The original claim had been based [2] _____ a small group of volunteers.”. The collocation is based on for a basis, or place emphasis on for a focus. In the completed sentence, on introduces the stated basis or focus. In this task, the completed sentence is “The original claim had been based on a small group of volunteers.”.

The deciding clue is “Before recruiting a wider sample, the researchers [3] _____ that their survey excluded occasional users.”. Use had + past participle to express an event completed before a later reference point in the past. In this task, the completed sentence is “Before recruiting a wider sample, the researchers had realised that their survey excluded occasional users.”.

The deciding clue is “This raised questions about the [4] _____ of the findings to the whole population.”. After the, before of the findings/conclusions, the gap names a property: applicability, meaning how far the results apply beyond the original sample. In this task, the completed sentence is “This raised questions about the applicability of the findings to the whole population.”.

The deciding clue is “[5] _____ all the initial reports were sincere, they could still form an unbalanced sample.”. Use although/even though + finite clause to express a concession followed by a subject and finite verb. In this task, the completed sentence is “Although all the initial reports were sincere, they could still form an unbalanced sample.”.

The deciding clue is “The team recommended [6] _____ the method in detail before repeating the trial.”. Propose/recommend followed directly by an action takes an -ing complement here. The plan is the action itself, not a finite tense or an inserted to-infinitive. In this task, the completed sentence is “The team recommended documenting the method in detail before repeating the trial.”.

The deciding clue is “They made a clear distinction [7] _____ an observed association and a demonstrated cause.”. Make a distinction between A and B names two concepts whose difference matters; between completes that comparison frame. In this task, the completed sentence is “They made a clear distinction between an observed association and a demonstrated cause.”.

The deciding clue is “A colleague, [8] _____ objections had initially been dismissed, helped design the second study.”. The relative clause starts with a noun associated with the antecedent, such as work, family or objections. Whose marks that possessive connection while the following noun remains in place. In this task, the completed sentence is “A colleague, whose objections had initially been dismissed, helped design the second study.”.

The deciding clue is “Not until the new data had been checked [9] _____ the authors release their conclusions.”. Use only after/until + clause; inverted main clause to express inversion in the main clause, not inside the clause introduced by after or until. In this task, the completed sentence is “Not until the new data had been checked did the authors release their conclusions.”.

The deciding clue is “Had they ignored those objections, they [10] _____ a much stronger claim than the evidence justified.”. Use would have + past participle to express the unreal past result of a condition that did not happen. In this task, the completed sentence is “Had they ignored those objections, they would have made a much stronger claim than the evidence justified.”.